SOCIOLOGY SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Section 2 of Chapter 1Section 2 of Chapter 1

Review Slide (Sect 1- Slide 1)Review Slide (Sect 1- Slide 1)What Sociology What Sociology ISIS

SociologySociology – – Social Science of human society and social behaviorSocial Science of human society and social behavior

(Study of Society [groups])(Study of Society [groups])

Social ScienceSocial Science – – Disciplines that study human social behavior,Disciplines that study human social behavior,

functions, and institutions in a scientific wayfunctions, and institutions in a scientific way

Social InteractionSocial Interaction – – How people relate and influence each How people relate and influence each otherother

Social PhenomenaSocial Phenomena – – Observable facts and events in societyObservable facts and events in society

Sociological PerspectivesSociological Perspectives – – Look beyond commonly held Look beyond commonly held beliefs to the hidden meanings behind human actionsbeliefs to the hidden meanings behind human actions

Sociological ImaginationSociological Imagination – – Connecting the larger world to Connecting the larger world to

(C. Wright Mills) your personal life(C. Wright Mills) your personal life

Review Slide (Sect 1 – Slide 2)Review Slide (Sect 1 – Slide 2)What Sociology is What Sociology is NOTNOT

All of the below Social Sciences are the study of the All of the below Social Sciences are the study of the material listed beside them…Study of…material listed beside them…Study of…

AnthropologyAnthropology – comparing past -vs- present – comparing past -vs- present culturescultures

PsychologyPsychology – Behaviors and mental processes – Behaviors and mental processes EconomicsEconomics – Choices people make to meet their – Choices people make to meet their needs and wantsneeds and wants Political SciencePolitical Science – Organization and Operation – Organization and Operation

of governmentsof governments HistoryHistory – Past events – Past events

Then and NowThen and Now

Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution → → Rapid Social and Rapid Social and Political ChangesPolitical Changes ∙ ∙ Result = Housing ShortagesResult = Housing Shortages Pollution ↑Pollution ↑

Crime ↑Crime ↑ UnemploymentUnemployment

BIG IDEA – They could no BIG IDEA – They could no longer deny thelonger deny the effects of society effects of society

on its people and on its people and began studying began studying SociologySociology

The Early YearsThe Early Years

Auguste ComteAuguste Comte (French) (French) Founder of Sociology as a subject; Founder of Sociology as a subject;

coined the term “sociology”coined the term “sociology”

Social StaticsSocial Statics – Unchanging society – Unchanging society

structures that hold it structures that hold it

togethertogether

Social DynamicsSocial Dynamics – Changes in society – Changes in society

that allow it tothat allow it to

developdevelop

The Early YearsThe Early Years

Herbert SpencerHerbert Spencer (English) (English)

Used Darwin’s ideas of Evolution to Used Darwin’s ideas of Evolution to describe society describe society → Social Darwinism→ Social Darwinism

1 - Society is constantly working 1 - Society is constantly working

towards perfectiontowards perfection

2 - “Survival of the Fittest” would2 - “Survival of the Fittest” would

eventually lead to a better worldeventually lead to a better world

The Early YearsThe Early Years Karl MarxKarl Marx (German) (German)

Structure of Society is directly Structure of Society is directly related to the structure of its’ related to the structure of its’ economy economy

Society has two classes:Society has two classes:

1 – Bourgeoisie (Owners) 1 – Bourgeoisie (Owners) 2 – Proletariat (Workers) 2 – Proletariat (Workers)

∙ ∙ He believed the differencesHe believed the differences between the two would lead tobetween the two would lead to conflict ending only when conflict ending only when workers had powerworkers had power

The Early YearsThe Early Years

Emile Durkheim Emile Durkheim (French)(French)

Society is made up of Society is made up of interdependent parts in terms of interdependent parts in terms of their functions their functions – FunctionFunction – is a part that makes up – is a part that makes up

societysociety

· Ex → Religion · Ex → Religion

Said we should only study things Said we should only study things that are directly observablethat are directly observable

The Early YearsThe Early Years

Max WeberMax Weber (German) (German)

Beyond observation to uncover Beyond observation to uncover feelings/thoughts of groups/indiv.feelings/thoughts of groups/indiv.

VerstehenVerstehen – Attempt to understand – Attempt to understand the meanings othersthe meanings others attach to their actionsattach to their actions ∙ ∙ Being able to put yourself in otherBeing able to put yourself in other peoples shoespeoples shoes

Ideal TypeIdeal Type – Description made up of – Description made up of essential characteristicsessential characteristics of a feature of societyof a feature of society · Ex → General description of · Ex → General description of

public Schoolspublic Schools

Current PerspectivesCurrent Perspectives

Current PerspectivesCurrent Perspectives (Terms) (Terms)

· · TheoryTheory – Explanation for relationships – Explanation for relationships between particular phenomenabetween particular phenomena

∙ ∙ Theoretical PerspectivesTheoretical Perspectives – General set of assumptions – General set of assumptions about the nature of thingsabout the nature of things

* Most sociologists use one of the following perspectives to * Most sociologists use one of the following perspectives to attempt to explain the behaviors of groups within a societyattempt to explain the behaviors of groups within a society

Current PerspectivesCurrent Perspectives

Functionalist PerspectiveFunctionalist Perspective

From Comte, Spencer and DurkheimFrom Comte, Spencer and Durkheim Society is a set of related parts that work together for successSociety is a set of related parts that work together for success · Works through consensus· Works through consensus Certain elements can be Certain elements can be dysfunctionaldysfunctional ∙ ∙ Having a negative consequence on the stability of societyHaving a negative consequence on the stability of society Ex → CrimeEx → Crime Manifest FunctionManifest Function – Intended and Recognized consequence – Intended and Recognized consequence Latent FunctionLatent Function – Unintended and Unrecognized consequence – Unintended and Unrecognized consequence

– Ex. The function of a carEx. The function of a car

Current PerspectivesCurrent Perspectives

Conflict PerspectiveConflict Perspective

From MarxFrom Marx Society is the result of competition and changeSociety is the result of competition and change

(How those with power control those w/o power)(How those with power control those w/o power)

∙ ∙ Competition over scarce resources Competition over scarce resources →→ conflict conflict

∙ ∙ Conflict → Social Change so those without the scarceConflict → Social Change so those without the scarce

resources can get themresources can get them

Current PerspectivesCurrent Perspectives

Interactionist PerspectiveInteractionist Perspective

From WeberFrom Weber Focus on how individuals interact with one another in societyFocus on how individuals interact with one another in society Examine the roles of Examine the roles of symbolssymbols in our daily lives in our daily lives

· A symbol is anything that represents something else· A symbol is anything that represents something else

∙ ∙ Symbolic InteractionSymbolic Interaction – The use of symbols when interacting – The use of symbols when interacting

Ex. American flag, bald eagle, 4Ex. American flag, bald eagle, 4thth of July are symbols for the of July are symbols for the USAUSA