Chapter 1

Developing A Sociological Perspective

Chapter Outline

What is Sociology? The Sociological Imagination Significance of Diversity The Development of Sociology Theoretical Frameworks in Sociology

What Is Sociology?

Study of human behavior viewed in society. A scientific way of thinking about society and

its influence on human groups. Topics include social behavior and social

change.

Disciplines of Sociology

Psychology Anthropology Political Science Economics Social Work

Debunking

Looking at behind-the-scenes patterns and processes that shape behavior.

Questioning actions and ideas that are usually taken for granted.

Acting as “an outsider within.”

Diversity

People are shaped by social context. The United States is comprised of people from

all nations and races. In 1900, 1 in 8 Americans was not White. Today, racial and ethnic minority groups,

including African Americans, Latinos, American Indians, and Asian Americans, are ¼ of the U.S. population.

Sociology and the Enlightenment

Characterized by faith in the ability of human reason to solve society’s problems.

Belief that natural laws and processes in society could be discovered and used for the general good.

Influence of the Enlightenment

Positivists believed that society could be studied using the techniques of the natural sciences.

Humanitarianism is based on the belief that human reason can successfully direct social change for the betterment of society.

Development of Sociology in Europe

Comte coined the term sociology and elaborated the positivist basis of sociology.

Tocqueville described the U.S. in the sociological treatise, Democracy in America.

Martineau wrote one of the first methods books on participant observation.

Classical Sociological Theory

Durkheim identified social facts as a pattern of behavior that can be explained external to individuals.

Marx devoted his work to explaining how capitalism shaped society.

Weber developed the concept of verstehen, seeing things from others point of view.

The Developmentof American Sociology

American sociologists believed sociology could be used to solve social problems.

The Chicago School was characterized by concern with the relationship of individual to society and the use of society as a human laboratory.

Theoretical Frameworks in Society

Functionalism - emphasizes order and views disorganization as the impetus for change.

Conflict theory - emphasizes the role of coercion and power in producing social order.

Symbolic interaction -considers social interaction to be the place where “society” exists.