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Chapter 1: An Invitation to Sociology 1 The Sociological Perspective • Perspective – a particular point of View. Ex. Babies are usually brighter and better looking to their parents than they are to others. • SOCIOLOGY – the study of human social behavior or the scientific study of Social Structure(Human Social Behavior). • Sociology never focuses on the individual. Its focus is on the social or group level. • Sociologist look at the behavior of groups, not individuals. • Sociology is considered to be a Social Science. We will look at 6 Social Sciences 2 Social Sciences Sociology Investigate human social behavior or patterns of social relationships, primarily in modern societies. Ex. Relationship between the employment of women and family size. Anthropology Investigates Culture, Customary Belief, and Traits of Preliterate Societies(no writing) Ex. Nature of the family in preliterate societies. Psychology Investigates human mental & Emotional processes and development and functioning of the individual. Ex. Effects of Birth Order on Emotional Development 3 Social Sciences Economics Study of Production, Distribution, & Consumption of Goods and Services. How we use our resources. Ex. Annual Income of American Families. Political Science Study of the organization, Administration, History, Theory of Government, Voting Patterns, & participation in Political Parties. Ex. Relationship between a families social class and voting behavior. History Study of the past events in Human Society. Ex. Nature of family life in a Colonial Society. 4 How do Group Behavior and Individual Behavior differ? • It relates to Patterned relationships or what Sociologist call Social Structure. • Emile Durkheim 19th century Sociologist used the example of Bronze to illustrate this. Bronze is made of Lead, Copper, and Tin. Three malleable metals that when melted together form a hard metal. • Peoples behavior within a group cannot be predicted from their personal characteristics. Something new is created when individuals come together. • Ex. 1999 Denver Broncos when the Super Bowl. • Ex. 1999 Texas Bonfire Tragedy – A Pep Rally at Texas A&M • A Burning Desire to beat Texas 5 Sociology • Sociological Imagination the ability to see the link between society and self. • ORIGINS OF SOCIOLOGY • Sociology began in the late 19th Century in Europe. Social & Econo0mic effects of the Industrial Revolution and The French Revolution were touching all aspects of Life. • People were moving from Farms to Factory life, losing a sense of Community. • The Intellectuals were fascinated and troubled by the sudden change. They wanted to bring back a sense of community & restore order. 6 Sociologist • Auguste Comte – (1798-1857) a French scholar recognized as the “Father of Sociology” • Comte did not originate the concept of Sociology, but he greatly extended and elaborated the field. He divided Sociology into two main branches: • Social Statics – or the study of forces that hold Society together, and • Social Dynamics – or the study of forces (causes) that promote Social Change. • These two branches remain the center of Sociology today. • Comte is credited with coining the term Sociology. He wanted to use Scientific Observation in the study of Social Behavior; he called this Positivism – or the belief that knowledge should be derived from scientific observation. 7 Sociologist • Harriet Martineau – (1802-1876) An English woman. • She was born into a solid middle-class family; and before she reached adulthood she lost her sense of smell, taste, and hearing. Her Gift was the ability to take complicated subjects and put them in terms that people could understand. She was probably the most educated woman of her time. Before her death she had written 100’s of articles on Justice, Abolition, and Women’s Rights. She also translated Comte’s works from French to English and made them much easier to understand. • Comte took her English translation and translated it back to French and taught from her translation. This is why she is recognized as a Pioneer of Sociology. 8 Sociologist • Herbert Spencer –(1820-1903) an Englishman. • Spencer compared Society to the Human Body. He explained that like a body, a Society is composed of parts working together to promote its well-being and survival. • Spencer introduced the Theory of Social Change, that became known as Social Darwinism, based on Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. Spencer thought that Evolutionary Social Change led to progress. If left alone, Natural Social Selection would ensure survival of the fittest society. 