Download Lesson 1 Video Transcript: What Is Sociology?

Sociology 1000:
Introduction to Sociology
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Lesson 1 Video Transcript: What Is Sociology?
What is sociology?
Sociology is the study of social life focusing on the relationship between individuals and social
structures. The aim of this course is to help you see the world as a sociologist does, using what
we call the sociological imagination. In this perspective, our lives are not purely personal but
are lived out in the context of social circumstances that affect us all.
In this chapter…
When you finish this chapter, you should be familiar with the classic sociologists who began the
discipline, three broad theoretical perspectives often used by sociologists to explain social life,
and several recurring themes we will revisit throughout the course.
Three competing theories
Three theoretical perspectives are often the basis for sociological explanations. Structuralfunctional theory views societies as analogous to organisms with social structures that evolved
to perform key functions. The conflict theory emphasizes competing perspectives, such as
those who own businesses and workers who are paid for their work. The interactionism
perspective emphasizes how people create social life through interactions with one another.
Recurring themes in sociology
Sociology focuses on several recurring themes, including how societies exert social control in
order to survive; how individuals socially construct reality as they interact with one another; the
amount, causes, and nature of social inequality; social structures that shape our lives; social
change; and the nature of knowledge and how sociology can be a science.
Keycode: 2703
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