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Sociology

Sociology. Chapter 1 – The Sociology Point of View Mr. Tolles. Section 1 – Examining Social Life Section 2 – Sociology: Then and Now. Sociology - Basics. Social science that studies society and human behavior.

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Sociology

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  1. Sociology Chapter 1 – The Sociology Point of View Mr. Tolles Section 1 – Examining Social Life Section 2 – Sociology: Then and Now

  2. Sociology - Basics • Social science that studies society and human behavior. • Sociologists believe that our world is shaped by our daily lives. Many different things influence us, which makes us a unique and rich diverse society. • The U.S. is very diverse. Melting pot or Salad bowl • Is diversity good or bad?

  3. Social Interaction • Interested in how people relate to one another and how that influences them. • Focus on Phenomenon- an observable fact or event.

  4. Sociological Imagination • C.W.Mills The ability to see the connection between the larger world and you personal life. - it give insight into how the social environment shapes you and how in turn you shape the social environment.

  5. Social Sciences • A science that studies various aspects of human behavior • Anthropology- The scientific study of the origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and cultural development of humans. • Psychology- studies individual behavior • Social Psychology- How individuals are affected by their social environment.

  6. Social Sciences cont’ • Economics- study of choices people make to satisfy their wants and needs. • Political Science- Study of organization and operation of government. • History- study of past events.

  7. Perspectives and Important People • Sociology is guided by perspectives. • Theory- systematic explanation of the relationship among phenomena. • This give a scientific way to examine and explain behavior. • Many people have influenced sociology, it has only been a field of study for about 200 years.

  8. Key People&Contemporary Perspectives

  9. What is the “glue” that holds societies together? What provides people with a sense of belonging? Why are these bubbles coming out of my head?

  10. Emile Durkheim • Concerned with social order and stability • People are a product of their social environment • Human potential is socially based, not biologically based • Societies are built on social facts • Rapid social change produces social strain

  11. Key Terms for Durkheim • Social Facts • Patterned ways of acting, thinking, and feeling that exist outside any one individual but that exert social control over each person. • Anomie • Social control becomes ineffective as a result of the loss of shared values and a sense of purpose in society

  12. Conflict is necessary to produce social change and a better society I think today I will establish a free and classless society I, too, have these bubbles popping out my head!

  13. Karl Marx • History is a continuous clash between conflicting ideas and forces • Economic changes are most important • Class conflict between capitalist class (bourgeoisie) and the working class (proletariat) • Alienation • Fetishism of Commodities • Society should be changed • Criticized for too much emphasis on class struggle

  14. Sociology should be value-free – it should exclude the researcher’s personal values and economic interests It really isn’t possible for sociologists to be value-free is it? Then, we need to gain the ability to see the world as others see it

  15. Max Weber • Bureaucracies – determines the social relationships among people • These are destructive to human vitality and freedom • Rationalization – the modern world has become dominated by structures devoted to: • Efficiency • Calculability • Predictability • Technological Control • Emphasized the goal of value-free inquiry & necessity of understanding how others see the world

  16. Structural Functionalist • Based on the assumption that society is a stable, orderly system (Durkheim) • Societal Consensus • Common set of values, beliefs, behavioral expectations • Society composed of inter-related parts • Social structures and institutions persist because they help society persist • Strains

  17. Functionalism & Merton • Manifest Functions • Intended or overtly recognized by participants in a social unit • Examples • Latent Functions • Unintended functions that are hidden and unacknowledged by participants • Examples • Dysfunctions • Undesirable consequences • May threaten a society’s capacity to adapt and survive

  18. Conflict Perspective • Groups in society are engaged in continuous power struggle for control of scarce resources (Marx, Weber) • Encompasses several branches: • Neo-Marxist (class struggle) • Racial-Ethnic (exploitation) • Feminist (gender issues)

  19. Symbolic Interactionist • Examines people’s day-to-day interactions and their behavior in small groups (micro-level) • Society is the sum of the interactions of individuals and groups • Subjective Reality • Each person’s interpretation or definition of a given situation (shared or not shared symbols)

  20. Post-Modern • Existing theories have not successfully explained social life in a contemporary society • Society focused on a shift from production to consumption • Postmodern Society • Information explosion • Rise of a consumer society • Global Village

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