Third Canadian Edition Kendall Murray Linden Copyright © 2004 by Nelson, a division of Thomson...

Third Canadian Edition

Kendall

Murray

Linden

Copyright © 2004 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada

The Sociological PerspectiveThe Sociological Perspective

Chapter OneChapter One

Copyright © 2004 by Nelson, a division of Thomson CanadaCopyright © 2004 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada

Focus QuestionsFocus Questions

Why is it important to use your sociological Why is it important to use your sociological imagination when studying issues such as imagination when studying issues such as suicide?suicide?

What is the sociological imagination?What is the sociological imagination? Why were early thinkers concerned with social Why were early thinkers concerned with social

order and stability?order and stability? Why were middle 20Why were middle 20thth century authors concerned century authors concerned

with change?with change? What are the assumptions behind the various What are the assumptions behind the various

perspectives?perspectives?


Suicide as an example of using sociology to try to understand suicides’ sources and effects in

people’s lives


OutlineOutline

Putting Social Life into PerspectivePutting Social Life into Perspective The Origins of Sociological ThinkingThe Origins of Sociological Thinking The Development of Modern SociologyThe Development of Modern Sociology Contemporary Theoretical PerspectivesContemporary Theoretical Perspectives


Putting Social Life into Putting Social Life into PerspectivePerspective

Why Study Sociology?Why Study Sociology? The Sociological ImaginationThe Sociological Imagination The Importance of a Global Sociological The Importance of a Global Sociological

ImaginationImagination


Why Study Sociology?Why Study Sociology?

Central concepts:Central concepts:– SocietySociety– Global interdependenceGlobal interdependence– Commonsense knowledgeCommonsense knowledge

The discipline assists us in understanding The discipline assists us in understanding ourselves and our social worldourselves and our social world

Our worlds are created for us by others as Our worlds are created for us by others as well as being created by uswell as being created by us


The Globe

Our Society

US


The Sociological ImaginationThe Sociological Imagination

Author: C. Wright MillsAuthor: C. Wright Mills Defined as: “the ability to see the Defined as: “the ability to see the

relationship between individual experiences relationship between individual experiences and the larger society” p. 8and the larger society” p. 8

Two dimensionsTwo dimensions– Personal trouble (suicide as an example)Personal trouble (suicide as an example)– Public issue (suicide as an example)Public issue (suicide as an example)


The Global Element The Global Element

ElementsElements– High-income countriesHigh-income countries– Middle-income countriesMiddle-income countries– Low-income countriesLow-income countries

Central theme: we are not alone. All of us are Central theme: we are not alone. All of us are deeply intertwined with the reality of all nations in deeply intertwined with the reality of all nations in the world. Consider the impact of the “Mad Cow” the world. Consider the impact of the “Mad Cow” disease in the spring/summer of 2003disease in the spring/summer of 2003

Special terms: race, ethnicity, class, sex and Special terms: race, ethnicity, class, sex and gendergender


Origins of Sociological ThinkingOrigins of Sociological Thinking

Classic origins go back to Ionic beginningsClassic origins go back to Ionic beginnings– Aristotle and Plato, for exampleAristotle and Plato, for example

The growth of the natural sciences in the 17The growth of the natural sciences in the 17 thth-18-18thth centuries set the pace of how science can be centuries set the pace of how science can be applied to societyapplied to society

Vitality of the Enlightenment (Age of Reason)Vitality of the Enlightenment (Age of Reason)– Emphasis of critical thinking; some applied it to social Emphasis of critical thinking; some applied it to social

issuesissues– Persons such as Montesquieu, Rousseau, Turgot, and Persons such as Montesquieu, Rousseau, Turgot, and

Mary Wollstonecraft reflected on social concerns of their Mary Wollstonecraft reflected on social concerns of their timestimes


Revolution, Industrialization,Revolution, Industrialization,and Urbanizationand Urbanization

Meaning of these terms:Meaning of these terms: Revolution: Change of political structuresRevolution: Change of political structures Industrialization: Changes of means of Industrialization: Changes of means of

production or how people make a livingproduction or how people make a living Urbanization: Movement from the rural to Urbanization: Movement from the rural to

the urban environmentsthe urban environments


Development of Modern SociologyDevelopment of Modern SociologyThe ClassicsThe Classics

Auguste Comte (1798-Auguste Comte (1798-1857)1857)

Origins of the term Origins of the term sociologysociology

Statistics and dynamicsStatistics and dynamics Natural science applied Natural science applied

to societyto society PositivismPositivism Stages of societal Stages of societal

developmentdevelopment



Harriet Martineau (1802-Harriet Martineau (1802-1876)1876)

Elements:Elements:– Used Comte’s workUsed Comte’s work– Studied religion, politics, Studied religion, politics,

childrearing, slavery, childrearing, slavery, immigration in categories of immigration in categories of race, class and genderrace, class and gender

– Sociology: “true science of Sociology: “true science of human nature”human nature”

