Exploring Sociology: Understanding the Sociological Perspective

1. Splash Screen

2. An Invitation to Sociology Summary of Topics • The Sociological Perspective • The Origins of Sociology • Theoretical Perspectives Click on a hyperlink to view a topic or click on the right arrow to proceed through the chapter Chapter Overview 2

3. The Sociological Perspective • Sociology is the scientific study of social structure. • Sociologists look for the patterns in social relationships. • When you understand that your own behavior is partly determined by the groups you belong to, you are using your sociological imagination. • You can benefit from this understanding when you look at how and why you make certain choices. Chapter 3

4. What is gained by using our sociological imagination? • an understanding of the effects of events on our daily lives • an improved ability to make decisions, rather than just conform Chapter 4

5. The sociological imagination • questions common interpretations of human social behavior and • challenges conventional social wisdom Definitions: sociological imagination conventional social wisdom Chapter 4a

6. The sociological imagination • questions common interpretations of human social behavior and • challenges conventional social wisdom sociological imagination: the ability to see the link between society and self Definitions: sociological imagination conventional social wisdom Chapter 4b

7. The sociological imagination • questions common interpretations of human social behavior and • challenges conventional social wisdom conventional social wisdom: ideas people assume are true Definitions: sociological imagination conventional social wisdom Chapter 4c

8. Illiteracy Rates “Nearly all American adults know how to read and write.” The map shows the percentage of Americans over 20 years old who are illiterate. • Is conventional social wisdom about illiteracy rates really wise or true? Support your answer. Chapter 4d

9. A perspective is a particular point of view or a particular way of looking at an issue. Chapter 5

10. What is sociology? • The scientific study social structure (of human social behavior) What is unique about sociology? • The sociological perspective focuses not on the individual, but on the social, or group level. Chapter 6

11. The Social Sciences • Social science is a branch of learning that deals with human society. • It includes a number of disciplines, which we generally refer to as the social sciences. • These disciplines differ but they share enough in common to overlap. History Political Science Economics Psychology Sociology Anthropology Social Sciences For more information on a particular branch of social science, select it from the tree. Chapter 7

12. Anthropology • Anthropology investigates culture, the customary beliefs and material traits of groups. • It is the social science most closely related to sociology. • Anthropologists, however, concentrate on the study of preliterate societies (societies that do not use writing). • Sociologists focus on modern, industrial societies. • Anthropologists might study the division of work among family members in ancient Egypt. History Political Science Economics Psychology Sociology Anthropology Social Sciences Chapter 7a

13. Economics • Economics is the study of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. • An area of research for an economist might be the annual income levels of American families. History Political Science Economics Psychology Sociology Anthropology Social Sciences Chapter 7b

14. History • History examines past events in human societies. • Historians generally rely on newspapers, historical documents, and oral histories as sources of information. • The nature of family life in colonial society is an example of something a historian might study. History Political Science Economics Psychology Sociology Anthropology Social Sciences Chapter 7c

15. Political Science • Political science investigates the organization, administration, history, and theory of government. • Political scientists are concerned, for example, with voting patterns and participation in political parties. • A political scientists might investigate the relationship between a family’s social class and voting behavior. History Political Science Economics Psychology Sociology Anthropology Social Sciences Chapter 7d

16. Psychology • Psychology investigates human mental and emotional processes. • While sociologists concentrate on the group, psychologists also study the development and functioning of the individual. • A psychologist might study the effects of birth order on emotional development. History Political Science Economics Psychology Sociology Anthropology Social Sciences Chapter 7e

17. Sociology • Sociology investigates human social behavior from a group rather than an individual perspective. • It concentrates on patterns of modern-day social relationships. • Sociologists might study the relationship between the employment of women and family size. History Political Science Economics Psychology Sociology Anthropology Social Sciences Chapter 7f

18. Social structure is the patterned interaction of people in social relationships. Example: Although the personal characteristics of students and teachers vary from school to school, students and teachers relate in similar patterned ways. Chapter 8

19. Compare how someone studying individual behavior would explore alcohol abuse with how someone studying group behavior would approach the problem. Exploring why a person reacts in a particular way to alcohol abuse illustrates the study of individual behavior. Looking at socioeconomic factors that favor or discourage alcoholism is an example of the study of group behavior. Click the mouse button or press the space bar to display the answer. Chapter 9

