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SOCIOLOGY Chapter 1 Lecture Questions Section 1 (pgs. 4-8) Revised December 2014 1. Why are humans considered to be social animals? • Human beings are social animals who need other people. • Isolate someone from other people, they will suffer from negative psychological trauma in only a short period of time. – Remember, “Wilson” in the movie Castaway? 2. Why is it important to study life in society? Your life is affected by the society and culture in your community. For example, the average age at which people in the United States first marry has been rising steadily for several decades. Also, approximately 26 million Americans were victims of crime in 2000. On average a violent crime every 22 seconds and one murder every 34 minutes. By studying and analyzing information on these topics and related topics, sociologists have developed theories that explain social behavior and its effect in our communities. 3. What helps to mold us into unique individuals with varied outlooks on life? • Values • what is important to us. • Beliefs • personal beliefs about a variety of topics. • Lifestyles • how we chose to live our life. • Experiences of those around us • people we come in contact with influence us. • And historic events • major events have an impact on us and those we share a culture with. 4. What is sociology? Sociology is the social science that studies human society and social behavior. Social sciences are the disciplines that study human social behavior or institutions and functions of human society in a scientific manner. 5. In what are sociologists mainly interested? Sociologists are interested in social interaction or how people relate to one another. They are also interested in how this relationship influences each other’s behavior. Consequently, sociologists tend to focus on the group rather than on the individual. 6. Why study sociology? It helps you gain a new perspective on, or view of, yourself and the world around you. This new view involves looking at social life in a scientific systematic way. Rather than depending on common-sense explanations. By adopting a sociological perspective, you can look beyond commonly held beliefs to the hidden meanings behind human actions. 7. How does the sociological perspective help you to see that all people are social beings? Shows that your behavior is influenced by social factors. Shows that you have learned your behavior from others. Helps to broaden your view of the social world. Shows that there are many different perceptions of social reality. Allows you to see beyond your own day-to-day life by viewing the world through others’ eyes. 8. What is one’s sociological imagination? Term first used by sociologist C. Wright Mills. It is the ability to see the connection between the larger world and your personal life. 9. What are some of the sociological specialties? • Social behavior and groups can be examined from a variety of angles. • As a result, many sociologists focus on a specific area of study. • A few of the specialties include topics such as adolescence, aging and the life course, crime, education, health and medicine, labor and occupations, racial and ethnic minorities, and even sports. 10. What is the history of the American Sociological Association? In the early 1900s sociology was still a very young discipline in the U.S. The first class on sociology was held in 1889 at the University of Kansas. The first department of sociology was established in 1892 at the University of Chicago. The ASA was born in 1905 as a stand alone organization dedicated to the new discipline of sociology. 11. What does the ASA do to promote sociology? • The ASA hosts conventions and provides a means of sharing new research and ideas in the field of sociology, publishes journals, and supports sociology education. 12. What does the ISA do? The International Sociological Association Promotes and advances the knowledge of sociology worldwide. The ISA was founded in 1949. This organization provides a network for sociologists throughout the world to share research, debate ideas, and present new findings. 13. Besides sociology, what are the other social sciences? • • • • Anthropology Psychology Economics Political science 14. What is anthropology? Comparative study of past and present cultures. It is closest to sociology in subject matter. Traditionally studied past cultures and present simple-or less advanced-societies. Today, however, many anthropologists concentrate on complex societies. For example, urban anthropologists examine such things as the cultural characteristics of neighborhoods in large modern cities. 15. What is psychology? The social science that deals with the behavior and thinking of organisms. It differs from sociology primarily in that it focuses on individual behavior rather than on group behavior. Areas of interest to psychologists include personality, perception, motivation, and learning. Social psychology is the study of how the social environment affects an individual’s behavior and personality. 16. What is the study of economics? How people make choices in an effort to satisfy their needs and wants. Economists examine the processes by which goods and services are produced, distributed, and consumed. They also examine the effects of government policies on economic growth and stability. – Tax cuts 17. What is the study of political science? It examines the organization and operation of governments. Areas of interest may include voting patterns, political power, and the formation of politically based groups. 18. What is history? It is the study of past events. Sociologists are also interested in past events. Like many social historians, sociologists study past events in an effort to explain current social behaviors and attitudes. 