Topic:

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Topic The Social Matters - An Introduction to
SociologyAim How can we look at our world with
a Sociological Imagination?
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Todays Agenda

1. Syllabus (intro, college credit, etc.)
2. Assignments
3. Begin actual learning of Sociology (do you hate
   the 1st day as much as I do??)

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Sociology is(fill in the blank)

• the scientific study of behavior and human
  groups, focusing on social relationships how
  those relationships influence peoples behavior
  and how societies (the sum total of those
  relationships) develop and change.

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Perennial Questions of Sociology
What drives human behavior?
How do individuals engage with their society?
How are power relationships Structured in society?
Who benefits from these Relationships, and who is
harmed by them?
How are individuals Personal experiences Reflect
ive of the larger Society in which they live?
What role do class, race, gender, Sexual
orientation play in The organization of society?
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A few takeaway points before we even start

• Anything can be analyzed and studied
  sociologically - from macro issues of racial and
  gender inequality, to the social meaning behind
  the filters you use on Instagram (or not,
  nofilter)
• The goal here is not just the work, but the work
  as a means to encourage you to challenge the
  world around you, and look at social interaction
  and purpose in a different way than you did
  before.

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Unit 1 The Sociological Imagination
An awareness of the relationship between an
individual and the wider society, both today and
in the past (Mills, 1959). Key aspect is ability
to view ones own society as an outsider would.
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Do you believe that
in a general sense, you can fall in love/marry
whoever you choose - That you have the greatest
amount of choice in your selection of a partner?
A sociologist would say not as much as you
thinkthe rules of endogamy will tell you to
marry within your cultural group, the rules of
homogamy will direct you towards similar personal
traits to your own, the status of your family
will direct you towards people of a certain
socioeconomic status, your religious affiliation
will push you towards others of that same
religion, and so on
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Meet Thomashes white, heterosexual,
upper-class(from a successful two parent,
conservative Republican home) a very religious
Protestant, college educated, born in 1950, and
highly ambitious and career driven
Now, describe to me the type of woman who Thomas
is most likely NOT going to marry and have
children with one day
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• The sociological imagination allows us to go
  beyond personal experiences and observations to
  understand broader public issues.

Discussion -Analyze how divorce reflects BOTH
personal and societal issues -What have you
heard about divorce rates?
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I want you, in your notebook to list 5
reasons/scenarios that a person might commit
suicide - you may say anything (or describe any
situation you like) - Speak freely
Do the majority of the reasons/scenarios have a
theme that you can identify? What is that theme?
Do the majority of the reasons/scenarios have a
different theme that you can identify? What is
that theme?
Now consider a different question - why is the
suicide rate, per capita, higher in California
versus Ohio?
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The Sociological Imagination Suicide

• 4 types of suicide
• Egotistic feel isolated, alone
• Altruistic high solidarity killing for
  betterment of group (Kamikaze pilots, suicide
  bombers, cult members/leaders)
• Fatalistic low social control, people feel
  future is bleak and nothing will make it better
  (terminally ill people, prison inmates, depressed
  people)
• Anomic People who cannot deal with social chaos
  (9/11, Stock market crash of 1929, etc)

Matthew K. Nock, director of the Laboratory for
Clinical and Developmental Research at Harvard
University, is one of the most original and
influential suicide researchers in the world
(Resource - The Suicide Detective, New York
Times, 6/26/2013)
http//www.nytimes.com/2013/06/30/magazine/the-sui
cide-detective.html?pagewantedall_r0
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Major Theoretical Perspectives
Functionalism (Macro)
Conflict Theory (Macro)
Think of society as a living organism in which
each part contributes to its survival what
function does each part of society serve to the
overall stability of society?
Extension of Marxism - assumes social behavior
is best understood in terms of tension between
groups over power, resources, access, and
political representation
Interactionists (Micro)
Focus on everyday forms of social interaction to
explain society as a whole. focus on material
things, actions, Relationships, and symbols.
Sometimes Referred to as symbolic
interactionists.
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An example of analyzing micro-sociological
interactions

• React to the following video

YouTube I Forgot My Phone
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Analysis of Major Theoretical Schools

• Discussion - how would a functionalist explain
  the prohibition of consuming beef in Hindu-based
  cultures?

Resource - The Cultural Ecology of Indias
Sacred Cattle (Harris,1966)
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The Feminist Perspective
Embraced in the 1970s with advent of
second- Wave feminism. Views inequality in
gender As central to all behavior and
organization. View Womens subjugation as
inherent to capitalist societies.
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Manifest and Latent Functions (Merton, 1968)
Manifest Functions Open, stated,
conscious functions of institutions. Think of
educationwhat are the manifest functions of
going to school?
Latent Functions unconscious, sometimes unintende
d functions that reflect hidden purposes of an
institution. Think of educationwhat are the
latent functions of going to school?