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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?
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Mind map!!!
Definition: The social science that studies
human society and social behavior.
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What is a social science?
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The disciplines that study human social
behavior or institutions and functions of
human society in a scientific manner.
Sociologists are interested in…
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Social interaction
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How people relate to one another and influence each
other’s behavior.
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How has this happened to you?
Focus on the group, rather than the individual.
Examine Social Phenomena
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Observable facts or events that involve human
society.
The Sociological Perspective
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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
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Let’s test our sociological
perspective:
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Write 2-3 paragraphs pretending you are a person
with at least 3 of the following characteristics.
Indicate which ones you chose!
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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
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C. Wright Mills
Sociological Imagination:
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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!
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Comparative study of past
and present cultures.
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Anthropology
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Sociology wants group
behavior in more
complex societies.
Psychology
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Economics
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Organization and
operation of gov’t.
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Sociology focuses on the
group.
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Sociologists study the
effects of economic
factors on societies.
Political Science
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Mind and behavior of
individual.
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Study of choices people
make in an effort to satisfy
their needs and wants.
Sociologists study voting
patterns, politically based
groups, etc.
History
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Study of past events
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Sociologists study past
events to explain current
behaviors/attitudes
Sociology: Then and Now
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Didn’t develop until the 1800’s
Industrial Revolution in Europe
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Caused social and political change to emphasize
sociology…. How so?
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New focus caused by individual rights
movements
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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
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Split into five groups:
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Each group will study their important Sociological contributor &
teach to the class.
Each group must:
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Provide some background information.
Explain their importance to the field
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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:
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Group 1 – Auguste Comte
Group 2 – Herbert Spencer
Group 3 – Karl Marx
Group 4 – Emile Durkheim
Group 5 – Max Weber
Little more about Sociology
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Examines the forces that
compel so many to behave in
a similar way:
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Alcohol, drugs addicts
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Examine nature vs. nurture
Ah, the theatre
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How sociologist view common
human situations
Boy meets girl – descries two
basic sociological concepts:
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Role
Social structure
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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
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Family
First Sociologists:
Auguste Comte: 1798-1857
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Founder of sociology
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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
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Coined the term sociology
Hold society together
Theory of Dynamics – social
process
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Society changing
Karl Marx: 1818-1883
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Father of communism
Believed that structure of
society is influenced by how the
economy is organized
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Thought that people who own
the means of production
control society
Social scientists should be social
activists
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Bourgeoisie (capitalists)
Proletariat (workers)
Trouble due to capitalist
system…class divisions.
Conflict is the cause of social
change
Herbert Spencer: 1820-1903
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Was influenced by views of
Charles Darwin
Social Darwinism
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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
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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
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Studied function of religion in
maintaining social order
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Values and beliefs hold society together.
Study only what is observable
(Phenomena) and test it using
statistical analysis
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Used approach in a study on suicide
Max Weber: 1864-1920
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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
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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
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Aka: Consensus Theory
Comte, Spencer and Durkheim
All society’s parts are independent and function as one
organism.
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Society is held together through consensus of norms and values
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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
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Marx
Focus on the forces in society that promote competition and change.
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Interested in violent and non-violent competition b/t different people
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How do people who have power over others, keep it?
Constant change in conflict due to inequality among different
groups.
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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
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Focuses on how individuals interact with one another in
society (Weber)
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Why do we attach meanings to our own actions & to
the actions of others
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How do individuals respond to each other in everyday
situations?
For example – road rage
Symbolic interaction – how we use symbols in our
interactions
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To be a symbol, society must agree on its meaning
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Ex: objects, gestures, words, events,
Micro Sociology