Download The Sociological Perspective

Intro to Sociology Notes
- Sociology is the scientific study of:
(1) the social behavior and attitudes of individuals;
(2) the structure of groups, organizations, and societies; and
(3) the relationships among social structures and human behavior.
Our social setting has a tremendous impact on our behavior; which is not to say
that social context simply determines behavior. Individuals and groups are capable
of acting independently of social influences; that is, humans influence and are
influenced by their social setting.
Major Sociological Perspectives (Paradigms) and Theorists
The field of sociology lends itself to many different perspectives that attempt to
explain, or make sense of the whys and hows of our social behaviors. Out of these
different paradigms, three major ones have emerged:
1. Functionalism or Structural-Functionalism (Comte, Durkhiem, Merton)
- Structural-functionalism views society as a complex system of interrelated
parts that work together to maintain social order and stability
- Functionalism focuses on order and stability in society; functionalists view
society as a well-integrated system in which most members agree on basic
values.
- Functionalism focuses on (a) a part of society and its relation to other parts
and/or (b) a part of the social system and its relationship to the maintenance
of the system as a whole.
- Sociologists use the term social institutions to describe the major spheres of
social life, or societal subsystems, that are organized to meet basic human
needs
- Functional versus dysfunctional consequences
- Manifest functions versus latent functions
2. Conflict Theory (Marx, Mills, Braverman)
- Conflict theorists argue that conflict, competition and disagreement over scarce
resources (i.e., power, wealth, and prestige) is a fundamental reality of society
- Conflict theorists observe that one group can "get ahead" only at the expense of
another group
- • Karl Marx examined the conflict between the bourgeoisie or capitalists –
those who own the means of production (e.g., the factories, land, raw
materials, warehouses, machines, and tools) – and those who do not own and
must necessarily labor (i.e., the proletariat). Business owners are able to
produce enough food and material goods for everyone and thus have the
power to end human suffering; however, capitalists are concerned with profit
rather than the needs of people.
- Conflict theorists view inequality as undesirable and see it as only useful to
some people
- • Society is structured in ways to benefit a few at the expense of the
majority. Social stratification or inequality is linked to such factors as class,
race, sex, and age.
3. Symbolic Interactionism (Mead, Cooley)
- • According to the symbolic-interactionist perspective, society arises from
the ongoing interaction of individuals; people’s perceptions of reality are
variable and changing
- • Symbolic interactionists examine how people learn attitudes and behavior,
as well as how people come to define situations as problems.
- • The process by which people creatively shape reality through symbolic
interaction is referred to as the social construction of reality. Determining
whether a social problem exists often depends on which audience is
watching, who the actor is, where the action takes place, and when the action
occurs.
- Microsociological level of analysis; focuses on face-to-face interaction
- Examines how people use symbols to create and negotiate social life
- Views language and reality as fluid social constructions
Types of SOCIETIES
The term society is generally used to refer to a group of organisms of the same species
occupying a defined physical or geographical area. In most instances the term society
is used to refer to human groups (who share a common culture).
Types of Human Societies
Hunting and gathering societies are societies in which all of the dietary intake of the
members of the society is obtained by some combination of hunting, trapping,
collecting shellfish, fishing and collecting edible plant materials.
Horticultural societies are those societies in which the major portion of the dietary
intake of the members is obtained from crops which are grown on land which is
cleared by the slash and burn technique.
Pastoral societies are societies in which the major portion of the livelihood of
members is derived from the products obtained from herds of domesticated animals.
Agrarian societies are societies which are based upon crops which are produced in
conjunction with the use of the plow technique. The relatively high level of
agricultural productivity in this type of society provides a situation favorable for the
development of complex systems of social stratification and large permanent cities.
Industrial Societies began to emerge with the so called Industrial Revolution which
is generally agreed to have its origins with the invention of the steam engine (actually
several improvements in the already existing steam engine) by James Watt in or
around 1769 in England. Industrial societies combine science and technology with the
utilization of energy to run machines.
The Postindustrial society is characterized by the use of electronic manipulation and
transmission of information. The advent of radio followed by the television, along
with the development and evolution of the computer, are fundamental technological
developments associated with the development of the postindustrial society.