20. The Origins of Sociology • Sociology is a young science. • It grew out of the writings of European scholars who were interested in bringing back a sense of community to society in the late 1800s. • After World War II, America took the lead in developing the field of sociology. • The majority of all sociologists are from the United States. Chapter 10

21. Time Line of Early Sociologists  1959 C. Wright Mills publishes Sociological Imagination  1931 Jane Addams awarded Nobel Peace Prize  1904 Max Weber publishes The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism  1899 W.E.B. DuBois publishes The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study  1897 Emile Durkheimpublishes Suicide  1850 Herbert Spencerpublishes Social Statics  1848 Karl Marx publishes The Communist Manifesto, promoting a classless society  1838 Auguste Comte’s book, Positive Philosophy, identifies science of sociology  Harriet Martineau publishes Society in America 1837 Select a sociologist, by clicking on their name, and view their contributions.. Chapter 11

22. Jane Addams – early American sociologist • 1860–1935 • social reformer • co-founded Hull House in Chicago slums • awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, 1931 • focused on problems caused by imbalance of power among social classes • active in women’s suffrage and peace movements Chapter 11a

23. Auguste Comte–early French sociologist • 1798–1857 • father of sociology • first to advocate the scientific study of society • positivism– science based on knowledge of which we can be “positive” • distinguished between social stability (statics) and social change (dynamics) Chapter 11b

24. W.E.B. DuBois–early American sociologist • 1868–1963 • African American educator and social activist • focused on the question of race inside and outside the United States • analyzed social structure of African American communities • active in Pan African movement, concerned with rights of all African descendents Chapter 11c

25. Emile Durkheim–early French sociologist • 1858–1917 • first used statistical methods in study of human groups • first to teach university sociology course • showed human behavior to be explained by social factors rather than psychological ones Chapter 11d

26. Harriet Martineau–early English sociologist • 1802–1876 • emphasized sociology as a science • translated Comte’s Positive Philosophy • introduced feminism into sociology • strong and outspoken supporter of both women and slaves Chapter 11e

27. Karl Marx–early German sociologist • 1818–1883 • guided by principle that social scientists should try to change the world rather than merely study it • emphasized the role of class conflict in social change • writings were later used as a basis for communism Chapter 11f

28. C. Wright Mills–early American sociologist • 1917–1962 • called the personal use of sociology “the sociological imagination” • first described emergence of strong middle class (White Collar, 1951) • published Power Elite, (1956) • father of student movement of 1960s Chapter 11g

29. Herbert Spencer–early English sociologist • 1820–1903 • early proponent of Social Darwinism • opposed social reform; it interfered with process of natural selection • compared society to human body; composed of parts working together to promote its well-being Chapter 11h

30. Max Weber–early German sociolgist • 1864–1920 • developed the concept of verstehen– understanding social behavior by putting yourself in the place of others • identified rationalization as key to change from preindustrial to industrial society • pioneered techniques to prevent personal biases in research Chapter 11i

31. Name the “giants” who helped to lay the foundation for the discipline of sociology and identify their contribution. Marx Mills DuBois Addams Weber Comte Durkheim Spencer Martineau Click on the names to view their contributions. Click the mouse button or press the space bar to display the answer. Chapter 12

32. Jane Addams – early American sociologist • 1860–1935 • social reformer • co-founded Hull House in Chicago slums • awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, 1931 • focused on problems caused by imbalance of power among social classes • active in women’s suffrage and peace movements Chapter 12a

33. Auguste Comte–early French sociologist • 1798–1857 • father of sociology • first to advocate the scientific study of society • positivism– science based on knowledge of which we can be “positive” • distinguished between social stability (statics) and social change (dynamics) Chapter 12b

34. W.E.B. DuBois–early American sociologist • 1868–1963 • African American educator and social activist • focused on the question of race inside and outside the United States • analyzed social structure of African American communities • active in Pan African movement, concerned with rights of all African descendents Chapter 12c

35. Emile Durkheim–early French sociologist • 1858–1917 • first used statistical methods in study of human groups • first to teach university sociology course • showed human behavior to be explained by social factors rather than psychological ones Chapter 12d

36. Harriet Martineau–early English sociologist • 1802–1876 • emphasized sociology as a science • translated Comte’s Positive Philosophy • introduced feminism into sociology • strong and outspoken supporter of both women and slaves Chapter 12e

