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+ What is sociology?

+ What is sociology?. + + + + + + What similarities exist in all of these pictures?

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What is sociology?

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What similarities exist in all of these pictures?

+What is sociology?

(def. sheet) Sociologists believe that we develop our beliefs and values while interacting with the complex social system that surrounds us.

We can only understand behaviour by undertaking research and analysis of the structures of societies and how they influence individual and group behaviour.

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Social science discipline that examines development and structure of human society (institutions)

Sociology theorizes social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior

Sociologists investigate structure of groups, organizations, and societies, and how individuals are impacted

+Key concepts sociologists use

Status~ describes our position in an institution

Hierarchy~ ranking of authority of power

Role~ each position requires a particular role and expertise. They therefore are expected to talk, act, dress and behave in a manner according to their role.

+Societal Roles and Status

Everyone plays certain roles within society – Social Scientists refer to this as status

Roles can be ascribed (born into)

Roles can also be achieved

Status is used to describe our position within an institution (e.g.) cashier within a drive-through

restaurant vs. manager

+Horrible Bosses (show until 2:00)

http://youtu.be/TgACfyfjFBI

+Hierarchy

Hierarchy - ranking system used in any particular environment based on authority of power (def. sheet)

Within a hierarchy, role players expected to behave in certain ways (norms)

Many different roles in society are played simultaneously(e.g.) parent at breakfast becomes an

employee within the workplace

+Norms

Norms are behaviours that govern social action and which the majority of the members of society regards as proper, right and expected. (def. sheet)

Norms lead to the standardization of behaviour within any given society

Norms are an important form of social control

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Think about it!

What happens when people go against the norms of their society?

What are some examples?

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+Deviance

Definition

Differing from a norm or from the accepted standards of a society (def. sheet)

n.One that differs from a norm, especially a person whose behavior and attitudes differ from accepted social standards.

+Deviance and Rehabilitation

Deviance – behaviour that is different from the societal norm, considered “deviant” because society does not accept it

Deviance can range from odd behaviour to acts that harm society

Sociology has a strong link with the criminal justice system

Canada’s criminal justice system is based on rehabilitation, or trying to re-educate and re-socialize inmates so that they can grow to accept society’s values and norms

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Read and summarize note on deviance theories

Take notes on each theory

+Movie trailers relating to social deviance

http://youtu.be/SUXWAEX2jlg

http://youtu.be/JsPW6Fj3BUI

http://youtu.be/4Hd-C0kmLAc

+Norms

There are four types of norms:

MoresFolkwaysTaboosLaws

+Mores

Mores are norms that society considers vital for its survival; what is right and wrong, moral and immoral (def. sheet)

Strongly sanctioned by society. E.g. Society insists on respect for

human life. Therefore murder is harshly punished.

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+Folkways

Folkways are norms governing behaviour which the society considers acceptable but does not insist upon. (def. sheet)E.g. Using a spoon instead of a knife

and fork at table; picking one’s nose in public

Folkways are relatively weak norms

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+Taboos

Taboos are behaviours that society finds revolting., considered morally wrong. (def. sheet)

E.g. IncestOthers ???

+Taboos

http://youtu.be/GEpJdHS1pV0

+Laws

Laws are norms that society considers sufficiently valuable that they are codified/formalized through the legislative process with specific formal sanctions/penalties to be imposed on those who break them. (def. sheet)

E.g. Family, religion, education, economy, political subsystem, legal subsystem, mass media.

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+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

+Symbolic Interactionism- Max Weber

Developed by Max WeberGerman late 1800s, early

1900s work

Began as a Conflict theorist; shifted his ideas, methods of social science

+Symbolic Interactionism

Symbolic Interactionists believe humans have complex brains and the interpretation of daily stimuli occurs through the attachment of personalized meanings (e.g.) One sibling might interpret their visit to the

cottage with their mother as terrible, while the other sibling might have thought it was fine

Focus on how individuals process and interpret society beyond its institutions to form values

As a result, Symbolic Interactionists focus research on the human mind rather than social structures

+Con’t…

People’s actions are based on understandings of meanings of the particular situation– the “definition of the situation.”

It is essentially how we as individuals process and interpret what we observe in society, not society’s institutions, that form the core of our value system.

+Sybolic Interactionism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFQIIM8IRZU

+Symbolic Interactionism – George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) See sociology as the study

of one’s own and others’ beliefs, motives, values

Interactionists study the meanings people give to their society How do we experience,

interpret reality?

Reality is defined by context, experience, through social interactions and rituals

+Symbolic Interactionism – Charles Cooley (1864-1929)

Key idea of the “looking-glass self”

People develop self-image from the way they think others see them

“Self-fulfilling prophecy”: seek experiences that reinforce our self-image

Examples??

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Write down what these things mean to you- the first thing you think of when you think of this thing. We are going to share these with the class so don’t make them too private or embarrassing!

-Snow-Hot chocolate-Bed-Hugs-Books-School-Travelling-Fashion-Christmas -Mother

+Conflict Theory/Neo-Marxism

Developed by Karl Marx, mid 1800s; German

Basis of the theory founded in the political/economic theory of communism

Social order is maintained by domination, with power in the hands of those with the greatest political, economic, and social resources.

+Con’t

According to conflict theory, inequality exists because those in control of a disproportionate share of society’s resources actively defend their advantages.

Groups and individuals advance their own interests, struggling over control of societal resources. Those with the most resources exercise power over others with inequality and power struggles result. There is great attention paid to class, race and gender because they are seen as the grounds of the most enduring struggles in society.

+Conflict theory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoEuHwkbhYM

+Feminist Theory

Feminist Theorists focus on sex and gender issues – extension of Conflict Theory

Believe that women have traditionally been disadvantaged in society because men have discriminated against them

Since men have traditionally made the decisions in within society, they tend to favour men Liberal feminism emphasizes better-paid and prestigious jobs to

women and the elimination of laws discriminating against social rights of women

Marxian feminists believe women’s unpaid / undervalued domestic work has influenced lower wages to male workers

Radical feminists believe child bearing has led to systematic oppression by men

Socialist feminists try to separate issues of oppression that stem from male domination through capitalism

+Feminist theory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xorqPUYu_SE

+Structural-Functionalism

Belief that each society should provide its members with the fundamental requirements for functioning fulfilling material needs socializing and educating youth regulating reproduction (usually marriage)

Argue that societies remain stable by its members sharing values and agree on ways that its institutions operate. Change is slow, then society stable.

When change occurs in one part, there is change in another. During times rapid change, the danger is that sometimes institutions fail to fulfill their function.

+Structural Functionalism explained

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jOZqVnQmdY&list=PLoJ_QXA_euCruwIzDppFtdtDZHlOTAypd