Intro to Sociology

1. Intro to Sociology Sociology and the other sciences

2. Social Perspective • Understanding human behavior by placing it within its broader social context. • How groups influence people, especially how people are influenced by their society-a group of people who share a culture and a territory. • “The sociological imagination (perspective) enables us to grasp the connection between history and biography.” ~C. Wright Mills

3. Social Perspective • By history, Mills meant that each society is located in a broad stream of events . Because of this, each society has specific characteristics-such as its ideas about the proper roles of men and women. By biography, Mills referred to each individual’s specific experiences. • People don’t do what they do because of inherited internal mechanisms, such as instincts. Rather, external influences-our experiences-become part of our thinking a motivations. The society in which we grow up, and our particular location in that society, lie at the center of what we do and how we think.

4. Social Perspective • Sociologists also look at social location, the corners in life that people occupy because of where they are located in society. • JOBS, INCOME, EDUCTION, GENER, AGE, RACE-ETHNICITY

5. What makes up human behavior? • What do you associate yourself with: gender, country, county, city, race, social class, music, clicks, body image? • How do these make you feel: What are the perceptions you have with each? • How does this relate to dating, marriage and family? Society, social location, and culture determine human behavior.

6. Sociology as a Science • Sociology is a social science-examines human behavior • Goals of Science • Explain why something happens • To make generalization • To predict what will happen in the future in the light of current knowledge • Sociologists move beyond common sense- “what everyone knows” • ie: the world is flat, Whites are better , etc.

7. Origins of Sociology • Ancient peoples tried to figure out social life: why war exists, power struggle, rich vs poor • But they based their answers on superstition , myth, astronomy. However never tested their research. • Grew out of social upheaval during the Industrial Revolution • Where people lived, nature of their work, how they viewed life, and their interpersonal relationships • American and French Revolutions encouraged people to rethink social life=individuals possess inalienable rights • Traditions and religion no longer provided the answers to questions about social life • People started to apply scientific method to these questions

8. Auguste Comte and Positivism • Developed Positivism: application of the scientific approach to the social world and coined the term sociology. • This new science would discover social principles and apply them to social reform • Insisted that we must observe and classify human activities to uncover society’s fundamental laws

9. Herbert Spencer and Social Darwinism • Disagreed with Comte that sociology should guide social reform • Societies evolve from Barbarian to civilized forms • Believed in the survival of the fittest • Charity and helping the poor was wrong • Social Darwinism

10. Karl Marx and Class Conflict • People should try to change society • Class conflict is the engine of human history • Bourgeoisie (rich/powerful) are locked in conflict with the proletariat (exploited workers) • This bitter struggle can only end when members of the proletariat unite in revolution and throw off their chains of bondage. Creating a classless society • Karl Marx did not create communism!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11. Emile Durkheim and Social Integration • His goal was to get sociology recognized as a separate academic discipline. • Identified social integration-degree people are tied to their social group as a key social factor in suicide • Human behavior cannot be understood simply in individualistic terms; we must always examine the social forces that affect people’s lives.

12. Max Weber and the Protestant Ethic How did Protestant views influence America? • Weber believed religion was the central force in social change. • Theorized that the Catholic belief system encouraged followers to hold onto traditional ways of life, while the Protestant belief system encouraged its members to embrace change • Looked for “signs” that they were in God’s favor • Financial success was a major sign of God’s favor • Started living frugal lives and investing to make more money • Start of capitalism

13. What are the roles of values in research? Research findings should be value free, that the researcher’s values and beliefs should be set aside in order to permit objective conclusions.

14. How do sociologists use Verstehen and social facts to study human behavior? • According to Weber, to understand why people act as they do, sociologists must try to put themselves in their shoes. He used the Verstehen, “to grasp by insight,” to describe this essentially subjective approach. • Although not denying the importance of uncovering social facts, objectives social conditions that influence how people behave. • Contemporary sociology uses both approaches to understand human behavior.