Download The Essence of Sociology

THE ESSENCE OF SOCIOLOGY
An Introduction to Sociology
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
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Why do we study sociology?
How did modern sociology develop?
Why is it important to develop sociological imagination?
How does an individual think like a sociologist?
What theoretical perspectives shape the study of society?
Why is it important to view the world from multiple
perspectives?
What is sociology?
What is sociological imagination?
How does sociology differ from the other social sciences?
What methods do sociologists use to study social
phenomena?
Who are the founders of sociology?
What theoretical perspectives shape the study of society?
How does student research support the unit?
GOALS TO BE MET
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The learner will develop a sociological point of
view.
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Objectives
1.01 Discuss the origins of sociology.
 1.02 Describe similarities and differences between sociology
and the other social sciences.
 1.03 Identify the relationship between the study of
sociology, society, and culture.
 1.04 Define and apply key concepts used in sociology to
understand human society and interaction.
 1.05 Differentiate among the various sociological
perspectives or theories on social life and formulate a
personal perspective.
 1.06 Differentiate among the various sociological research
methods.
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WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?
What is your BEST
definition of
“sociology”?
WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?
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Sociology – The systematic, scientific study of human
society. (Sociology – A Brief Introduction)
Sociology – The Social science that studies human
society and social behavior. (Sociology textbook)
Sociology - the science or study of the origin,
development, organization, and functioning of human
society; the science of the fundamental laws of social
relations, institutions, etc. (dictionary.com)
Sociology – The study of society. It is a social science
which uses various methods of empirical (based on
observation rather than theory) investigation and
critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about
human social activity. (wikipedia.org)
What is the main concept of each definition?
WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?
A type of social science (discipline that studies
social behavior or institutions and functions of
human society in a scientific manner)
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Social interaction – how people relate to one other
and influence each other’s behavior
 Social phenomena – observable facts or events that
involve human society
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SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
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Definition: Point of view that highlights how society
affects the experiences of individuals
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Problems we face are not only the results of personal choices
but reflect the operation of society itself
C. Wright Mills used the sociological imagination
(ability to see connection between the larger world and
your personal life) to show how personal experience is
shaped by social forces and to distinguish between
personal troubles and public issues.
Helps us understand social reasons to things, like why people
commit suicide, etc.
 Ex: Overspending can be seen as a personal problem or a
public issue
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Macro view – Large scale aspects of society (Athens
Drive High School or Raleigh, NC)
Micro view – Immediate situation where people interact
with each other (ex: Miss H’s class)
SOCIAL SCIENCE
Anthropology – Comparative study of past and
present cultures (Simple and less advanced
societies).
 Psychology – deals with the behavior and
thinking of organisms (focuses on individual
rather than group)
 Economics – Study of choices people make in an
effort to satisfy their needs and wants.
 Political Science – Examination of the
organization and operation of governments
 History – Study of past events
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GROUP ACTIVITY
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Each group will be assigned a particular social science
(history, economics, sociology, psychology, or political
science). Imagine that your group represents a team of
social scientists in your assigned field.
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Develop a list of 5 to 7 questions that your team would have
about the scenario below.
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Consider what would interest you as historians, economists,
sociologists, psychologists, or political scientists about this topic.
 What questions would you have?
Develop your best possible explanation for why the scenario
has occurred.
Be prepared to share your list with the class and expect
feedback about the validity of your questions.
We will compare and contrast the questions and
explanations as a class.
Scenario
 Currently, in Wake County, there is an achievement gap
between white and African American students.
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF
SOCIOLOGY
Began in the 19th Century – mainly in France,
Germany, and England
 Reasons for development
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Rapid social and political changes that took place in
Europe as a result of the Industrial Revolution
Factory replaced the home
Rapid growth of urban populations
American Revolution
French Revolution
Early sociologists wanted to improve society
 Developed more during the 1950s and again
during the 1960s as more societal problems arose
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MAJOR SOCIOLOGICAL
APPROACHES
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD – REVISITED
Tell me the basic story of Red Riding Hood, both
content and the message(s) the story is supposed
to send
 Here is the story from a different point of view
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After I finish reading:
Summarize the differences between the two stories
 Why do you think there are differences?
