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Transcript
Unit 1:
Culture & Social Structure
Chapter 1:
The Sociological Perspective
The social world guides our life choices
just as the seasons influence our
selection of activities and clothing.
What is sociology?

Mind map!!!
Definition: The social science that studies
human society and social behavior.

What is a social science?


The disciplines that study human social
behavior or institutions and functions of
human society in a scientific manner.
Sociologists are interested in…

Social interaction

How people relate to one another and influence each
other’s behavior.



How has this happened to you?
Focus on the group, rather than the individual.
Examine Social Phenomena

Observable facts or events that involve human
society.
The Sociological Perspective

Looking beyond commonly held beliefs to
the hidden meanings behind human actions.
People are all social beings.
 Behavior is influenced by social factors
 You have learned your behavior from others
 See your own day-to-day life through another’s
eyes.
 Balance b/t personal desires and environmental
demands
 Social environment shapes you, and you shape it

Let’s test our sociological
perspective:

Write 2-3 paragraphs pretending you are a person
with at least 3 of the following characteristics.
Indicate which ones you chose!








30-40 years older
Different race, indicate which one
Different religion
Different sexual preference
50 years ago
Different gender
Different part of the United States
Much more/less money to your name
Mills & the Sociological Imagination


C. Wright Mills
Sociological Imagination:


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”.
Connection b/t the larger
world and your personal
life.
How does Sociology compare with
other social sciences? Take quiz!


Comparative study of past
and present cultures.



Anthropology

Sociology wants group
behavior in more
complex societies.
Psychology

Economics


Organization and
operation of gov’t.

Sociology focuses on the
group.

Sociologists study the
effects of economic
factors on societies.
Political Science

Mind and behavior of
individual.

Study of choices people
make in an effort to satisfy
their needs and wants.
Sociologists study voting
patterns, politically based
groups, etc.
History

Study of past events

Sociologists study past
events to explain current
behaviors/attitudes
Sociology: Then and Now


Didn’t develop until the 1800’s
Industrial Revolution in Europe

Caused social and political change to emphasize
sociology…. How so?





New focus caused by individual rights
movements



People left homes
Rural to urban
Rapid urbanization, city problems
Unemployment, poverty
American and French Revolution
Civil Rights Movement… any others?
How society was influenced by all these things
became a very hot/interesting topic for some.
Important Sociological Thinkers

Split into five groups:


Each group will study their important Sociological contributor &
teach to the class.
Each group must:


Provide some background information.
Explain their importance to the field





i.e. Significant contributions.
How they were received by the public.
How their theories stand today.
Put this information in a five slide max power point with
at least three images.
Group assignments:





Group 1 – Auguste Comte
Group 2 – Herbert Spencer
Group 3 – Karl Marx
Group 4 – Emile Durkheim
Group 5 – Max Weber
Little more about Sociology

Examines the forces that
compel so many to behave in
a similar way:

Alcohol, drugs addicts



Examine nature vs. nurture
Ah, the theatre


How sociologist view common
human situations
Boy meets girl – descries two
basic sociological concepts:


Role
Social structure

Role – expected performance
of someone who occupies a
specific position. Each
position has established a
script that suggests
appropriate line, gesture and
behavior
Social structure – the larger
structure of the play in which
the roles are played

Family
First Sociologists:
Auguste Comte: 1798-1857

Founder of sociology




Applied methods of physical
science to the study of social life
Tried to find solutions to the
chaos caused by the French
Revolution
Theory of Statics – social
structure


Coined the term sociology
Hold society together
Theory of Dynamics – social
process

Society changing
Karl Marx: 1818-1883


Father of communism
Believed that structure of
society is influenced by how the
economy is organized




Thought that people who own
the means of production
control society
Social scientists should be social
activists


Bourgeoisie (capitalists)
Proletariat (workers)
Trouble due to capitalist
system…class divisions.
Conflict is the cause of social
change
Herbert Spencer: 1820-1903


Was influenced by views of
Charles Darwin
Social Darwinism



Asserted that the fittest societies
would survive over time
“Sociology can become a science
only when it is based on the idea
of natural evolution”
Believed that social change and
unrest were natural occurrences
in society’s evolution towards
stability and perfection
Emile’ Durkheim: 1858-1917


Taught first social science course in
France
Developed the idea of a functionpositive consequence that an element
of society has for the maintenance of
a social system

Studied function of religion in
maintaining social order


Values and beliefs hold society together.
Study only what is observable
(Phenomena) and test it using
statistical analysis

Used approach in a study on suicide
Max Weber: 1864-1920



Focused on effect of society
on the individual/small
groups
Uncover the thoughts and
feelings of an individual, not
just observable
To do… use Verstehen


Try to put yourself in the place
of others and see situations
through their eyes… what do
we call this?
Used concept of ideal type –
essential characteristic of
some aspect of society
Current Sociological Perspectives:
Functionalist Theory



Aka: Consensus Theory
Comte, Spencer and Durkheim
All society’s parts are independent and function as one
organism.

Society is held together through consensus of norms and values




Function equals positive, dysfunction equals negative
Manifest – intended consequence, Latent – unintended consequence
Want to know everything’s function! (especially education
& family)
Macro sociology
Current Sociological Perspectives:
Conflict Theory


Marx
Focus on the forces in society that promote competition and change.

Interested in violent and non-violent competition b/t different people





How do people who have power over others, keep it?
Constant change in conflict due to inequality among different
groups.


Ex: decision making in families, relationships among racial groups, disputes
between workers and employees, etc.
Disagreement over distribution of power and/or resources (those who are in
charge seek to stay in charge)
Some have resources… others don’t… what happens next?
Competition, structured inequality, and revolution… changes occur
as a result.
Macro Sociology
Current Sociological Perspectives:
Interactionist Theory

Focuses on how individuals interact with one another in
society (Weber)


Why do we attach meanings to our own actions & to
the actions of others


How do individuals respond to each other in everyday
situations?
For example – road rage
Symbolic interaction – how we use symbols in our
interactions

To be a symbol, society must agree on its meaning


Ex: objects, gestures, words, events,
Micro Sociology