– Call for equality of women Call for equality of women



Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) ElementsElements

– Society as evolving as organic speciesSociety as evolving as organic species– Process of struggleProcess of struggle– ““Social Darwinism”Social Darwinism”– Only the fittest of persons (and societies) would Only the fittest of persons (and societies) would

survivesurvive



Emile Durkheim (1858-Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)1917)

ElementsElements– Created a methodology Created a methodology

of studying societyof studying society– Social factsSocial facts– AnomieAnomie– Division of labourDivision of labour– First to publish a First to publish a

statistical study (on statistical study (on suicide)suicide)



Karl Marx (1818-1883)Karl Marx (1818-1883) ElementsElements

– Class conflict as the Class conflict as the source of changesource of change

– Bourgeoisie and Bourgeoisie and proletariatproletariat

– Means of productionMeans of production– AlienationAlienation– RevolutionRevolution



Max Weber (1864-1920)Max Weber (1864-1920) ElementsElements

– Economic systems as only Economic systems as only one source of changeone source of change

– Famous “Protestant Ethic Famous “Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism”and the Spirit of Capitalism”

– Value free sociologyValue free sociology– VerstehenVerstehen– Study of bureaucraciesStudy of bureaucracies



George Simmel (1858-1918)George Simmel (1858-1918) ElementsElements

– Society as a web of patterned interactionsSociety as a web of patterned interactions– Focus of sociology: social interaction in groupsFocus of sociology: social interaction in groups– Interaction conditioned by size: dyads, triads, etcInteraction conditioned by size: dyads, triads, etc– Formal sociology: accenting the universal, recurring Formal sociology: accenting the universal, recurring

social forms that underlie the varying content of social social forms that underlie the varying content of social interactioninteraction

– Contrast of form ( a geometry of social life) and content Contrast of form ( a geometry of social life) and content of social interaction in different contextsof social interaction in different contexts


Development in North AmericaDevelopment in North America

United StatesUnited States– First department at the First department at the

University of Chicago in University of Chicago in 18921892

– Central scholars: Robert Central scholars: Robert Park (1864-1944); George Park (1864-1944); George H. Mead (1863-1931): H. Mead (1863-1931): founder of symbolic founder of symbolic interaction perspectiveinteraction perspective

– Jane Addams (1860-1935): Jane Addams (1860-1935): Well-known woman scholar: Well-known woman scholar: published, created “Hull published, created “Hull House”, charter member of House”, charter member of the American Sociological the American Sociological SocietySociety


Development in North AmericaDevelopment in North America

United StatesUnited States– W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963, African American)W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963, African American)– Classic study of Philadelphia’s African American Classic study of Philadelphia’s African American

communitycommunity CanadaCanada

– 1925 at McGill University: model after the “Chicago 1925 at McGill University: model after the “Chicago School of Sociology”School of Sociology”

– 1963 at University of Toronto: focus on the political and 1963 at University of Toronto: focus on the political and economic history of Canadaeconomic history of Canada

– Foundation of the Canadian Review of Sociology in Foundation of the Canadian Review of Sociology in 19651965


Development in North AmericaDevelopment in North America CanadaCanada

– The 1970s sees the The 1970s sees the “Canadianization” of “Canadianization” of sociology with foci such as sociology with foci such as regionalism, ethnic regionalism, ethnic relationships, relationships, multiculturalism, social multiculturalism, social class, race, and genderclass, race, and gender

– A classic of Canadian A classic of Canadian sociology was the sociology was the Vertical Vertical MosaicMosaic by John Porter by John Porter (1965)(1965)

– First major female First major female sociologist: Patricia Marchak sociologist: Patricia Marchak who published who published Ideological Ideological Perspectives on Canadian Perspectives on Canadian SocietySociety (1975) (1975)


Contemporary Theoretical Contemporary Theoretical PerspectivesPerspectives

FunctionalistFunctionalist Conflict Conflict FeministFeminist Symbolic InteractionistSymbolic Interactionist Postmodernist Postmodernist


Functionalist Functionalist

Assumption:Assumption: Society is a stable, orderly Society is a stable, orderly systemsystem

Basis of society: societal consensus of Basis of society: societal consensus of shared values, beliefs, and behavioural shared values, beliefs, and behavioural expectationsexpectations

Society as parts to a whole with each part Society as parts to a whole with each part having a functionhaving a function

Society like a living organismSociety like a living organism



Talcott Parsons (1902-1979)Talcott Parsons (1902-1979)– All societies must make provisions for meeting social All societies must make provisions for meeting social

needs in order to surviveneeds in order to survive– Division of Labour necessary for this survivalDivision of Labour necessary for this survival– Instrumental and expressive roles necessary also for Instrumental and expressive roles necessary also for

this survivalthis survival

R. K. Merton (1910-2003)R. K. Merton (1910-2003)– Manifest and Latent FunctionsManifest and Latent Functions– Dysfunctions as well as functionsDysfunctions as well as functions– Famous “Anomie Theory” of DevianceFamous “Anomie Theory” of Deviance