9 Sociologist • Karl Marx (1818-1883) a German scholar who did not consider himself a sociologist, but his ideas had a major effect on the field. He was concerned with poverty and inequality suffered by the working class. He felt that Social Scientist should try to change the world, not just observe it. • Marx predicted that at some point all Industrial Societies would only have 2 Social Classes: the Proletariat and the Bourgeoisie. The Bourgeoisie were the wealthy, who owned the factories and large businesses. The Proletariat were the workers, who were paid just enough to stay alive. • Marx predicted Class Conflict between these two Social Classes; where the Proletariat would eventually rebel and overthrow the Bourgeoisie. • The result would be a Classless (Communist) Society in which there would be NO POWERLESS PROLETARIAT. 10 Sociologist • Marx was convinced that Planned Revolution would speed up the change from Capitalism to Communism. • Political Objective was to explain the workings of Capitalism in order to hasten it fall through revolution. He believed that Capitalism would eventually self-destruct anyway. Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) son of a French Rabbi. Durkheim believed Society exists because of a Broad Agreement among the members of Society. • In Preindustrial Times, Society was based on MECHANICAL SOLIDARITY. In these Societies there was wide spread consensus of values, beliefs, strong social pressure for conformity and dependence on traditions and family. 11 Sociologist • Industrial Societies were based on Organic Solidarity, a Social Interdependency based on a web of highly specialized roles. • Ex. Instead of being self-sufficient, People need Bankers and Bankers need People. • Max Weber (1864-1920) German son o0f a well-to-do lawyer, Mother was a strongly, devout Calvinist, who rejected the worldly lifestyle of her husband. Weber was psychologically affected by his parents conflicting values. He suffered a mental breakdown and recovered fully to do some of his best work. Weber believed that Human beings act on the basis of their understanding of a situation. Sociologist must discover the personal meanings, values, beliefs, and attitudes underlying human social behavior. This can best be done by • VERSTEHEN- understanding the Social behavior by putting yourself mentally in their place. Temporarily shedding your values and seeing thing from another POV. 12 Sociologist • Weber identified RATIONALIZATION as a key influence in the change from Preindustrial to Industrial Society. • Rationalization – the mind-set emphasizing knowledge, reason, and planning in the change from Preindustrial to Industrial Societies. 13 Sociologist • Karl Marx (1818-1893) A German Scholar who did not consider himself a Sociologist, but his ideas had a major effect of the field. He was concerned with poverty and inequality suffered by the working class. He felt that Sociologist should try to change the world, not just study it. • Marx predicted a Class Conflict between these two Social Classes; where the Proletariat would eventually rebel and overthrow the Bourgeoisie and the result would be a Classless (Communistic) Society. One in which there would be no powerless Proletariat. 14 Sociologist • Marx was convinced that Planned Revolution would speed up the change from Capitalism to Communism. • His Political Objective was to explain the workings of Capitalism in order to hasten its fall through Revolution. He believed that Capitalism would eventually self-destruct anyway. • Emile Durkheim – (1858-1917) – son of a French Rabbi. • Durkheim believed Society exists because of broad consensus(agreement) among the members of Society. • In Pre-Industrial Times, Society was based on Mechanical Solidarity. In these Societies there was a widespread consensus of Values, Beliefs, Strong Social pressure to Conform, and dependency on Traditions and Family. 15 Sociologist • Durkheim believed that Industrial Societies were based on Organic Solidarity or Social Interdependency based on a web of highly specialized roles. Ex. People needed bankers and bankers needed people. • Max Weber (1864-1920) German, Son of a well-to-do Lawyer. Mother was a strongly, devout Calvinist, who rejected the worldly lifestyle of her husband. Weber was psychologically affected by his parents conflicting values. He suffered a mental breakdown and after recovering fully went on to do some of his best work. • Weber stated that Human Beings act on the basis of their understanding of a situation. Sociologist must discover the personal meanings, values, beliefs, and attitudes underlying Human Social Behavior. 16 Sociologist • Weber believed that an understanding of the personal intentions of people in groups can be best accomplished through the method of Verstehen. Understanding the Social Behavior of others by putting yourself mentally in their places. • By putting yourself in someone else’s “shoes” allows you to temporarily shed your values and see things from a different point of view. • Weber also identified rationalization as a key influence in the change from a Preindustrial to Industrial Society. • Rationalization is the mind-set that emphasizes the use of knowledge, reason, and planning. Which was a change from the tradition, emotion, and superstition of Preindustrial Society. 