Download The Sociological Point of View

The Sociological
Point of View
Chapter One
Purpose
• To better understand human society,
sociologists study how humans interact
with each other.
Section 1
EXAMINING SOCIAL LIFE
Introduction
• The primary interest of sociologists is the
combination of
– The diversity of society/difference in how
people view a certain subject
• example: religion is a personal choice
– The shared characteristics and ideas of
society
• example: crime is wrong
Math Problems
• For psychology, we had a math problem:
– PSYCHOLOGY = thoughts + behaviors
• We have one for sociology too:
– SOCIOLOGY = human society + social behavior
The Sociological Perspective
• Definition: look at social life in a scientific
systematic way, rather than depending on
common-sense explanations
• Purpose of developing
– See a connection between you and
society
– Broaden your view of the social world
– Learn there are many views of social
reality
• Sociological Imagination: the ability to
make a connection between your
personal life and the larger world
Sociology’s Place in
the Social Sciences
• Remember, the Social Sciences include:
sociology, psychology, anthropology,
history, economics, and political science
Section 2
HISTORY OF SOCIOLOGY
A Historical Timeline
•
Developed as a
separate study in the
late 1800s
–
Due to the Industrial
Revolution and the
many social changes
due to urbanization
• The Early Years—
primarily in France,
Germany, and
England
August Comte: France, 1798-1857
• Considered the father of sociology; he
coined the name sociology
• Intrigued by the causes and
consequences of the French Revolution
• Focused on social order and social change
• Said social statics hold society together and
social dynamics were the ways society changed
• Never completed his college education
Herbert Spencer: England, 1820-1903
• Pursued a study of sociology after
inheriting enough money to quit
working
• Social Darwinism—coined the
phrase survival of the fittest to
refer to the similarities between
societies and biological systems
Karl Marx: Germany, 1818-1883
• Could never hold a job for long
because of his revolutionary and
radical ideas
• Felt society was influenced by its
economy and two groups—the
proletariat (workers) and the bourgeoisie
(capitalists/owners)
• His views led to the development of conflict
theory
Emile Durkheim: France, 1858-1917
• Developed the first college sociology
course in France
• Focused only on observable
phenomena
• Organized the first sociological
study—Suicide, 1897
Max Weber: Germany, 1864-1920
• Looked at separate groups in
society
• Verstehen: put yourself in
someone else’s shoes
• Employed the concept of ideal type—the
basic components of features of society
The American Sociological
Association (ASA)
• Firsts
– College Class: University of Kansas, 1889
– College Department: University of Chicago,
1892
– Organization: 1905
• Growth
– 115 members in 1906
– Over 14,000 members today
CURRENT PERSPECTIVES
Remember, a perspective is just an idea
Functionalist Perspective
• Based on the ideas of Comte, Spencer, and
Durkheim
• View society as a set of interrelated parts that
work together to ensure the social system runs
smoothly
• Functions—positive consequences for society
– Manifest Function: the intended consequence
– Latent Function: the unintended consequence
Conflict Perspective
• Focus on the forces in society that promote
competition and change; can be violent or
non-violent
• Competition over scarce resources (like
money) is at the basis of social conflict
Interactionist Perspective
• Focus is on how individuals interact with
one another in society
• Look at the role of symbols in our daily
lives