Applying a Functionalist Perspective to the Applying a Functionalist Perspective to the Study of SuicideStudy of Suicide

Durkheim’s lead with his famous empirical study Durkheim’s lead with his famous empirical study of suicideof suicide

Key theory: suicide is to be seen as an effect of Key theory: suicide is to be seen as an effect of social rather than personal factors; that where social rather than personal factors; that where there is no or little shared sense of community, there is no or little shared sense of community, suicide rates will be higher (Canadian example suicide rates will be higher (Canadian example among some Aboriginal Communities)among some Aboriginal Communities)


ConflictConflict

AssumptionAssumption: groups in society are engaged : groups in society are engaged in a continuous power struggle for control of in a continuous power struggle for control of scarce resourcesscarce resources

Key classical figures: Karl Marx, Max Key classical figures: Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Georg SimmelWeber, and Georg Simmel

The American C. W. Mills (1916-1962) The American C. W. Mills (1916-1962) focused on power and resource inequalities focused on power and resource inequalities with the goal of social reformwith the goal of social reform

Key concept: the Power EliteKey concept: the Power Elite


ConflictConflict

Applying a Functionalist Perspective to the Applying a Functionalist Perspective to the Study of SuicideStudy of Suicide

Searching for social roots (like functionalism) of Searching for social roots (like functionalism) of the problemthe problem

Of special note: Social Class and Race (see Of special note: Social Class and Race (see next slide)next slide)


Two Special Roots or Factors of Suicide in Canada

Race

•The marginalization of Aboriginal Peoples from the central controls of society leave them vulnerable

•Larger factors such as oppression and deprivation

•Few opportunities for a successful life

Social Class

•Young people from low-income or working class background

•Few opportunities for a successful life

•Feel they are the most powerless


FeministFeminist AssumptionAssumption: that gender is : that gender is

necessary category to necessary category to understand and to explain understand and to explain inequalities in homes, paid inequalities in homes, paid labour, politics, law, and labour, politics, law, and cultureculture

Many different “feminisms”Many different “feminisms” Some variations: the structure Some variations: the structure

of society is male dominated; of society is male dominated; male dominated social male dominated social interactions interactions

Focus on patriarchy and a call Focus on patriarchy and a call for freedom from control and for freedom from control and an egalitarian societyan egalitarian society


FeministFeminist

Applying a Feminist perspective to suicideApplying a Feminist perspective to suicide Research shows that men are more likely to Research shows that men are more likely to

commit suicide and succeed at it than commit suicide and succeed at it than womenwomen

However, women are more likely to attempt However, women are more likely to attempt suicide than men. Why?suicide than men. Why?

Because of continued gendered inequalities Because of continued gendered inequalities in the social systemin the social system


Symbolic InteractionistSymbolic Interactionist

Assumption:Assumption: Society is a sum of the interactions of Society is a sum of the interactions of individuals and groupsindividuals and groups

Key terms: Key terms: – macrolevel and microlevel analysismacrolevel and microlevel analysis– SymbolSymbol– Importance of subjective interpretations of the social Importance of subjective interpretations of the social

worldworld– Looking glass self and generalized other (under the Looking glass self and generalized other (under the

chapter on Socialization)chapter on Socialization)– Impression management and dramaturgical analysisImpression management and dramaturgical analysis


Symbolic InteractionistSymbolic Interactionist

Applying a Symbolic Interactionist Applying a Symbolic Interactionist perspective to suicideperspective to suicide– How does the meaning of suicide differ in How does the meaning of suicide differ in

various cultures?various cultures?– Among Aboriginal Communities, some youth Among Aboriginal Communities, some youth

define suicide in heroic termsdefine suicide in heroic terms– Al Quada terrorists consider suicide a heroic, Al Quada terrorists consider suicide a heroic,

religious actreligious act– Focus on interactions and group behavioursFocus on interactions and group behaviours


PostmodernistPostmodernist

Assumption:Assumption: Existing theories of society Existing theories of society have been unsuccessful in explaining social have been unsuccessful in explaining social life that is a result of post-industrialization, life that is a result of post-industrialization, consumerism, and global communicationconsumerism, and global communication

Central termsCentral terms– Information explosionInformation explosion– Rise of consumer societyRise of consumer society– Global village imageGlobal village image– Post-industrial societyPost-industrial society


PostmodernistPostmodernist

Applying Postmodern Perspectives to SuicideApplying Postmodern Perspectives to Suicide Because of media, many false realities and Because of media, many false realities and

pseudo-explanations in the absence of real pseudo-explanations in the absence of real knowledge about events or their causesknowledge about events or their causes

That the media, the internet, and cyberspace have That the media, the internet, and cyberspace have “agency” and can act on their own“agency” and can act on their own

May explain the mass suicide of a destructive cult May explain the mass suicide of a destructive cult called “Heaven’s Gate”called “Heaven’s Gate”

Third Canadian Edition Kendall Murray Linden Copyright © 2004 by Nelson, a division of Thomson...

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