C1-Developing a Sociological Consciousness

8/11/2019 C1-Developing a Sociological Consciousness

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Developing a Sociological

Consciousness

Sociology 10-Introduction to Sociology


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Discussion Outline

Defining Sociology and the Sociological Perspective

The Sociological Imagination and Levels of Analysis

Small group discussion

The Development of Sociology

Historical Underpinnings and founders Theoretical Perspectives


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What is Sociology?


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What is the concept of free-will?


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Agency vs. Structure

What determines an individuals behavior?

Agency-making individual choices based on free-will

Structure

-cultural and structural influences operate in

the decision making process

How society is organized

Society is patterned


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Developing a

Sociological Consciousness Sociology: scientific study of social interactions

and social organization

Rigorous and systematic

Basic or applied research

Central to world health and

science agenda

Powerful scientific tool


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The Sociological Perspective

The Sociological Imagination

C. Wright Mills


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Levels of Analysis

Macro sociology - Looks at the "big picture" of societyand suggests how society is affected at the institutionallevel.

Micro sociology - Concerned with the socialpsychological dynamics of individuals interacting in smallgroups.


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II. The Development of Sociology

18thcentury

Political Revolutions

Industrial Revolution

The Enlightenment

Before social science and the enlightenment, whohad the authority to say what was right and wrong

regarding social issues?


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Auguste Comte (17981857)

The father of sociology

Argued for the empiricalstudy of society andsocial statics and dynamics


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The Big Three

Karl Marx

Emile Durkheim

Max Weber

Other voices were silenced, excluded and

marginalized

Who? Why?


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Karl Marx (1818-1883)

Society fundamentally divided between two classes

that clash in pursuit of their own interests

Economic determinist

**What did Marx see as the solution

to the evils of capitalism?


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mile Durkheim (1858 1916)

Social integration: density of social relationships in a

collection of people

Social Solidarity

Suicide(1897/1951)


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Max Weber (1864 1920)

rst h n :

study of human subjectivity

Importance of av luefree sociology


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Theory

A theory is a set of statements that explains

why a particular phenomena happens

Theories can be viewed as tools or lenses through

which individuals view society and, in this case,

the family.

Theories differ


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Primary Sociological Theories

Structural Functionalism-Macro Level

Conflict Theory-Macro Level

Symbolic Interactionism-Micro Level Feminist theories-Macro/Micro Level


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Functionalism

Society is a complex social system ofinterdependent parts that work together toensure a societys survival.

Based off work of Durkheim Functionsare purposes and activities to meet

different needs that contribute to a societys

stability

Manifest Functions Latent Functions

Crime? Schools?


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Conflict Theory

Conflict theory examines the ways in which

groups disagree, struggle over power, and

compete for scarce resources.

Based off of work of Karl Marx

Marx predicted that conflict would result from

widespread economic inequality.

The haves dominate in social, political and economic

activities over the have-nots


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Conflict Theory-Karl Marx

Industrialization leads to two classes: thebourgeoisie, or the owners of the means ofproduction; and the proletariat, or the workers whoearn wages. The bourgeoisie use their power to control the institutions of

society to their advantage.

What other institutions might those at the very top of the classstructure be able to control?

What did Karl Marx see as the solution to social Problems inherent ina capitalist system?


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Symbolic Interactionism

Symbolic interactionism looks at individuals

everyday behavior and communication

through symbols and shared meanings.

It is a micro-level perspective.

Interactionists see society as socially constructedthrough everyday interaction and symbols


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Feminist Theories

Feminist theories explain the social, economic,

and political position of women in society.

Focus is on gender issues

Maintain that women suffer injustice because of

their sex/gender.

Seeks to free women from traditionally oppressive

expectations and constraints.


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The Perspectives

Functionalism

How does structure help society work?

Conflict

How are resources distributed?

Feminist

How does life reflect gender?

Interactionism

How do we construct meaning through symbols?


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Benefits of the Sociological Perspective

Gaining a broad understanding of society

Promotes and understanding of the social world and ourplace in it.

Helps us to understand how our lives are shaped by

society, but also how individuals working together can

change society

Documents

C1-Developing a Sociological Consciousness