Download A Sociological Perspective

A Sociological
Perspective
Chapter One
Henslin’s Sociology: A Down to Earth Approach
(Rubinfield and Zumpetta)
What is a Sociological Perspective?
Sociology views social contexts that
underlie social behaviors/social locations.
Sociology examines the links between what
people do and the social settings that shape
their behaviors
Sociology looks beyond community and
national boundaries to see a global village.
Science is defined as ‘the systematic
methods used to obtain knowledge’
Two types of Sciences:

Natural Sciences

Social Sciences
Natural Sciences include:
 Biology
 Geology
 Chemistry
 Physics
Social Sciences include:
Political Science – Examines
politics/governmental systems
Economics – Examines the production,
distribution, and allocation of material goods
and services in different societies.
Anthropology – Studies culture
Psychology –Examines human behavior in the
context of the individuals and/or small groups.
Sociology – Encompasses many of the
interests and concerns of the other social
science disciplines, but primarily examines
external social factors that influence human
behaviors on both a micro and macro level,
which includes examining how social
relationships, social divisions, belief systems,
organizations, and social structures are
constructed and applied by society, as well as
how individuals and groups are affected by
these constructions and applications.
Whether Natural or Social Science,
both attempt to explain why
something occurs.
Sociology attempts to…
 Explain Social Behaviors
 Generalize about Social Behaviors
 Predict Social Behaviors
The Origins of Sociology:
Sociology grew out of the social, political,
economic and technological revolutions of
the 18th and 19th centuries.
These revolutions resulted in sweeping
changes that eroded old traditions.
These changes, in turn, required new ways
of perceiving and examining the world.
Sociology developed in response to a number of
factors occurring in the mid 1800’s
Social Upheaval due to the Industrial Revolution
 The mass migration of people to cities in search of
work.
 Horrendous working condition in factories.
Success of both the US and French Revolutionsbrought new democratic principles and ways of life.
Impact of Imperialism-forced cultural interaction and
conflicts.
Success of Natural Sciences -provided a “model” for
explaining social changes associated with time/places
and the social consequences of change.
Important People in the development
of sociology as a science
Auguste Conte – Was the first to use the
word ‘sociology’, he envisioned a ‘new’
science, the systematic study of society
and use of positivism, and then apply
these principles for social reform.
He was considered the ‘Founder’ of
sociology because he thought of the
concept and coined the phrase (but never
performed any studies.)
Herbert Spencer – Envisioned an evolutionary
model of society capable/intelligent surviving
with the weaker dying out.
He was the first to use the term ‘the survival
of the fittest’, he believed that helping the
poor through even charity and welfare was
detrimental to society as a whole. These
beliefs became known as “Social
Darwinism” and continued to be held in high
regard until recently discredited.
Karl Marx:
Karl Marx – Like Conte, Marx believed that
people should take “active steps” to change
society.
He believed that class conflict rooted in
economics drove society.
He also believed that eventually the workers
(the Proletariat) would rise up and develop a
united force to topple the wealthy (the
Bourgeoisie), ending in a classless society
free of exploitation and oppression.
Emile Durkheim –
Wanted to establish Sociology as a ‘distinct academic
discipline.”
He was the first to show how social forces directly affect social
behavior.
He conducted research examining the suicide rate in several
European countries and found that contrary to commonsense
assumption, suicide was not solely an individual choice, but was
also shaped by social structures, finding that those with strong
social ties (Catholics, Jews, females and married people etc)
had a lower suicide rate.
Durkheim encouraged sociologists to actively ‘diagnosis’
society’s ills by discovering social facts and objective social
conditions through scientific research, and then to devise
remedies based on these findings.
Max Weber –
Believed that religion (not class struggles) was the driving force
shaping society. He wrote the Protestant Ethic and the Spirit
of Capitalism over a hundred years ago.
Marxist- Economics determines Culture in society
Webian-Culture determines Economics in society
Weber believed that Social Research should be “value free”. He
believed that all Sociologists, as human beings, have ‘value
bias’ and that these bias must be examined and excluded when
conducting Social Research in total neutrality and objectivity.
He used replication as a test for social bias. Weber stressed
the need for objectivity in social research.
Verstehen is a German term used by Weber.
It best translated as… “to have insight into
someone’s situation‘– Putting oneself in
others shoes.
No one approach is mutually exclusive in Social
Research.
Contemporary sociologists combine both
approaches complimenting and informing
each other.
Few woman in the sociology field in
the 1800’s due to several factors:
 General status of woman in European
society
 Less educational opportunities
 Considered ‘socially deviant’ for woman to
want to be educated
 Woman were expected to be dedicated to
the 4K’s