37. Karl Marx–early German sociologist • 1818–1883 • guided by principle that social scientists should try to change the world rather than merely study it • emphasized the role of class conflict in social change • writings were later used as a basis for communism Chapter 12f

38. C. Wright Mills–early American sociologist • 1917–1962 • called the personal use of sociology “the sociological imagination” • first described emergence of strong middle class (White Collar, 1951) • published Power Elite, (1956) • father of student movement of 1960s Chapter 12g

39. Herbert Spencer–early English sociologist • 1820–1903 • early proponent of Social Darwinism • opposed social reform; it interfered with process of natural selection • compared society to human body; composed of parts working together to promote its well-being Chapter 12h

40. Max Weber–early German sociolgist • 1864–1920 • developed the concept of verstehen– understanding social behavior by putting yourself in the place of others • identified rationalization as key to change from preindustrial to industrial society • pioneered techniques to prevent personal biases in research Chapter 12i

41. CONFLICTPERSPECTIVE SYMBOLICINTERACTIONISM FUNCTIONALISM Sociology includes three major theoretical perspectives: Click the hyperlink to learn more about theoretical perspectives or click on a graphic to learn more about a particular type of theoretical perspective. Chapter 13

42. FUNCTIONALISM Functionalism Emphasizes the contributions made by each part of society • Society is a relatively integrated whole. • Society tends to seek relative stability. • Most aspects of a society contribute to the society’s well-being and survival. • Society rests on the voluntary participation of its members. Chapter 13a

43. CONFLICTPERSPECTIVE Conflict perspective Emphasizes the role of conflict, competition, change, and constraint within a society • Society experiences inconsistency and conflict everywhere. • Society is continually subjected to change. • Society involvesthe constraint and coercion of somemembers by others. Chapter 13b

44. SYMBOLICINTERACTIONISM Symbolic interactionism Focuses on the interactions among people based on mutually understood symbols. • People learn to interpret the meanings of symbols from others. • People base their interaction on their interpretations of symbols. • Symbols permit people to predict the behavior expected of them. Chapter 13c

45. A theoretical perspective is: • a set of assumptions about an area of study, in this case about the workings of society • viewed as true by its supporters and it helps them organize their research Chapter 14

46. Which perspective is the best? There is no “better” theoretical perspective. • Each perspective highlights certain areas of social life. • The advantages of one perspective are the disadvantages of another. • Certain issues and problems are best understood from a particular perspective. Chapter 15

47. SYMBOLICINTERACTIONISM CONFLICTPERSPECTIVE FUNCTIONALISM Society Looks at the Internet We can use technology to help us understand the role of “perspective taking.” • The Internet began as a way for military and scientific personnel to share information after a nuclear war. • ARPAnet (the Internet’s forerunner) was formed in 1969 with only four connected computers. • According to some estimates, there will be more than 500 million users worldwide by the year 2003. • Cyberspace technology showcases the usefulness of the three theoretical perspectives. Click on each theoretical perspective to learn more. Chapter 16

48. Functionalism • Cyberspace has both positive and negative consequences. • Advantages: parents can work at home and spend more time with children; individuals with disabilities can do jobs at home that would otherwise be denied, becoming more fully integrated into society. • Dysfunctions: young people may have easy access to pornography, which can distort views of human sexuality; hate groups can be formed by strangers living many miles apart; anonymity may encourage antisocial or violent behavior. Chapter 16a

49. Conflictperspective • The Internet is changing American society by contributing to the increasing speed of technological change. • Social instability created by rapid change might be investigated; workers may be let go as more tasks are performed by computers. • Could guide investigation comparing numbers of computers used in school districts of varying socioeconomic levels. Because computer literacy is becoming essential for obtaining a well-paying job, students at wealthy schools with access to computers may have an advantage over students in poorer districts. Chapter 16b

50. Symbolic interactionism • Can the Internet affect a child’s social development? • Popularity of TV cartoon characters reinforced by Web pages where children join fan clubs, interact with other fans, and view video clips whenever they want. • Some TV shows feature children behaving in ways unacceptable in many American homes. TV provides limited exposure, but the Internet allows them to become part of daily life. • Might conclude that what children come to accept as desirable behavior is based increasingly on interpretations of symbols and behaviors represented by these characters, thus the Internet lessens adult influence on children. Chapter 16c