Sociology

1
Sociology

• Chapter 1 Section 2
• Sociology Then and Now
• Standard 1.2 1.11

2
The Early Years

• Sociology did not develop until the 1800s (The
  New Science)
• Industrial Revolution
• Major reason for the emergence of Sociology
• With the Industrial Revolution came the emergence
  of MODERN CITIES
• Social Problems developed
• 1. Work
• 2. Housing
• 3. Crime
• 4. Pollution
• Political Problems of late 1700 early 1800s
• American and French Revolutions
• Why did this happen?

3
The Birth of Sociology

• Auguste Comte
• Father of Sociology
• First to use to term
• French 1789-1857
• Wanted to find solutions to chaos of revolution
• Developed scientific approach to social issues
• Two basic problems Order and Change
• Social Statics Society remains stable over long
  period of time (China)
• Social Dynamics Elements change to allow for
  social change

• Birthplace(s)
• France, Germany, and England
• Early Industrialized Nations
• Comte Influenced later sociologists

4
Karl Marx and the Conflict Perspective

• Karl Marx
• German 1818-1883
• Died Poor
• Society based on structure of economy
• Wrote Communist Manifesto
• Society broken into two classes
• Bourgeoisie Capitalists Own the means of
  production
• Proletariat Labor and Skill workers Middle
  class
• Classes will experience conflict
• Conflict will lead to social unrest
• Unrest will lead to a failure in the system

• Conflict Perspective
• Advocated by Marx
• Focus on forces in society that lead to
  inequality, competition, and change
• Conflict WILL lead to change
• Most influential theory of the Twentieth Century

5
Herbert Spencer and Social Darwinism

• Herbert Spencer
• English 1820-1903
• Influenced by Charles Darwin
• Darwin wrote the Origin of Species
• Survival of the fittest
• Social Darwinism Spencer took Darwins theories
  and applied them to human SOCIETY (Compared
  Society to Nature)

6
Emile Durkheim

• French 1858-1903
• First to apply methods of science to social
  issues (Scientific Method)
• Tested theories through use of Statistics
• Did in-depth research on Suicide
• Functionalists Perspective
• Different aspects of society interrelate with one
  another to hold society together
• Ex. Religion has a role in keeping society stable
  by teaching a morals

7
Max Weber (Vay bur)

• Germany 1864-1920
• 1910 Founded the German Sociological Society
• Focused on smaller groups and individuals
• Interactionist
• Verstehen (fehr-shtay-en) Empathy
• Putting yourself in someone elses place
• Ideal Type Essential Characteristic of some
  aspect of society
• Ex School all are not Exactly the same, but
  they are very close

8
Current Perspectives

• Theory Systematic explanation of relationships
  among phenomena
• Theoretical Perspectives a set of ASSUMPTIONS
  based on the nature of society
• Functionalist
• Interactionist
• Conflict Karl Marx

9
Functionalist Perspective

• Spencer and Durkheim
• Society is a set of interrelated parts that work
  together to form stability in society
• People agree on what is best and Most follow the
  rules
• Function Consequence that an element of society
  produces for the maintenance of social stability
  (Religion)
• Dysfunction Something that takes away from the
  stability of society (Crime)
• Manifest function Intended function of some
  element of society (LAWS keep order)
• Latent function Unintended function of some
  element of society (Cell phone communication
  and Social Status)

10
Interactionist Perspective

• Weber
• Focus on how Individuals interact in society
  (Social Psychology)
• Symbol Anything that stands for something else
  (Flag)
• Symbolic Interaction
• Interaction between people that takes place
  through symbols
• Handshake
• Military Salute
• Japan Bowing when meeting someoneetc

11
In Class Assignment

• Based on the information that you have learned in
  Chapter 1, write your own definition of Sociology
• You should not just regurgitate what the book
  says. You should formulate a definition that has
  meaning to you
• Use these questions to help formulate your
  definition
• 1. How CAN/WILL you use Sociology in your
  everyday life?
• 2. How does Sociology directly/indirectly affect
  your life?
• Put your definition at the beginning of your
  notebook and leave it there for the remainder of
  the semester (Standard 1.10)