The Emergence of Sociology

1. The Emergence of Sociology

2. The social science that studies human society and social behavior. Your life is affected by the society and culture in your community. Sociology

3. How do we study sociology? • View different situations as if they are a play • The drama for each play is different • The theme is ALWAYS the same • So, we can see and understand why people behave the way they do

4. Having a Sociological Perspective • A viewing of the behavior of groups in a systematic way • Where you can look beyond your own day-to-day life by viewing the world through others eyes. • How groups influence people and how people influenced by their society

5. Examples of Sociological Studies • Why are millions of people alcoholics? • Why do people stay in unhealthy relationships? • Is child abuse a cyclical process? • Has inequality become an innate characteristic of Americans?

6. How to differentiate BETWEEN SOCIOLOGICAL AND NON SOCIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS • 2 questions sociologists (and non) ask about human behavior • the descriptive question (What do people do?) • the explanatory question (Why do people do what they do?).  • List 6 reasons why someone would commit suicide • http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=262&name=DLFE-636.pdf - ranks, numbers of each state • http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=262&name=DLFE-629.pdf -age • http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=262&name=DLFE-628.pdf - sex • http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=262&name=DLFE-630.pdf – regional stats

7. Beginnings… • 18th and 19th Century • Time of Revolution • Industrial • French • American

8. Beginnings… • Rationalism and Science begin to replace tradition as a method of thinking • Rural societies were replaced by industrial societies • Peasantry became the working class.

9. Beginnings… • Urban life was disorganized with poverty and drastic change • The struggle to adjust to change resulted in a huge intellectual and scientific movement • People used the movements to help understand society

10. What do Sociologist do? • Teaching • ¾ are teachers in colleges and universities • Members of ASA • 2 objectives: • Better understanding of society • Help students see that individual experience is shaped by social structures and develop

11. The other ¼… • Research- • For govt., industry, non-profit organizations, professor • Method is talking, observation • Special concern with the disadvantaged or unheard • Want to represent ordinary men and women to the public.

12. 2 Kinds of Research in Sociology • Basic • No immediate, practical application • Motivated by desire to explain some social aspect of human behavior • Simple curiosity • Applied • Provide immediate, practical answers to individual, industry, or govt. problem • 25% of today’s sociologists APPLIED

13. Government Sociologists • Measure and forecast population trends • Work in every branch of the government • WHY?

14. Business and Non-Profit Orgs • Non-Profit Organizations • Social Activist Organizations • Hospitals • Clinics • Private Think-Tanks • Business • Internal affairs like bureaucracy and labor relations • Market research • What is consumer demand going to do?

15. Public Service • Change society for the better • Work in commissions, offices to effect social changes

16. After talking about sociology, as a group Name 5 topics that sociologists might be interested in studying (other than discussed) Name 4 careers/jobs that would be benefit by having someone who has a sociology degree Group work

17. Sociological Imagination • Developed by C. Wright Mills • To be able to see the connection between the larger world and your personal life • Examples: Poverty, Divorce, Loss of your job