1. The Sociological Point of View

1. 1. The Sociological Point of View

2. Let’s Get Started! • Sociology is the science that studies human society and social behavior. Sociologists are mainly interested in social interaction – how people relate to one another and influence each other’s behavior. • Why do you think studying sociology is important?

3. Think, Pair, Share • How do you think the study of sociology might be similar to the study of history? • What might you already know about the study of sociology?

4. Truth or Fiction? • The key focus of sociology is the individual. • Sociology has little in common with the other social sciences. • All sociologists are in broad agreement on the nature of social life.

5. Truth or Fiction? • 1. The key focus of sociology is the individual. • True: Because society is made up of individuals, sociologists must focus on individuals to understand how societies operate. • False: Sociologists study human society and social behavior. Consequently, sociologists focus on the group rather than on the individual.

6. Truth or Fiction? • 2. Sociology has little in common with the other social sciences. • True: Sociology , which focuses on current societies, has little in common with social sciences such as history, which focuses on the past or psychology, which focuses on the mind. • False: All social sciences overlap in their focus. Sociologists might be interested in the histories of society, the psychology of group behavior, or the effects of the economic or political systems on societies.

7. Truth or Fiction? • 3. All sociologists are in broad agreement on the nature of social life. • True: Over the years, the study of sociology has probably produced some standard theories about the nature of social life to which all sociologists subscribe. • False: Because society can be examined from a variety of perspectives, sociologists probably disagree as to the nature of social life.

8. Examining Social Life • Use Chapter 1 Section 1 (P. 4-8) to answer the following questions in your notebook: • Read to Discover • What is sociology, and what does it mean to have a sociological imagination? • How is sociology similar to and different from other social sciences?

9. Terms to Know • Sociology • The social science that studies human society and social behavior. • Social sciences • Disciplines that study human social behavior or institutions and functions of human society in a scientific manner. • Social interaction • How people relate to one another and influence each other’s behavior

10. Social phenomena • Observable facts or events that involve human society • Sociological perspective • Viewing of the behaviors of groups in a systematic way • Sociological imagination • The ability to see the connection between the larger world and one’s personal life

11. C. Wright Mills • Sociological imagination – “The capacity to range from the most impersonal and remote topics to the most intimate features of the human self – and to see the relations between the two.” • Chapter 1 reading – The Perspective of Sociology

12. Sociological Imagination Example:

13. How might a sociologist view the interconnection of this closed factory and homeless person?

14. Quick Activity: Create your OWN example of sociological imagination. (Quick sketch)

15. Sociology’s Place in the Social Sciences • With a partner, review P. 7-8 in your textbook. Write a description of each discipline: • Anthropology, economics, history, political science, psychology

16. The Social Sciences

17. Development of Sociology • Rapid social and political changes taking place in Europe during late 1800s • Industrial Revolution, French Revolution • People moving from farms to factory life • Growth of cities, social problems, lack of sense of community • Seeking to answer: What are the effects of society on the individual?

18. Auguste Comte • The founder of sociology • Focus on social order and social change

19. Herbert Spencer • Social Darwinism – • perspective that holds that societies evolve toward stability and perfection • “survival of the fittest”

20. Karl Marx • Bourgeoisie – capitalists who own the means of production • Proletariat – workers who provide the labor • Classless society • Lead to conflict theory

21. Emile Durkheim • First true sociological study – • Suicide • Showed that the decision to commit suicide was based NOT only on personal factors BUT also on social factors • Function – consequence that an element of society produces for the maintenance of its social system

22. Max Weber • Effect of society on the individual • Verstehen • Attempt to understand the meanings individuals attach to their actions • Ideal type • description comprised of the essential characteristics of a feature of society

23. Which one do you agree with? • Review your notes and text. • Write a 5 sentence paragraph explaining which sociologist you agree with and explain why.

24. Theoretical perspectives • Theory – • Systematic explanation of the relationship among phenomena • Perspective – • The way you interpret the meaning of an image or event • Theoretical perspective – • General set of assumptions about the workings of society

27. 3 Perspectives of Sociology: FunctionalistPerspective ConflictPerspective Interactionist Perspective

28. Functionalist Perspective: • Based on ideas of Comte, Spencer, and Durkheim • View society as a set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable social system. • Believe that most people agree on what is best for society and work together to ensure that the social system runs smoothly. • EX: Interested in functions of family and education on society.

29. Functionalist Perspective(continued) • Looks at society in terms of functions: • Dysfunctional: • Negative consequence an element has for the stability of the social system. • EX: Crime • Manifest function: • Intended and recognized consequence of some element of society. • EX: Manifest function of a school is to teach math skills. • Latent function: • Unintended and unrecognized consequence of an element of society. • EX: Latent function of a school is the development of close friendships..

30. Conflict Perspective: • Focus on the forces in society that promote competition and change. • FOUNDER: Karl Marx • Interested in how those who possess more power in society exercise control over those with less power. • NOT all focus on violent acts: • EX: Nonviolent competition between men vs. women; people of different ages and races; etc….

31. Conflict Perspective(Continued) • Basis of social conflict: • Competition over scarce resources. • EX: Power & wealth. • People compete over these resources!

32. Interactionist Perspective: • Focuses on how individuals interact with one another in society • Interested in work of Max Weber. • Interested in role of symbols: • Anything that represents something else. • Members of society MUST agree on it, however, • EX:McDonalds, school logo, American Flag.

33. Symbolic interaction: • How people use symbols when interacting. • EX: • Used to study topics such as child development, relationships within groups, and mate selection. • EX:How do women attract men?

34. Historical Symbols • Identify historical symbols or gestures throughout time. • 1960s – peace sign • 1970s – smiley face • What types of events lead to new or revived symbols?