19. How does each social science view juvenile delinquency? Sociologist James M. Henslin provides an example of how each social science might study juvenile delinquency. Historians might examine juvenile delinquency during a particular place and time. Political scientists might examine how access to political power affects who joins youth gangs. Economists might study the economic costs of juvenile delinquency. Anthropologists might examine how culture contributes to youth crime. Finally, psychologists might examine the personality traits of gang members. SOCIOLOGY Chapter 1 Lecture Questions Section 2 (pgs. 9-19) 1. What factors led to the development of sociology? • The rapid social and political changes that took place in Europe as a result of the Industrial Revolution. • During the Industrial Revolution the rural economy, with its farms and cottage industries, gave way to an economy based on large-scale production. • The factory replaced the home as the main site for manufacturing. • With the growth of factories came the growth of cities, as people left their homes in the countryside in search of work. Tenement housing Filthy urban areas 2. What problems were caused by the rapid growth of urban areas? Unemployment-there were more people seeking jobs in the cities than jobs available Housing shortages Increased levels of crime Pollution Impersonal nature of the cities-personal relationships were important in the country 3. Why do you think social upheaval encouraged scholars to analyze society in the 1800s? The sweeping political, social, and economic changes caused some scholars to question the traditional explanations of life. – This had occurred in the physical sciences in the 1700s. Some scholars believed that the social world was based on a set of basic principles that could be studied and analyzed through the use of scientific research methods. 4. In what countries did sociology take root in the 1800s? France Germany England Auguste Comte 5. What is the contribution of Auguste Comte to the field of sociology? Many people consider French philosopher Comte (17981857) the founder of sociology as a distinct subject. ► He was one of the first to apply the methods of the physical sciences to the study of social life. ► He coined the term sociology to describe the study of society. ► Concentrated on social order and social change. ► He believed that certain processes called social statics, hold society together. ► He also believed that society changes through definite processes, which he called social dynamics. ► He hoped this knowledge could be used to reform society. ► Herbert Spencer 6. What is the contribution of Herbert Spencer to the field of sociology? Spencer (1820-1903) started his working life as a civil engineer in England. He inherited a large sum of money and began to pursue his interest in the study of society. Spencer was strongly influenced by the views of Charles Darwin. Spencer adopted a biological model of society. Spencer believed that society, like biological systems, is a set of interdependent parts that work together to maintain the system over time. Spencer believed the best aspects of society would survive over time. He also believed that only the fittest societies would survive over time. The term “survival of the fittest” was coined by Spencer, not Darwin. Spencer’s view of society became known as social Darwinism. 7. What was social Darwinism? Very popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Used to support a variety of policies and actions. Some proponents used the theory to support unrestricted capitalism. – They believed that under a system of unchecked competition, the most able people would rise to the top of society. Other people used social Darwinism to advocate the need for the wealthy to help poor people. Still others used it to explain class inequalities, racism, and imperialism. Karl Marx 8. What is the contribution of Karl Marx to the field of sociology? Marx (1818-1883), a German professor, was unable to get a teaching position because of his political views. – Instead, he worked as a writer and editor of a radical newspaper. – He was forced to move on several occasions to different European cities. Marx believed that the structure of society is influenced by how its economy is organized. – According to Marx, society is divided into two classes—the bourgeoisie, or capitalists, and the proletariat, or workers. The bourgeoisie own the means of production—the materials and methods used to produce goods and services. The proletariat own nothing, but provide the labor. – Marx believed this imbalance in power would inevitably lead to conflict. Marx’s writings were a major impetus for the Russian Revolution in 1917. – This revolution resulted in the establishment of a communist government based on Marxist teachings. His writings have influenced generations of scholars and social critics around the world. His emphasis on conflict as the primary cause of social change led to the development of one of the major sociological perspectives—conflict theory. Emile Durkheim 9. What is the contribution of Emile Durkheim to the field of sociology? The French Durkheim (1858-1917) taught at the University of Bordeaux in France. There Durkheim developed the countries first university sociology course. Durkheim, like Comte, was one of the first to apply the methods of science to the study of society and was concerned with the problem of social order. – He also saw society as a set of interdependent parts that maintain the system over time. – However, Durkheim viewed the role of these interdependent parts in terms of their functions. – A function is the consequence that an element of society produces for the maintenance of its social system. – For example, Durkheim was very interested in the function of religion in maintaining social order. He believed that the shared beliefs and values of religion are the glue that hold society together. Durkheim’s functionalist view of society has been very influential in modern American sociology. – Durkheim also believed that sociologists should only study features of society that are directly observable. Durkheim used this approach in his 1897 study, Suicide, the first true sociological study. – This study examined suicide rates in several European countries. 