SOCIOLOGY Chapter 1, section 1

1. SOCIOLOGYChapter 1, section 1 THE STUDY OF OUR SOCIETY AND ITS INHABITANTS

2. SOCIOLOGY DEFINED • Sociology – the scientific study of social structure. • individuals, groups, and institutions that up human society

3. SOCIOLOGY… Sociologists study a “group” rather than an individual perspective. Sociology involves: • Predominant (major) behaviors • Attitudes • Types of relationships within society

4. PERSPECTIVE • Perspective is a particular point of view. • Sociologists study patterns of behavior and perspectives shared by various groups in society. • EXERCISE: Construct a map showing how you would get to Charlotte High School (from where you are sitting. • Why did you choose that route? Defend your route as being “the best” or “the easiest” or “the quickest.” • As social beings, our perspectives or social maps are not always the same • Thus, our reality is not the same, either

5. SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE • Sociological Perspective allows you to look at the behavior of groups – not individual or personal • Sociologists attempt to explain these actions without relying on personal factors. • For example: young men join gangs because SOCIETY has taught them to be “masculine” - to be “tough.”

6. SOCIAL STRUCTURE • Social Structure is the patterned interaction of people in social relationships. • Sociologists are interested in a groups “patterned” interaction. • What are some patterns you can identify in a classroom or cafeteria?

7. GROUP VS. INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR • All groups encourage conformity ((behavior that matches a group’s expectations) • The group is more than the sum of its parts (individuals) • Conformity occurs in a group because members have been taught to value the group’s ways (perspective). • Question: Do you conform to groups even when your personal preferences are not the same as the group’s? Can you give an example?

8. SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION • A Sociological Perspective allows us to develop a Sociological Imagination • S.I. - the ability to see the link between society and yourself. • A developed S.I. helps us: • make our own decisions (not conform) • Challenge and question “conventional wisdom” (ideals people assume are true)

9. SOCIOLOGYChapter 1, section 2 THE ORIGINS OF SOCIOLOGY

10. CONTRIBUTORS TO SOCIOLOGY • Auguste Comte – French philosopher, considered the father of Sociology • Developed theory called “Positivism.” • Positivism states that social behavior and events can be measured scientifically. • Distinguished Social Statics from Social Dynamics • Social Statics: The study of social stability and order. • Social Dynamics: The study of social change.

11. Harriet Martineau • Popular English writer • Established the idea of “feminism” • Linked slavery and the oppression of women • Supporter of the emancipation of women and slaves • Women’s lack of economic power = dependence on men

12. HERBERT SPENCER’S AND SOCIAL DARWANISM • Compared society to the human body and believed society had structure. • Like the body, society is composed of parts (structure) that work together for survival of the whole. • The eyes and heart are essential to the function of the body • Religious and educational institutions are essential for society’s function. • Introduced “Social Darwinism” (based on Charles Darwin’s theory of “natural selection” – a survival of the fittest concept) • S.D. - individuals or groups achieve advantage over others as the result of genetic or biological superiority. • Believed people “evolve” into the different classes that makeup society. • Society should not interfere and try to make poor people rich. This is done “naturally.” • Harm is done if society interferes with the “natural” social selection

13. Karl Marx • Karl Marx supported the theory of “economic determinism” and despised Capitalism. • Economic Determinism states that all social patterns and institutions were controlled by economic factors. • Argued that economics is the driving force behind history. • Ec. Det. formed the basis for Socialism. • Marx believed that CLASS STRUGGLE/CONFLICT is at the core of society. • Society is made up of a struggle between the “haves” of society and the “have-nots” • Promoted a classless society. • “Haves” or owners of society = “Bourgeoisie” • “Have-nots” or workers of society = “Proletariat” • Believed workers would overtake owners (capitalists) and create a classless (communist) society

14. EMILE DURKHEIM • Preindustrial times society based on “Mechanical Solidarity” • Society existed because of a conformity among members of society • Dependence on family and tradition • Industrial societies based on “Organic Solidarity” – social interdependency • Organic Solidarity suggests that members of society play specialized roles. • Each are dependent on one another for goods and services. No one is self-sufficient • People “need” stores and store owners “need” consumers

15. Max Weber • “Walk in my shoes!” • To understand group behavior, one must use the method Verstehen. • Put yourself mentally in someone else’s place • Allows you to shed your values and see things from a different perspective • Identified rationalization as a key influence in the change of preindustrial to an industrial society • Rationalization emphasizes knowledge, reason, and planning • Pioneered research techniques that helped prevent personal bias from affecting results

16. W.E.B. DUBOIS AND JANE ADDAMS • Dubois • African-American educator and social activist • Concentrated on racial discrimination within America’s society and the assumption that blacks were inferior to whites • Addams • Worked for social reform • She saw many examples of government and businesses exploiting workers • Focused on the social problems created by the imbalance of power among the social classes.

17. SOCIOLOGYChapter 1, section 3 THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES

18. THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES • Theoretical Perspective is a set of assumptions accepted as true • Sociology includes 3 major Theoretical Perspectives: 1) Functionalism 2) Conflict Theory 3) Symbolic Interactionism

19. FUNCTIONALISM • Functionalism emphasizes the contributions or functions of each part of society. • Stresses the ways in which groups work together to create a stable society. • Society is an integrated whole • Change in one part creates change in others • How does Functionalism explain social change? • Changes in the economy may change the family (Industrial Revolution and farming – family size) • Other examples?

20. CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE • Conflict Perspective emphasizes the role of conflict, competition, and constraint. • Focuses on the disagreements among groups or between societies • Examples? • How does Conflict perspective explain social change? • As the balance of power among groups shift, change occurs. • Examples?

21. SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM • Symbolic Interactionism focuses on the interaction among people and on mutually shared symbols. • A symbol is something chosen to represent something else • Object, word, gesture • We learn the meaning of a symbol from the way we see others reacting to it • Whistling in America means something different then in Latin America. • Disaproval

22. EXPERIMENT • This next activity (experiment) will explore the concept of free association. • Directions: Write down the first thought that comes into your minds as I read aloud the following list of words. Do not CALL OUT LOUD or write your name on your paper: Time Death Red Mother Fear Home School Friend Love Hate