17 Sociologist • Sociology in America It is through the efforts of American Sociologist that Sociology became a social Science. • 1892 - First Department of Sociology was established at the University of Chicago. This Department was the leader in Sociology in America until after WW2. • After WW2, (1945-1960) Sociology Departments were established at Harvard, Columbia University, University of Wisconsin, Michigan, Stanford and the University of California at Berkeley. • Two early American Sociologist who are often left out of Sociology History are Jane Addams and W.E.B. DuBois. 18 Sociologist • Jane Addams (1860-1935) Her mother died when she was two, but her wealthy father provided a loving and Comfortable home for her and her eight siblings. She was an excellent student and her early education emphasized practical knowledge and the improvement of “The Organization of Human Society”. • Addams saw many examples of Government Corruption and Business Practices that harmed workers. She never forgot their suffering, On a trip to Europe, she saw work being done to help the poor of London. She was inspired by this action and upon returning to America, she co-founded the HULL HOUSE in Chicago’s slums. People who needed refuge – immigrants, the sick, the poor, the aged – could find help. • She focused on the problems caused by the imbalance of power among the Social Classes. She invited Sociologist from the University of Chicago to come and see first hand effects of Industrialization on the lower classes. 19 Sociologist • Addams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. The only Sociologist to receive this honor! • Addams was not considered a Sociologist during her lifetime because 1. she was a woman and 2. she did not teach at a University. She was considered a social worker, because she was a woman and worked directly with the poor. 20 Section 3: Theoretical Perspective • Perspective – the way you interpret the meanings of an image or event. Your Perspective is influenced by Beliefs or Values you hold. It draws your attention to some things and blinds you to others. Ex. • Your Perspective influences what you see 21 Theoretical Perspective • Theoretical Perspective – a set of assumptions about an area of study – in this case, about the workings of society. • A Theoretical Perspective is viewed as true by its supporters and it helps them organize their research. • Sociology has three overarching Theoretical Perspectives; Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic Interactionism. • Each provides a different perspective on human Social behavior. The exclusive use of any one of them prevents our seeing other aspects of social behavior. Ex. Can’t see old woman and young woman at the same time. 22 Theoretical Perspective • All three perspectives, together, however, allow us to see most of the important dimensions. • FUNCTIONALISM – EMPHASIZES THE CONTRIBUTIONS (FUNCTIONS) OF EACH PART OF SOCIETY. • EX. FAMILY – CONTRIBUTES TO SOCIETY BY PROVIDING FOR REPRODUCTION AND THE CARE OF ITS NEW MEMBERS. • ECONOMY – CONTRIBUTES TO SOCIETY BY DEALING WITH PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND CONSUMPTION OF GOODS & SERVICES. • RELIGION – CONTRIBUTES TO SOCIETTY BY EMPHASIZING BELIEFS AND PRACTICES RELATED TO SACRED THINGS 23 Theoretical Perspective • Functionalism VS. Social Change • Functionalism assumes that Societies tend to return to a state of stability after some upheaval has occurred. Society will do this by changing in such a way that it will be similar to what it was before. • Student unrest and Protest of the 1960’s illustrate this. The activities of the Protesters help bring about some change. • Many Americans become suspicious of American Foreign Policy. • Schools and Universities become more responsive to students’ needs and goals. • Environmental Protection became an important Political Issue to many Americans. 24 Theoretical Perspective • These changes did not revolutionize American Society. They have been absorbed into it. Our Society is only somewhat different from the way it was before the student unrest. • Do all Functions have a Positive Effect? • Most aspects of a Society exist to promote a Societies survival and welfare. This is why all complex Societies have economics, families, government, and religions. If these elements did not contribute to a Societies well-being and survival, they would disappear. • A Function is a contribution made by some part of a Society. There are two types of Positive Functions: 25 Theoretical Perspective • 1. Manifest Functions – intended and recognized consequences of an aspect of Society. Ex. school • 2. Latent Functions – unintended and unrecognized consequences of an aspect of Society. Ex. school • Dysfunction – a negative aspect of an aspect of Society. Ex. DMV • How do Functionalist view Values? • According to Functionalism, there is a consensus on Values. • Ex. Most Americans agree on Democracy, Success, and Equal Opportunity. This consensus of Values account for the high degree of cooperation found in any Society. 