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Chapter 1 Section 1
Examining Social Life
What is sociology?
a social science involving the study of the
social lives of people, groups, and
societies
What is sociology?
the study of our behavior as social beings,
covering everything from the analysis of
short contacts between anonymous
individuals on the street to the study of
global social processes
an overarching unification of all studies of
humankind, including history, psychology,
and economics
What do sociologists do?
Sociologists study society and social
behavior by examining the groups,
cultures, organizations, social institutions,
and processes that people develop.
Careers in Sociology
Most sociologists work in research
organizations, colleges and universities,
state and local government, and
consulting service firms.
They typically work full time during regular
business hours.
The median annual wage for sociologists
was $74,960 in May 2012.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK5J0cM-HE
Sociology
• Sociology is the
science that studies
human society and
social behavior from a
group perspective.
phenomenon
• Sociologists examine social phenomenon.
• A social phenomenon is an observable
fact or event that involves human society.
Social Interaction
• Sociologists are interested in studying
social interaction.
• Social Interaction is how people relate to
one another and influence each other’s
behavior.
• Sociologists focus on the group rather
than on the individual.
perspective
• A perspective is a
particular point of view.
– Babies are usually smarter
and better looking to their
parents than they are to
others.
– Newlyweds nearly always
find their spouses much
more attractive than do
their friends.
perspective
• We all see what is happening around us
through our own perspectives, or our own
points of view.
• We normally do not realize how much of
our attitudes and beliefs are determined by
our perspectives.
The Sociological Perspective
• This view involves looking at the behavior
of groups, not individuals in a scientific,
systematic way.
• The sociological perspective helps us to
see that we are social beings and allows
us to look beyond commonly held beliefs
to the hidden meanings behind human
actions.
The Sociological Perspective
• Do factors such as friends, family, gender, race,
or education affect internet use or crime?
• A sociologist would try to find patterns.
• Would looking at the influence of television or
music provide any clues?
• Finding answers to such questions helps
sociologists to develop a better understanding of
these issues.
Sociological Imagination
• What is the sociological imagination?
• Sociological imagination is the ability to
see the connections between the larger
world and our personal lives.
Sociological Imagination
• C. Wright Mills created the name
sociological imagination.
• Mills described the sociological
imagination as “the capacity to range from
the most impersonal and remote (topics)
to the most intimate features of the human
self … and to see the relations between
the two”
Sociological Imagination
•
How can having a sociological
imagination assist people in their daily
lives?
1. It can help us realize that the causes of
behavior may be different from what they
appear to be on the surface.
Sociological Imagination
•
How can having a sociological
imagination assist people in their daily
lives?
2. It can help make us more aware of the
fact that our own behavior is the result of
social influences-that we have learned
our behavior from other people.
Sociological Imagination
• How can having a sociological imagination
assist people in their daily lives?
3. It can help us look at ourselves and the
world around us more objectively.
Sociological Imagination
• How can having a sociological imagination
assist people in their daily lives?
4. It can help us to see beyond our own dayto-day lives by viewing the world through
the eyes of others.
Sociological Imagination
• How can having a sociological imagination
assist people in their daily lives?
5. It can help us find a balance between our
own personal desires and demands and
those of our environment.
Social Sciences
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Sociology
Anthropology
Economics
Political Science
History
Psychology
Social Psychology
Anthropology
• Anthropology is the comparative study of
past and present cultures.
• In terms of subject matter, anthropology is
the social science most similar to
sociology.
Economics
• Economics is the study of the production,
distribution, and consumption of goods
and services.
• Sociology is interested in the impact of the
distribution of goods and services on
inequality.
Political Science
• Political science is the study of the
organization and operations of
governments.
• Government, particularly its impact on
people’s lives, is also of interest to
sociologists.
History
• History is the study of past events in
human societies.
• Sociology sometimes looks to past events
for explanations of present-day social
phenomena.
Psychology
• Psychology is the study of behavior and
mental processes.
• Social psychology is the study of how
the social environment affects individual
personality and behavior.