Introduction to Sociology

1. Introduction to Sociology Chapter 1, Section 1

2. What is it? • Sociology= studies human society and social behavior in a scientific manner. • Look at two main aspects of society: • Social interaction= how people relate to one another and influence one another’s behavior. • Social phenomena= observable facts or events in human society.

3. Why do People Study Sociology? • Understand how behavior is influenced by social factors. • Learn how to view the world through others’ eyes • Look beyond common beliefs and find hidden meanings= sociological perspective. • Attempt to balance one’s personal desires with their social environment. • Connect the larger world with personal life= sociological imagination. • Find your ‘place’ both within society and history.

4. Sociology as a Social Science • Sociology is one of 6 social sciences. A social science studies human behavior, institutions or functions of human society in a scientific manner. • Other social sciences: • Anthropology • Psychology • Economics • Political science • History

5. Social Sciences • What do each of the other social sciences look at? (Be able to explain each in your own words) • Anthropology– cultures of past, less-advanced societies. • Psychology– focuses on individual behavior. • Economics– study of choices people make; how people are affected by economic factors. • Political science– organization and operation of government. • History– study of past events; how past events affect current behaviors and attitudes.

6. Sociological Perspectives Chapter 1, Section 2

7. How Sociology Started • Sociology did not develop until the 1800s. • Sociology developed in Europe, because of changes as a result of the Industrial Revolution. • People left their homes in the countryside and came to cities. As cities became crowded, people began to interact on a closer scale than ever before. • Social problems such as housing shortages, crime, and lack of jobs arose. • The desire for individual rights amongst society led to the American and French Revolutions.

8. The Earliest Sociologists • AugusteComte • French (1798-1857) • “father” or “founder” of sociology-- coined the term • believed that sociologists should worry about two problems: order and change • social statics = overall structure of a society remains unchanged • social dynamics = elements within the society change to allow for social development • “cerebral hygiene” - attempt to keep his mind pure.

9. The Early Sociologists (cont’d) • Herbert Spencer • English (1820-1903) • Adopted a biological view of society– saw society as an organism • Influenced by Charles Darwin • Coined the phrase “survival of the fittest” • Social Darwinism • Advocated against social reform efforts because it would disrupt the natural selection process of evolution • The best traits of society would survive over time

10. The Early Sociologists (cont’d) • Karl Marx • German (1818-1883) • Structure of society is influenced by how its economy is organized. • There are two classes, the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. • The bourgeoisie own the means of production and the proletariat provides labor. • The imbalance of power between the two classes would lead to rebellion.

11. The Early Sociologists (cont’d) • Emile Durkheim • French (1858-1917) • First to apply scientific principles to study of society. • Study directly observable features. • Saw society as a series of interrelated parts, but the function(s) of these parts was his focus. • Function= a consequence that an element of society produces in order to maintain the social system. • Specifically looked at religion. • 1897 study Suicide was the first of its kind

12. The Early Sociologists (cont’d) • Max Weber • Prussian (1864-1920) • Focused on the groups within a society rather than society as a whole. • What is the effect of society on the individual? • Believed in the use of Verstehn to put yourself in someone’s place to study meanings behind an individual’s actions. • Created the term ideal type to refer to the essential characteristics of a feature of society.

13. The Three Perspectives • Theory= explanation of relationships among phenomena. • Theoretical perspective= a ‘school of thought’, outlining specific ideas about the nature of social life. • Three perspectives: • Functionalist • Conflict • Interactionist

14. The Three Perspectives Chapter 1, Section 2 (cont’d)

15. Functionalism • Emphasizes function of social parts • Family, religion etc. • See social parts as in integrated whole society • Patterns of unrest, change, integration and stability • Consensus on social values Functionalist Perspective

16. Functionalism Terms • Manifest functions of institutions are open, stated, conscious functions. They involve the intended, recognized, consequences of an aspect of society. • Latent functions are unconscious or unintended functions and may reflect hidden purposes of an institution. • Adysfunctionis an element or a process of society that may actually disrupt a social system or lead to a decrease in stability.

17. Conflict Perspective • Permanent social conflict • Competition for interests and value • Power and who gets what • Change occurs when power shifts Conflict Perspective

18. Conflict- explained

19. What Does the Titanic have to do with it? Not exactly ‘fair’, is it?

20. Symbolic Interactionism • Focuses on interactions between people • Establish meaning from reaction to symbols • Base behaviors on these symbols • Imagine how others might react to symbols

21. Interactions mean Different Things to Different Individuals

22. Review: Which is functionalism, conflict perspective, or symbolic interactionism • Societies are in relative balance • F • Power is the most important element in life • C • Religion helps hold together a society morally • F • Symbols are crucial to social life • S • Many element exist in society to benefit the powerful • C • Social change is constantly occurring • C • Conflict is harmful and disruptive to society • F