Sociology

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Sociology

• An Invitation to Sociology

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The Sociological Perspective

• Perspective - particular point of view
• Example- your baby is cuter, brighter, etc. than
  your friends baby
• Sociology - Scientific study of social structure
  (human social behavior)
• Sociological Perspective - view that looks at
  behavior of GROUPS, not individuals example -
  relationship between women employment and family
  size

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Social Sciences

• Sociology
• Anthropology (investigates preliterate societies)
• Psychology (human, mental and emotional
  processes)
• Economics
• Political Science (Government)
• History

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Social Structure

• Patterned interaction of people in social
  relationships
• Example - students and teachers relate in similar
  and patterned ways (in all societies)
• Sociologists look at the power of groups and how
  behavior changes in different situations
• Example - riot after championships, power of the
  group
• Why conform (acceptance)
• Sociological imagination - ability to see
• the link between society and self
• Challenges group assumptions
• Example - married couples must have children

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The Origin of Sociology

• Auguste Comte father of Sociology
• Positivism - knowledge should be derived from
  scientific observation (must be sure)
• Looked at social statics (stability and order)
  and social dynamics (social change)

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More sociologists

• Harriet Martineau - emphasized sociology as a
  science and feminism
• Herbert Spencer - Social Darwinism and evolution
  of social change
• Karl Marx - social scientist that looked at
  changing society, concerned about poverty and
  working class

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Marxism

• Identified several social classes, but said
  eventually there would only be 2
• Bourgeoisie (capitalists) - class that owns the
  wealth
• Proletariat - work for the bourgeoisie
• Class conflict - struggle that will always exist
  between the 2 groups

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More sociologists

• Emile Durkheim - 1st to use statistical methods
  to study groups, 1st to teach Sociology at a
  University
• Mechanical solidarity - working societies /
  preindustrial societies, more conformity
• Organic solidarity - industrial society, based on
  specialized roles

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Last of sect. 2

• Max Weber - humans react based on their
  understanding of the situation
• Verstehen - putting yourself in the place of
  others
• Rationalization - mind - set that emphasizes
  knowledge, reason and planning
• Jane Addams - social reformer, spent her life
  working on social issues
• Hull House in Chicago

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Theoretical Perspectives

• A set of assumptions accepted as true
• 3 perspectives
• 1. FUNCTIONALISM - approach that emphasizes the
  contributions made by each part of society
• - society may change but it will return to a
  stable state
• - society is relatively whole
• Society rests on consensus

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2 kinds of functions

• 1. Manifest function - intended and recognized
  (schools teach math)
• 2. Latent function - unintended and unrecognized
  (schools build relationships)
• Dysfunction - negative consequences
• DMV - are all rude people

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2nd Theoretical Perspective

• 2. CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE - approach that
  emphasizes conflict, competition and constraint
• - society is inconsistent and subject to change
• - involves coercing members in the group
• - life is a competition
• Power- ability to control others

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3rd Theoretical Perspective

• 3. SYMBOLIC INTERACTION - focuses on
  interactions based on shared symbols
• Red light means stop
• Guide behavior towards other reactions
• Symbol - anything that stands for something else
  but has an agreed upon meaning
• Flag and eagle - patriotism
• DRAMATURGY - least thought of approach that
  depicts human interaction as theoretical