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SOCIOLOGY
The Sociological
Perspective
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The Sociological Point
of View
CHAPTER OUTLINE
•What is Sociology?
•Developing the sociological imagination.
•The Development / History of Sociology
•Major Theoretical Perspectives
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What is Sociology?
█Sociology
– The systematic study of social behavior in
human groups.
– Examines the influence of social
relationships on people’s attitudes and
behavior.
– Studies how societies are established and
change.
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What is Sociology?
█The Sociological Imagination
– Definition: An awareness of the
relationship between an individual and the
wider society.
– It is the ability to view our own society as
an outsider might, rather than from the
perspective of our limited experiences and
cultural biases.
– “Find the F” cards
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What do you see?
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What is Sociology?
█Sociology is the study of
“Common Sense”
– Knowledge that relies on “common sense”
is not always reliable.
– Sociologists must test and analyze each
piece of information that they use.
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What is sociology?
Number of police in a patrol car
Which is safer?
or
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Development of Sociology
█ Impact of the Industrial Age on society
– Move to urban areas
– Less sense of belonging or
connecting
– Changes in the workplace
– Pace of society / stress
– Small role of government
– Barter to cash
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The Development of Sociology
█Early Thinkers
– Auguste Comte 1798–1857
• --Coined the term sociology as the science of
human behavior; “Father of Sociology”
– Herbert Spencer 1820–1903
• --Studied “evolutionary” changes in society
• “Social Darwinism”
Continued...
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The Development of Sociology
█Early Thinkers
– Émile Durkheim 1858–1917
• --Pioneered work on suicide
– Max Weber 1864–1920
• --”Interactionist”
– Karl Marx 1818–1883
• --Emphasized the importance of the economy
and of conflict among classes in society
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The Development of Sociology
█Modern Developments
– Charles Horton Cooley 1864–1929
• --Pioneered work on small group
interaction within society
– Jane Addams 1860–1935
• --Combined sociological study with activism
– Robert Merton 1910–2003
• --Works on deviant behavior and crime
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What is Sociological Theory?
█Theory: An attempt to explain events,
forces, materials, ideas or behavior in a
comprehensive manner.
█Sociological Theories: Seek to explain
problems, actions, or behavior.
• (religion / suicide study)
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Major Theoretical Perspectives
█Functionalist Perspective (Macro)
– Analyzes how parts of society are structured
to maintain its stability.
– Views society as a vast network of
connected parts, each of which helps to
maintain the system as a whole. (body)
– Each part must contribute or it will not be
passed on from one generation to the next.
Continued...
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Major Theoretical Perspectives
Functionalism:
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Major Theoretical Perspectives
█ Functionalist Perspective (related terms)
– Manifest Functions of institutions are open,
stated, conscious functions. They involve the
intended, recognized, consequences of an aspect of
society.
– Latent Functions are unconscious or unintended
functions and may reflect hidden purposes of an
institution.
– A dysfunction is an element or a process of
society that may actually disrupt a social system or
lead to a decrease in stability.
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Major Theoretical Perspectives
█Conflict Perspective (Macro)
– Social behavior is explained best by
understanding the flaws in society &
conflict between groups / classes.
– Conflict can be social, economic, political,
etc.
– Groups that control the wealth, power, &
prestige will create a society to benefit them.
Continued...
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Major Theoretical Perspectives
█Conflict Theory:
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Titanic: Casualties by Class
Women
Children
Men
Total
1st Class
4/117 (3%)
1/7 (14%)
104/159 (65%) 119/319 37%
2nd Class
13/91 (14%)
0/25 (0%)
135/148 (91%) 152/269 57%
Steerage
91/179 (51%)
55/80 (61%)
381/740 (52%) 527/699 75%
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Major Theoretical Perspectives
█Conflict Perspective
– The View of Karl Marx: Conflict is seen
not merely as a class phenomenon but as a
part of everyday life in all societies.
Continued...
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Major Theoretical Perspectives
█Interactionist Perspective (Micro)
– Studies the forms of social interaction in
order to understand society as a whole.
– Interactionism views human beings as living
in a world of “meaningful” objects (material things, actions, other people,
relationships, symbols, etc)
– Societies / groups may interpret thing
“meanings” differently.
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Major Theoretical Perspectives
Interactionism
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Interactionism: In the news today: 9-21
What’s all the fuss?
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Modern Perspectives
█Feminist Perspective
– Definition: Views inequity in gender as
central to all behavior and organization.
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Modern Perspectives
█The New Right Perspective
– Social problems are largely a result in the
breakdown of small communities and the
family.
– Government programs intended to help are
seen as shifting peoples’ attitudes towards
personal responsibility and the role of
government.
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Major Perspectives
█The Sociological Approach
– Sociologists make use of all the
perspectives.
– Each perspective offers unique insights into
the same issue.
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Criticism towards Sociology
█ “Left of center” politics
– Vocabulary –
• “social justice / economic justice”
• “affordable housing / affordable health care”
• “livable wage”
█ Providing information vs Activism
– Example: Inequality needs “fixing”
• Minimum wage
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