Download John J. Macionis 9th Edition Sociology Chapter One The

Sociology: What is it Anyway?
Society,
the Basics
Defining Sociology
Sociology is the
scientific study of
human society and
social interaction
Society—group of
people that share a
common…
•Culture
•Territory
Groups in Society
Within a society, there
are many subgroups
that people belong to.
What subgroups exist
in Canada?(ex. Ethnic
Groups, Educational
Level, etc…)
Social Interaction
Sociologists study
social interaction—
the behavior of
groups in society
Review
Macrosociology
Microsociology
 An approach of sociology
that analyzes social
systems on a large scale
 Example: studying
religion and learning
about religious worship as
a large structure or
institution in society
 The study of small groups
and individuals within a
society
 Example: studying
religion and learning
about the role and beliefs
of a single worshipper or
small group of
worshippers within a
religion
Group Influence on the
Individual
Can you think of
a behavior that is
not influenced by
other people?
Social Perspective
Social Perspective—almost every
aspect of a person’s thoughts and
behaviors are strongly influenced by
other people
Main Ideas:
•The social situation influences
people’s behavior
•Radical changes in one’s
behavior can occur when the
situation changes
Example of Social Perspective:
The Social Network
In what ways
might people who
belong to
Facebook be
influenced to do
certain things?
How has
Facebook
changed your
life?
Source:
 Social Science: An Introduction. Canada: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2011,
p. 100.
 Nicole Michelle. “What is Sociology?”