WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?

What is Sociology? Looks at the

development and structure of human society (institutions) and how it works.

Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behaviour.

Sociology Subject Matter Sociologists investigate the structure of

groups, organizations, and societies, and how people interact within these contexts.

All human behaviour is social so the subject matter of sociology ranges from the intimate family to the hostile mob; from organized crime to religious cults; from the divisions of race, gender and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture; and from the sociology of work to the sociology of sports.

From a Sociological Perspective… Read the following statements & make a judgment

about their veracity: “Falling in love” is a natural human emotion. Therefore,

romantic love has existed in all societies at all times. By teaching children about sexual relationships, the

education system encourages young people to experiment sexually, leading to an increase in teenage pregnancies.

The high divorce rate in our society indicates that marriage as an institution is under threat in our society.

The deliberate killing of one human being by another human being has always been seen by society to be wrong.

Roles We Play We all play certain roles in our

society – social scientists refer to this as status.

Status is the term used to describe our position within an institution. Ex: LCVI – There are many positions at LCVI

ranging from teacher, vice-principal, guidance counsellor, principal, student, and superintendent.

Can you put them in order on the hierarchy?

Hierarchy Hierarchy is a ranking system based on

authority of power. Each position or role requires a certain type

of expertise which is valued by society. In order to distinguish between these roles

are expected to dress and act in a certain way.

On any given day we can play many different roles in society – e.g. A parent can drive their kids to school, go to work, teach their students.

Rules, Norms, Values Values – beliefs of a group that provide

standards for members’ behaviour Folkways – everyday manners and etiquette

Norms – these are rules that outline what is considered standard behaviour for a role Mores – strongly held norms that reflect the

values & morals of a culture Rules – these are developed by cultures

based on their system of values Laws – rules that are enforced by the

governing body

Deviance Any behaviour that

is different from the societal norm. It is deviant because we, as a society, do not accept it.

Can range from simple eccentricities to behaviour that harms society or is considered disreputable.

Rehabilitation Sociology has formed

a strong link with the justice system.

A fundamental component of modern imprisonment is rehabilitation, or trying to re-educate and re-socialize inmates so that they can grow to accept society’s values and norms.

Schools of Thought:Structural-Functionalism Each society should provide its members with

the fundamental requirements for functioning – material needs, system for socializing & educating, regulating human reproduction.

Structural-Functionalists believe their role is to try and explain the role of society’s systems in enabling human society to function.

They do not concern themselves with change, but instead with how society works to meet their needs.

Schools of Thought:Neo-Marxism Based on ideas originally proposed by Karl Marx. To understand society, we must understand the

economic system which creates a rich class of owners and a poor class of workers.

Neo-Marxists believe the economic system creates a rich class of owners and a poor class of workers.

Institutions (churches, schools, prisons, etc.) in society are created to perpetuate the division between the powerful and powerless.

Schools of Thought:Symbolic Interactionism Humans have complex brains, and little

instinctive behaviour. Therefore, people interpret and attach meaning to stimuli. e.g. One person might pursue fame and fortune

while a sibling might dedicate his or her life to charitable work in a developing country.

Individuals process and interpret what they observe in society, which forms the core of our value system.

Symbolic Interactionists focus their research on the human mind rather than on structures in society.

Schools of Thought:Feminist Theory Most of society’s value system is sexist

& dysfunctional. Women have traditionally been disadvantaged – men have made the decisions in society, and those decisions have favoured the interests of men.

Focuses on the sexism in value systems that need to be changed in order for society to function.

Schools of Thought:Inclusionism Modern, multicultural nations must

create an environment where all people, regardless of their ethnic, social, or gender characteristics, can contribute to the well-being of society.

Studies the experiences of ethnic groups and rejects the urge to judge through the eyes of the majority.

Social Science Perspective Now that we have learned about each of

the social sciences, let’s see how each discipline would approach the following situation…

The TeamRecently the owner of the hockey team became concerned

about the state of affairs on the squad. Morale was low. The team was losing more games than it was winning. Forwards weren’t scoring, goalies weren’t stopping the puck from going into the net, defencemen were coughing the puck on their own and everyone was taking foolish penalties. The coaches, general manager, owner, and players were constantly arguing with one another.

The owner decided to hire a number of consultants to determine what the problems were on the team and what could be done to solve them. Each of the consultants had a different frame of reference. The first was a psychologist, the second was a sociologist, and the third was an anthropologist. Each of the consultants observed the team at practice and during regular game situations. They recorded their observations and reported to the owner.

Sociologist’s Report:This is essentially a sociological problem. There is a

status problem on this team. Some of the players are making huge salaries and believe that they are stars. Others believe themselves to be everyday “lunchpail” players. When the ordinary players see that the stars are not producing, they become frustrated and apathetic and do not try their best. Similarly, the coaches and the general manager have a higher position on the team than the players and yet earn much less. The players resent the fact that they must take orders from the coaches and general manager who are making less money than they and are therefore less important. The players are unable to take criticism from the coach and GM. This results in disputes and hostility which reduce the effectiveness of the team.

Anthropologist’s Report:This is essentially an anthropological problem. There

is a basic contradiction in values between management and players. Management operates on the principle that the good of the organization – its growth and development – is more important than the good of an individual player. The management and coaches are more concerned about the team; whereas, the individual players are more concerned about themselves. For example, decisions about whom to trade, whom to play or bench are made by management in the interests of the whole team. Players, of course, may disagree with the decisions of management as a result of self-interest. This basic conflict may produce disharmony and discord on the team.

Psychologist’s Report:This is essentially a psychological problem. Each of the

individuals on the team is becoming so frustrated by the constant failure they face that it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to achieve success. For example, the forwards want to score, but they make a mistake and become so frustrated and uptight that they are unable to decide which part of the net to shoot for when they get the opportunity. The defencemen become frustrated when they miss the player they are supposed to check, thus allowing the other team good scoring opportunities. The goalies lose their confidence and poise resulting in their inability to stop the easiest shots. The coach, in his frustration at the team’s inability to win games, keeps benching his best players when they fail to produce. All of this frustration is building up, resulting in hostility and aggression between the players and the coaches.

Comparing the Social Sciences…What are similarities & differences?

Comparing the Social Sciences…

All study human behaviour!