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Sociology
CHAPTER 1
SECTION 1
What is Sociology?
 Sociology is the social science that studies
human society and social behavior.
 Social scientists are mainly interested in
social interaction, or how people interact
with each other.
 Sociologists tend to focus more on groups of
people than on individuals.
The Sociological Perspective
 By adopting a sociological perspective, you can look
beyond commonly held beliefs to hidden meanings
behind human actions.
 What the sociological perspective tells you:
 All people are social beings
 Behavior is influenced by social factors
 Behavior is learned from others
 Helps you see the world through someone
else’s eyes
Continued…
 This perspective can also help you find a balance
between your desires and the demands of the social
environment. (If you always do what others want,
you won’t grow as an individual)
 Finally, this perspective can help you develop
sociological imagination coined by C. Wright Mills.
(Being able to see the connection between the larger
world and your personal life)
Sociology’s Place in the Social Sciences
 Outside of sociology, the social sciences include;
anthropology, psychology, economics, history, and
political science.
 Anthropology deals with primitive societies, whereas
sociology deals with more advanced societies.
 Psychology deals with individuals’ minds, whereas
sociology deals with groups.
Sociology’s Place in the Social Sciences
 Sociologists share many areas of interest with
economists, such as wealth gap between certain
social classes.
 Political science and sociology overlap when talking
about voting patterns, concentration of political
power and formation of politically based groups.
 History and sociology both study past events in an
effort to explain current social behaviors and
attitudes.
Interpreting Visuals
What might a
sociologist find
interesting about
this photo?
Current Perspectives
 Theory- Explanation of relationships of
facts.
 3 Main Theoretical PerspectivesSet
of ideas about how and why
people and societies do what they do.
Ideas about influences
Functionalism
 1. Functionalists
 Auguste
Comte, Herbert Spencer, Emile
Durkheim
 Society is a set of interrelated parts
working together to promote stability and
solidarity.
 Society is held together through consensus.
i.e. what do most people think is best for
society?
Latent and Manifest Functions
 Manifest Function: An intended or
recognized consequence of some element
of society.
 Ex. An automobile providing speedy
transportation
 Latent Function: The unintended and
unrecognized consequence of an element of
society.
 Ex. An automobile used to gain social
standing through display of wealth
Functionalism
 Institutions (Parts)
 Education
 Religion
 Family
 Economy
 Politics/Government
 Science
Functionalism
 Elements of the Concept of Functions;
 Positive
and smooth running = Functional
 Negative outcome/ consequences =
Dysfunctional
 Comte- Pointed out the need to keep society
unified when many traditions were breaking
down
 Ex. family, morals, government
Functionalism
 Spencer- Compared society to the
human body with organs being the
“parts” or institutions.
These “parts” function
interdependently to help the
person (society) to survive.
Conflict Perspective
 2. Conflict Perspective
 Karl Marx, Harriet Martineau (1st female
sociologist), Jane Addams, W.E.B. DuBois.
 Sees society as an arena of inequality that
generates
 Conflict
 Change
 Competition
Conflict Perspective
 Sociologists study how factors such as:
 Social
class
 Race
 Ethnicity
 Gender
 Age
Are linked to a society’s unequal distribution of
money, power, education and social prestige.
Symbolic Interaction
 3. Symbolic Interactionists
 Max Weber
 Everyday interactions between individuals
and the effects of their use of “symbols”.
 Symbols affect;
 Unity and solidarity
 Conflict and war