Sociological Perspective

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Sociological Perspective
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Sociological Perspective

• A view that looks at behavior of groups NOT
  individuals
• Seeing the general in the particular
• Activity Map to the Gym from room 202
• ?What is your perspective or point of view?

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Social Structure

• The patterned interaction of people in social
  relationships
• Activity High school schedule
• Write down what you did starting from the time
  you woke up yesterday to the time you went to bed

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High School Schedule Activity

• On the white board list the following
• 1. What time you woke up
• 2. What time you got to school
• 3. What you did at 400
• 4. What time and where you ate dinner
• 5. What you did after 900
• 6. What time you went to bed

?What patterns do we see?
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Sociological Imagination

• The ability to see the link between society and
  self
• Activity Name an object. What meaning does
  this object have personally and what meaning does
  it have to society?

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Sociological ImaginationPrivate and the Public

• Sociological imagination seeks to relate
  personal troubles to those wider public issues
  involving changing social structures.
• Name whether the following are private or public
  issues

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Private or Public?

• Coughing
• Blowing ones nose
• Bathing
• Sleeping
• Breast-feeding
• Showing Affection

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Private and Public Group Activity

• Name a Social Problem
• Answer the following
• For whom is it a problem?
• Who says it is a problem?
• Why is it a social problem?
• When does a private concern become a social
  problem?
• Are there solutions to this problem?

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RecapSociological Imagination

• Allows us to understand the individuals
  relationship with society
• Our view of the world changes once we begin to
  explore the ways in which our lives are
  influenced by social forces that surround us all
• Significant events in a persons life often leads
  to changes in the way that person sees the world.

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Sociological Imagination

• Think of a personal experience that made you see
  the world differently. Explain using the concept
  of sociological imagination.

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Skill Builder WorksheetAn Invitation to
Sociology

• Read the article and answer the 6 questions
• C
• A
• D
• B

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The Theoretical Perspectives
1. The Structural/Functional Perspective 2. The
Conflict Perspective 3. Symbolic/Interactionist
Perspective
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Theoretical Perspectives

• A set of assumptions accepted as true in this
  case, about the workings of society. A
  theoretical perspective is viewed as true by its
  supporters and it helps to organize their
  research.
• Sociology has 3 theoretical perspectives
  functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic
  interactionism. Each of these perspectives
  provides a different slant on human social
  behaviour.

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Exs Theoretical Perspective

• Competing scientific theories at the same time
• Images such as

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1. Functionalism

• Society is viewed as an integrated whole (family,
  economy, religion all work together and may
  disrupt each other)
• Shared values, norms, attitudes and beliefs
  (consensus theory)
• Change is generally viewed as disruptive and
  gradual
• Macro approach

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• EX
• A major change in the economy may change the
  family (IND REV)
• Families farmed (had large numbers) until
  industrialization (numbers not needed
  anymorefamily s dropped)

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2. Conflict Theory

• Views society as a struggle for resources and
  power (competition)
• It looks at social class, race, and gender
  struggles
• Change is inevitable, often beneficial and can be
  violent
• Conflict is universal
• Macro approach

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• Ex
• The womens movement changing balance of power
  between men and women. (jobs, remain single,
  choose to have less children, marry later)
• According to conflict perspective, change is a
  result of increasing power among women

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3. Symbolic Interactionism

• Studies society through interactions within
  individual and small groups instead of society
• Interaction between individuals is negotiated
  through shared symbols, gestures and nonverbal
  communications (must be learned and can be
  interpreted differently) ex flag meaning
• Must learn symbol and base our behavior on them
• Asks the questions
• How do individuals experience one another?
• How do people construct a sense of self and
  the society as a whole?
• Microsociology

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Functionalism, Conflict Perspective, or Symbolic
Interactionism?

• Societies are in relative balance
• Power is one of the most important elements in
  social life
• Religion helps hold a society together morally
• Symbols are crucial to social life
• Social life should be understood from the
  viewpoint of the individuals involved
• Conflict is harmful and disruptive to society

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Sociological Perspectives Activity

• Pick a topic. Apply the following theoretical
  perspectives to your topic.
• The Structural/Functional Perspective
• The Conflict Perspective
• Symbolic/Interactionist Perspective

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Sociologists Doing Research

• Steps for Doing Research
• read article and answer the questions
• write down the steps in the Scientific Method
• Emile Durkheim
• read pages 56 and 57 in the green text book
• answer questions 1 and 3.

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Émile Durkheim(French) (1858-1917)
Founded sociology as an academic discipline
Famous for his study on suicides (1897) Use of
statistics in sociology Structural/functionalist
theorist
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Unit 1 Sociology Test

• Sociology
• Perspective
• Sociological perspective
• Social Structure
• Sociological Imagination
• Macro Sociology
• Micro Sociology

• Theoretical Perspectives
• Functionalism
• Conflict Perspective
• Symbolic Interactionism
• Scientific Method
• Emile Durkheim