What is Sociology?What is Sociology?

SociologySociology –– the scientific study of society the scientific study of society and human behaviorand human behavior

SocietySociety –– people who share a culture and people who share a culture and a territorya territory

Social locationSocial location –– the group memberships the group memberships that people have because of their location that people have because of their location in history and societyin history and society

The overall goal in any science is to . . . The overall goal in any science is to . . .

1.)Explain why something happened1.)Explain why something happened

2.)To make 2.)To make generalizationsgeneralizations that go beyond that go beyond an individual case and make statements an individual case and make statements that apply to a broader group . . . to do this that apply to a broader group . . . to do this sociologists look for sociologists look for patternspatterns

Social InstitutionsSocial Institutions

Organized ways by which a society meets Organized ways by which a society meets its basic needsits basic needs

1. Economy1. Economy

EconomyEconomy: system of distribution of goods and : system of distribution of goods and servicesservices

Examples:Examples:

CapitalismCapitalism

SocialismSocialism

2. Politics2. Politics

PoliticsPolitics: always deal with government power and : always deal with government power and authorityauthority

PowerPower: ability to carry out your will: ability to carry out your willAuthorityAuthority: power that people accept: power that people acceptCoercionCoercion: power that people do not accept: power that people do not accept

Types of GovernmentTypes of Government: : DictatorshipDictatorshipDemocracyDemocracyMonarchyMonarchyOligarchyOligarchy

3. Family3. Family

FamilyFamily: two or more people who consider : two or more people who consider themselves related by blood, marriage, or themselves related by blood, marriage, or adoptionadoption

Types:Types:�� Nuclear FamilyNuclear Family: husband, wife, children: husband, wife, children

�� Extended FamilyExtended Family: grandparents, aunts, uncles: grandparents, aunts, uncles

4. Education4. Education

EducationEducation: system of teaching knowledge, values, : system of teaching knowledge, values, and skills, a transferring of cultureand skills, a transferring of culture

Examples:Examples:�� Early education in the homeEarly education in the home

�� Public education todayPublic education today

5. Religion5. Religion

ReligionReligion: beliefs and practices that separate the : beliefs and practices that separate the profane from the sacred, belief in a higher profane from the sacred, belief in a higher powerpower

Major religionsMajor religions: :

Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and Hinduism.Hinduism.

Macro vs. Micro AnalysisMacro vs. Micro AnalysisMacroMacro--level analysislevel analysis –– examine largeexamine large--scale scale

patterns of societypatterns of society

Ex. Studying the homeless . . . macro Ex. Studying the homeless . . . macro level analysis would study how parts of level analysis would study how parts of society increased/decreased society increased/decreased homelessness (economics, fewer/more homelessness (economics, fewer/more jobs, jobs being moved overseas, closing jobs, jobs being moved overseas, closing of companies etc.)of companies etc.)

MicroMicro--level analysislevel analysis –– examination of smallexamination of small--scale patterns of societyscale patterns of society

Ex. Studying the homeless . . . micro level Ex. Studying the homeless . . . micro level analysis would study what homeless analysis would study what homeless people do everyday (on the streets, in the people do everyday (on the streets, in the shelters, at night, how they pass the time) shelters, at night, how they pass the time)

Macro vs. Micro Macro vs. Micro –– Self QuizSelf QuizHow you claim your space in a movie theater by placing your jackHow you claim your space in a movie theater by placing your jacket et on the empty seat next to you.on the empty seat next to you.

How the Civil Rights demonstrations of the 1950s and 1960s led tHow the Civil Rights demonstrations of the 1950s and 1960s led to o desegregation in public schools.desegregation in public schools.

How a family of five will reHow a family of five will re--structure everyonestructure everyone’’s roles following the s roles following the death of a parent.death of a parent.

How you approach your boss to ask for a raise.How you approach your boss to ask for a raise.

How the Homeland Security antiHow the Homeland Security anti--terrorism measures will affect our terrorism measures will affect our civil rights.civil rights.

How you park your new car in a tight parking space to avoid doorHow you park your new car in a tight parking space to avoid doordinks.dinks.

How the stock market decline will affect retirement incomes.How the stock market decline will affect retirement incomes.