26 Theoretical Perspective • CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE • Conflict perspective emphasizes Conflict, Competition, Change, and Constraint within a Society. • Functionalist see a basic agreement on values within a society. This leads them to emphasize the ways people cooperate to reach common goals. • The Conflict Perspective focuses of disagreement among various groups in a Society or between Societies. Groups and Societies compete as they attempt to preserve and promote their own special values and interest. • Conflict Perspective supporters see Social Living as a Contest. Their Question is “Who gets what?” 27 Theoretical Perspective • It is those with the most Power – the ability to control the behavior of others – who get the largest share of whatever is considered valuable in a Society. • Those with the most Power have the most Wealth, Prestige, and Privileges. Because some groups have more than others, they are able to constrain, or limit, the less Powerful. • CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE vs. SOCIAL CHANGE • Many conflicting groups exist in a Society. As the balance of Power shifts among these groups, change occurs. Ex. The Women’s Movement – We see larger numbers of women in occupations once limited to men. More women are either making or influencing decisions in business, politics, medicine, and law. 28 Theoretical Perspective • Gender Relations are changing in other ways, too. • More women are choosing: • • • • to remain single To marry later in life To have fewer children To divide household task with their husbands. • According to the Conflict Perspective, These changes are the result of increasing Power among women. • Symbolic Interactionism • Two Sociologist – Cooley and Mead, developed the insight that groups exist only because their members influence each other’s behavior. • To understand Symbolic Interactionism, we need to understand symbols. 29 Theoretical Perspective • SYMBOLS – Anything that stands for something else and has an agreed upon meaning attached to it. The symbol may be an object, a word, a gesture, a facial expression, or a sound. A Symbol is something observable that often represents something that is abstract. Ex. School Mascot – School Loyalty or American Flag – Symbol of the U.S. and all that it stand for. • SYMBOLS HAVE TO BE AGREED UPON WITHIN THE GROUP OR SOCIETY! Ex. Red lights • Therefore Symbolic Interactionism (SI) The Theoretical Perspective that focuses on interactions among people, Interactions based on mutually understood Symbols. 30 Theoretical Perspective • BASIC ASSUMPTIONS OF SYMBOLS IN S.I. • Herbert Blumer (1969) coined the term Symbolic Interactionism. • Assumptions: • 1. We learn the meaning of Symbols from the way we see others reacting to them. Ex. Latin American audience whistling at the end of a performance in Latin America = Booing by an American audience. • 2. Once we learn the meaning of Symbols, we base our behavior (interactions) on them. Ex. If the audience in Latin America is whistling, we do not perform an encore. In the US we would. • 3. We use the meaning of symbols to imagine how others will respond to our behavior. 31 Theoretical Perspective • Through this capability, we have internal conversations with ourselves. These conversations allow us to respond to ourselves before we act. This is crucial, because we guide our interactions with people according to the behavior we think others expect of us and we expect of others. Meanwhile these others are also having internal conversations. The Interaction (acting on each other) that follows is Symbolic Interaction. • Erving Goffman (1974) introduced Dramaturgy – the approach that depicts Human Interaction as Theatrical Performances. • Like actors on a stage, people present themselves through dress, gestures, and tone of voice. Ex. Sometimes teenagers act in a particular way in order to attract attention of someone they want to like them. Goffman calls this Presentation of Self or Impression Management. 32 Theoretical Perspective Functionalism Conflict Perspective Symbolic Interactionism 1. A Society is a relatively integrated whole. 1. A Society experiences 1. Peoples inconsistency and interpretations of conflict everywhere Symbols are based on the meanings they learn from others. 2. A Society tends to seek relative stability. 2. A Society is continually subjected to change. 2. People base their interaction on their interpretations of Symbols. 3. Most aspects of a Society contribute to the Society's wellbeing and survival. 4. A Society rests on the Consensus of its members. 3. A Society involves the constraint and coercion of some members by others. 3. Symbols permit people to have internal conversations. Thus, they can gear their interaction to the behavior that they think others expect of them and the behavior they expect of others. 33