Kirche (Church)
Kuchen (Cooking)
Kinder (Children)
Kleidir (Clothes)
Harriet Martineau –
Defied society’s norms to study social
life in Great Britain and the United
States.
She published ‘Society in America’
decades before Durkheim/Weber were
born
.
In North America:
 1st Department of Sociology established at
the University of Kansas in 1892, followed by
Atlanta University in 1897, and University of
Chicago in 1899.
 Albion Small founded the Social Science
Department at the University of Chicago and
published the American Journal of Sociology,
which continues today. This department
dominated the field of Sociology for the first
half of the 20th Century
Woman and Minorities in U.S. Sociology
In the first half of the 20th Century in America, African
American, as well as female sociologists,
encountered significant institutional racism/sexism
much the same as their European counterparts.
They were routinely denied appointments to universities
where research was being funded and conducted.
Because of these many social barriers to Sociology,
many woman became social activists as an
alternative and worked directly with the poor.
These activists were regarded as Social Workers.
Jane Adams Sociologist/Social Worker founded Hull
House in Chicago - a refuge for the poor
and homeless.
 She was awarded the Noble Peace
Prize for her work with the poor in 1931,
and has been the only sociologist ever
to be so honored.
W. E. B. DuBois –
 An African American sociologist who did
extensive studies on race relations. He
published a book on this topic every year
from 1896 thru 1914.
 Jane Adams and W.E.B. DuBois co-founded
the National Association for the Advancement
of Colored People (NAACP).
 During his life, DuBois became a fierce social
critic of racism/race discrimination. He was a
journalist who later in life embraced Marxism,
believing in class conflicts and the need for
social revolution/reform. His writings were
mostly overlooked throughout the 20th
Century.
 Recently, since his death in 1963, DuBois has
become more broadly read, recognized and
appreciated.
.
 The debate over whether Sociology should
analyze society or reform it, has continued
since it’s inception in the mid 1800’s

Jane Adams was a strong advocate for
reform, working her entire life to bring about
social change.

W.E.B. DuBois initially wanted to analyze it.
1940’s –
 In the U.S. in the 1940’s there was a growing
concern for establishing sociology as an
academic discipline.
 This concern shifted the emphasis by
American sociologists from social reform to
social theory.
The results of increased theorizing:
 Legitimized sociology as a science
 Did little to critique reform or help change the
social infrastructure of society.
C Wright Mills –
 (1960’s- 1970’s) Developed a “Power Elite Theory”,
which stated that a small group of influential
business, political and military leaders monopolized
power and threatened American freedom.
 This theory helped shift sociology back toward social
reform in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
 He theorized on the differences between personal
problems and public issues.
“Pure” Basic Sociology –
Is the use of sociology to increase
knowledge and understanding of human
behavior/relationships/conditions
“Applied” Sociology
Social research used to help solve
specific social problems in specific
social settings.
Both try to separate fact from fiction examining
links between what people do and the
settings that help shape their behaviors.
Currently, sociology encompasses both forms of
analysis, and inform on both the micro and
macro levels.
Micro-small scale patterns of society
Macro-larger scale patterns of society
Theoretical Perspective: What is a
Theory?
A Theory: is a general statement about how
parts of the world fit together, relate to one
another, affect each other.
Sociologists use three major sociological
theories to observe and interpret social
contexts, relationships, and realities in distinct
ways…
Three types of sociological theories:
Interactionism –
Analyzes how people use symbols
to develop/share their views of the
world. Micro level studying the way
individuals and small groups
create, and disseminate and/or
interrupt ‘reality’ thru their everyday
face-to-face interactions.
1. Symbolic
Theories…
2. The Conflict Theory – Focuses on the
macro level of society, and views the world as
completing groups struggling over limited
scarce resources.
Using sociological analysis, Conflict Theorists
examine how people with wealth and power
maintain and/or impose their wealth and
power, and how people without wealth and
power work to acquire wealth and power.
Theories…
3. Functional Analysis – Also examines on the
macro level, how various parts of society
work together to fulfill their respective
functions and consequently create a
harmonious society.
It also looks at how parts of society
occasionally become dysfunctional,
negatively affecting other parts and eventually
contributing to an unstable society.
Sociologists often combine
several perspectives to more
fully explain social behaviors
because no one perspective
encompasses all aspects of
social reality.
Future Trends Shaping Sociology:
The history of sociology in America can be
broken down into three distinct phases:
1.
During the first phase the primary concern of
sociologists was making the world a better place.
2.
During the second phase establishing sociology as a
respected field of knowledge, emphasizing basic
“pure sociology” was of primary importance.
3.
During the third and current phase, emphasis has
been on merging social knowledge with practical
work with the development of “applied sociology”.
Remembering that we are globally
connected…
American sociology will eventually
move towards a fourth phase,
which will incorporate a broader
perspective and world view,
encompassing global issues and
concerns.
******