10. What were Durkheim’s view on social change and suicide? • Durkheim believed that change occurred so rapidly in a modern society that it led to social problems. • These problems in turn led people to experience feelings of anomie, or purposelessness. • In his study of suicide, Durkheim showed that the decision to commit suicide was based not only on personal factors but also on social factors, such as anomie. Max Weber 11. What is the contribution of Max Weber to the field of sociology? Weber (1864-1920) was born in Germany to wealthy parents. He was a college professor. Unlike Comte, Spencer, Marx, and Durkheim, Weber was interested in separate groups within society rather than in society as a whole. He further concentrated on the effect of society on the individual. Weber proposed the concept of Verstehen. Verstehen involves an attempt to understand the meanings individuals attach to their actions. In essence, with Verstehen one puts oneself in the place of others and tries to see situations through their eyes. Weber’s areas of expertise covered an extremely wide range. He produced works not only in sociology but also in the fields of economics, history, law, and philosophy. One of his best known works, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism addressed how the Protestant religious tradition contributed to the development of capitalism. 12. What are the three broad theoretical perspectives in sociology? Functionalist perspective – Auguste Comte, Emile Durkheim, & Herbert Spencer Conflict perspective – Karl Marx Interactionist perspective – Max Weber 13. What does the functionalist perspective stress? Whose ideas were it based? The functionalist perspective is broadly based on the ideas of Comte, Spencer, and Durkheim. People who employ this perspective view society as a set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable social system. Society is held together through consensus. In other words, most people agree on what is best for society and work together to ensure that the social system runs smoothly. Topics of interest to functionalist sociologists include the functions that family or education serve in society. A dysfunction is the negative consequence an element has for the stability of the social system. Dysfunctional elements such as crime, disrupt society rather than stabilize it. A manifest function is the intended and recognized consequence of some element of society. For example, a manifest function of the automobile is to provide speedy transportation from one location to another. A latent function, on the other hand, is the unintended and unrecognized consequence of an element of society. A latent function of the automobile is to gain social standing through the display of wealth. (Lexus, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz) 14. What does the conflict perspective stress? Whose ideas were it based? People who employ the conflict perspective focus on the forces in society that promote competition and change. It is loosely based on Karl Marx’s ideas on who possess more power in society exercises control over those with less power. Conflict theorists do not limit their attention to acts of violent conflict. They are also interested in nonviolent competition between various groups in society—men and women, people of different ages, or people of different racial or national backgrounds. Some of the topics that conflict sociologists research include decision-making in the family, relationships among racial groups, and disputes between workers and employers. 15. WHAT IS EMPHASIZED IN THE INTERACTIONIST PERSPECTIVE? WHO INFLUENCED THIS PERSPECTIVE? Emphasizes how individuals interact with one another in society. These sociologists are interested in the ways in which individuals respond to one another in everyday situations. Interactionist theorists are heavily indebted to Max Weber. Interactionists are particularly interested in the role that symbols play in our daily lives. In order for something to be a symbol, however, members of society must agree on the meaning that is attached to it. The American flag, the bald eagle, Fourth of July celebration, and Uncle Sam are examples of symbols used to represent the United States. 16. WHAT ARE THE SEVEN STEPS IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS? Step 1—Define the problem Select a topic for study Step 2—Review the literature Review existing literature on the topic Step 3—Form a hypothesis Develop a testable hypothesis Step 4—Choose a research design Choose a plan for collecting data Step 5—Collect the data Gather and record data Step 6—Analyze the data Objectively look at data Step 7—Present conclusions Present research findings to other sociologists 17. What are the basic research methods used in sociology? Survey Historical method Intensive analysis of a person, group, or problem Experiments Researcher becomes part of study Case study Analysis of any recorded communication Participant observation Examining materials from the past Content analysis Questionaires & interviews Data is gathered under controlled conditions Statistical analysis Using math on existing data 18. What ethical issues do sociological researchers face? The ASA has established specific ethical guidelines for research. Rules and standards of behavior Sociologists have an obligation to ensure that confidential information provided by research participants is protected. Deception can only be used if potential benefits outweigh the potential harm. Informed consent that allows participants to have an explanation of the research.