 Which story do you believe? Explain.
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STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONALISM ( SPENCER AND
DURKHEIM)
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Macro View
Focuses on social order
Emphasizes how parts of society (ex: family) contribute to the overall
society
Sees society as a complex system of interrelated parts that work
together
Argues that social order is based on social consensus (members of
society agree on what is good and cooperate to achieve it)
Parts of society all depend on each other
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Ex: Government, Schools, Taxes, People, etc.
Interested in in discovering functions of specific types of behavior
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Function – Consequence that an element of society produces for the
maintenance of its social system.
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Manifest function – intended
Latent function – unintended
Dysfunctional – Harmful
Ex: Functions of Religion. What are some functions of religion?
Criticism
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Neglects negative functions (ex: divorce)
Doesn’t allow people to take an active role in changing their environment
CONFLICT THEORY (MARX)
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Macro View
Society is always changing and marked by conflict
Society is divided by inequality and conflict
Social conflict between social classes is the key force
in society
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Divided into the “haves” and “have nots”
Elite control the poor and weak
Criticism
Overly negative view of society
Difficulty in predicting exactly where those cracks in a
given society are and when they occur
 View positive aspects of society (civil rights) as capitalistic
designs to control the masses, not to preserve society and
social order
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Feminist Theory is part of this
FEMINIST THEORY
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Study of social life and human experience from the
standpoint of women
Sees women as less than and subordinate to men
Focus on how patriarchal societies are set up in ways that
disadvantage women
Women are subordinate to men because they are oppressed
Want to improve women’s lives
How race, class, ethnicity, and age intersect with gender
Types of Feminists
Liberal – trace problems to socialization
Socialist – Sees capitalism’s need for profits as reason for
subordinating women
 Radical – trace women’s problems to men’s aggressive nature
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Criticism
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Over-emphasis on patriarchy
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM (WEBER)
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Micro Level
Focus on details of everyday life, interaction between
people, and the ways meaning is assigned to human
interaction
Social interaction is shaped by subjective
interpretations of things (ex: symbols, words,
language, etc)
Understanding of individual and group interaction
Criticism
Lacks “big picture”
 Miss larger issues of society (ex: quality of marriage
 Downplays the influence of social forces and institutions on
individual interactions
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ILLUSTRATING THE THREE
PERSPECTIVES
Using Sports
FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE
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Sports are beneficial to society because:
They contribute to success in other areas of life
 They enhance health and happiness
 The contribute to social order and stability
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CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE
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Sports are harmful to society because:
They act as a drug that numbs the poor’s sense of
dissatisfaction
 Encourages deviant behavior by overemphasizing winning
 Reinforces social, gender, and racial inequalities
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Team owners receive huge profits and tax breaks
while fans and most players have little
Sports are seen mostly as a man’s world, leaving
women out
Racism comes into sports by actually segregating
blacks in certain playing positions and continuing
poverty among African Americans
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
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Studies how:
Athletes and others behave, including the role of
beliefs on winning
 Athletes define themselves
 Beliefs about sports influence black and women
athletes
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CONCLUSION
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By combining the 3 perspectives together,
sociologists can achieve a fuller and more
balanced view of sports and other social activities
SCHOOLS OF SOCIOLOGY ACTIVITY
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Objective: In order to enhance understanding of sociological
perspectives, one can assign groups with each of the following
perspectives:
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Functionalism
Conflict
Symbolic Interactionism
Each group will be given a social problem to evaluate using
the three perspectives. Students will explain how each
perspective would address the social problem.
Social Problems:
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Homelessness
Rape
Poverty
Unemployment
Racism
Sexism
High School Dropouts
Teen Pregnancy