Theories and Theorists

Theories and Theorists Chapter 1

Sociology = study of groups/societies and the way they affect our behavior A. Social relationships (humans are social creatures)

1. sociological imagination = ability to see the connection between private troubles and social problems Unemployment

2. examines social institutions: • family, education, economy, government, religion—and how they influence individuals a. also examines how these institutions stay the same and change • i. Families, schools, religion in everyday life

3. main lesson of sociology = • structure of society affects people, molding both their attitudes and their behavior

B. Types of Sociology • 1. macrosociology = a. entire cultures or societies examines large scale structures and processes a. Symbolic Interactionism Perspective b. Functionalism and Conflict theories 2. microsociology = looks at smaller groups or individuals

3. Jobs/Uses • a. Sales – Marketing • b. Social Worker • c. Teaching • d. Dealing with Social Problems – politician, economist, minister • e. Anything dealing with PEOPLE

C. It is a science Variables • 1. Information is gained through observations based on scientific method Dependent Independent Observation Hypothesis 'love' - eye contact Conclusion Must be measurable

2. Part of Social Sciences: history psychology geography political science economics sociology anthropology

D. Early Sociologists a. first to define sociology 1. Auguste Comte 2. Karl Marx (and Frederick Engels) a. Conflict perspective 3. Emile Durkheim a. Functionalism 4. Max Weber a. Symbolic Interactionism b. Verstehen = understanding  putting self in other’s shoes to understand perspective 5. Herbert Spencer a. “Survival of Fittest”—societies should evolve naturally and solve own problems

II. Development in US  • A. Industrial Revolution  problems in cities = Social Issues C. 1940s study center shifted to Harvard and Columbia U. B. First Dept. of Soc. in 1893 at U. of Chicago

III. Major Theories/Perspectives in Sociology • A. Evolutionary Theory = societies will progress thru more complex stages 1. Strongest will survive 2. Favored by countries/classes in power

B. Functionalism = • views society as a set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable social system generally positive about society - sees good...even in crime!

1.Herbert Spencer & Emile Durkheim 2. Social institutions are studied by their functions in society

a. manifest function = A intended and recognized consequence of some element of society i. e.g. car for transportation B

b. latent function = unintended and unrecognized consequence an element has on society i. e.g. car as status symbol Who drives these?

c. dysfunction = Prison • negative consequence an element has for the stability of the social system Learn better skills as criminal Family Incest, abuse

dysfunctional, d. If no function, or functiondoes not have consensus, it is considered DEVIANT i. Hermits, Criminals, Gay Marriage, respectively…

3. All institutions are interconnected a. if one institution loses consensus, whole society is unstable Gov't Family Religion Economy Education 4. society held together through consensus

Recess and Loss of Consensus

5. Sociologists using Functionalist Perspective study: Church and State; family values; economy; School performance and standards

Conflict Theory Intro

C. Conflict Perspective = studies competition over resources and change from the conflict that arises 1. Karl Marx & Frederick Engels

2. Interested in how those who possess more power in society exercise control over those with less power 3. Nonviolent competition as well as violent: sexes, races, age

4. Decision making in family, relationships among racial groups controlled by dominant group (white male or eldest, strong male)

5. Labor disputes between workers and employers – employers have control; workers may feel exploited

6. * Competition over scarce resources is at the basis of social conflict* a. resources such as power and wealth are in limited supply— competition b. once people gain control they then establish rules that protect their interests at the expense of other groups c. inequality leads to social conflict (less power fight back)—this leads to social change (inevitable feature in society)

7. Sociologists using Conflict Theory deal with: • Labor disputes; Poverty and Welfare; Racism; Sexism; Gay Rights

D. Symbolic Interactionist = • focuses on relationships and how we interact using symbols and routine 1. Max Weber, George Herbert Mead, Charles Horton Cooley

Symbols and interaction

2. how individuals respond to one another in everyday situations 3. meanings that individuals attach to their own actions and to the actions of others

4. * symbol = anything that stands for something else— • members of society must agree on meaning —used to communicate

5. we learn the meanings of these symbols through interacting with others 6. our idea of self is based on how we believe we are seen through other people’s eyes • 7. interested in interaction between people that takes place through the use of symbols

When do symbols affect interaction?

8. Goffman compared life in society to theatre each member of society has a “role” to play in relation to other members • a.Actors:

b. Script: just as stage actors follow a script so actors in society follow rules for acceptable behavior

c. Director: anyone who gives rules or direction; helps you become who you are

d. Interpretation: nerds • actor’s interpretation depends on script, what is brought to the role, what other actors do, and how audience reacts ditzy blonde dumb jock? class clown

e. Bad Actors: • those who stray too far from accepted roles = deviant

9. Specialties within Symbolic Interactionism a. Ethnomethodology = study of routine—glue that holds society together—the subconscious rules followed

if a person does not respond to habitual greeting "Hi, how are you?" then the person will spend time wondering if they were snubbed or if something was wrong

b. sociolinguistics = i. use speech to communicate and locate self study of how social factors influence speech patterns ii. Southern speech vs. North-Eastern/City speech = crops growing vs. business world iii. Bad words for women vs. Bad words for men - shows men’s position of power = Conflict theory

10. Sociologists using Symbolic Interactionism study: child development, relationships within groups (businesses, schools, political parties), mate selection, birth order

Theories and Theorists