Chapter 1 Developing a Sociological Perspective

Chapter OutlineWhat is Sociology?The Sociological ImaginationThe Significance of DiversityThe Development of SociologyTheoretical Frameworks in Sociology

What Is Sociology?The study of human behavior in society.A scientific way to think about society and its influence on humans.Includes the study of social behavior and social change.

QuestionWhat do the following people have in common?Dan Akroyd (actor; comedian)Debra Winger (actress)Saul Bellow (novelist; Nobel Prize recipient)Joe Theissman (NFL quarterback)Rev. Jesse JacksonRobin Williams (comedian; actor)Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.Ronald Reagan

AnswerThey were all sociology majors.

Disciplines of SociologyPsychology analyzes human behavior.Anthropology is the study of human cultures.Political Science is the study of politics.

Disciplines of SociologyEconomics studies the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services.Social Work uses the social sciences to serve people in need.

The Sociological ImaginationAbility to see societal patterns that influence life. C. Wright Mills wrote about sociological perspective in The Sociological Imagination. Sociology can reveal how society shapes our lives.

Troubles and IssuesTroubles are private problems in an individuals life.Issues affect large numbers of peopleIssues shape the context within which troubles arise.

DebunkingStudying the patterns and processes that shape behavior.Questioning actions and ideas that are usually taken for granted.Acting as an outsider within.

Understanding DiversityUnderstanding diversity is critical to understanding society because patterns of social change and social structure are influenced by diverse group experiences.Diversity includes:the shaping of social institutions by different social factorsthe formation of group and individual identitythe process of social change

Share of Minorities in the U.S. Population

Americas Diversity: % White

Americas Diversity:% African American

Americas Diversity:% Hispanic

Americas Diversity:% Asian American

Americas Diversity:% American Indian

Sociology and the EnlightenmentFaith in the ability of human reason to solve societys problems. Belief that natural laws and processes in society are used for the general good.

Influence of the EnlightenmentPositivists - society could be studied using the natural sciences. Humanitarianism - human reason can direct social change for the betterment of society.

Sociology in Europe: Comte French philosopherCoined the term sociologyBelieved sociology could discover laws of human social behavior and help solve societys problems

Sociology in Europe: Tocqueville French citizen who traveled to the United States 1831Wrote an analysis of U.S. democratic culture and society.In the United States the tyranny of kings was replaced by the tyranny of the majority.

Sociology in Europe: MartineauBritish citizen who toured the United States in 1834. Wrote Society in America, an analysis of social customs she observed.Wrote first sociological methods book on participant observation.

Classical SociologicalTheory: DurkheimViewed society as an entity larger than the sum of its parts. Conceptualized social facts as social patterns external to individuals.Discovered the social basis of human behavior.

Classical SociologicalTheory: Marx Work was devoted to explaining how capitalism shaped society.Profit is produced through the exploitation of the working class. Considered the economic organization of society the most important influence on what humans think and how they behave.

Classical SociologicalTheory: Weber Theorized that society had three dimensions: political, economic,and cultural.Believed that to understand social behavior one had to understand the meaning that a behavior had for social actors.

Sociology in AmericaAmerican sociologists believed sociology could help solve social problems.The Chicago School - concerned with the relationship of individual to society and society as a human laboratory.

Key Sociological ConceptsSocial structure Organized pattern of social relationships and institutions that together constitute societySocial institutions Established and organized systems of social behavior with a recognized purpose.

Key Sociological ConceptsSocial change The alteration of society over time. Social interaction A behavior between two or more people that is given meaning.

Sociological Theory: Individual and Society

FunctionalismIndividuals occupy fixed social roles.Conflict TheoryIndividuals subordinated to society.Symbolic InteractionIndividual and society are interdependent.

Sociological Theory: View of Inequality

FunctionalismInevitable; functional for societyConflict TheoryResult of struggle over scarce resources.Symbolic InteractionInequality demonstrated through meaning of status symbols.

Sociological Theory: Basis of Social Order

FunctionalismConsensus on common values.Conflict TheoryPower; coercionSymbolic InteractionCollective meaning systems; society created through social interaction

Sociological Theory: Source of Social Change

FunctionalismDisorganization and adjustment to achieve equilibrium.Conflict TheoryStruggle; competitionSymbolic InteractionEver-changing web of relationships and meaning of things.

Sociological Theory: Criticisms

FunctionalismA conservative view of society that underplays power differences among and between groups.Conflict TheoryUnderstates the degree of cohesion and stability in society.Symbolic InteractionThere is little analysis of inequality and it overstates the subjective basis of society.

Polling QuestionWhich sociological perspective do you think is generally the weakest in explaining things in our society?A.) FunctionalistB.) Conflict TheoryC.) Symbolic interaction

Polling QuestionWhich sociological perspective do you think explains the concept of inequality in our society the most accurately?A.) FunctionalistB.) Conflict TheoryC.) Symbolic interaction

Quick Quiz

1. Sociology is the study of:a.personality typesb.political philosophyc.human behaviord.the distribution of goods and services

Answer: cSociology is the study of human behavior.

2. The ability to see the societal patterns that influence individual and group life is referred to as:a.commonsenseb.social speedupc.Wright's Theoremd.the sociological imagination

Answer: dThe ability to see the societal patterns that influence individual and group life is referred to as the sociological imagination.

3. The sociologist that first coined the term sociology is:a. Auguste Comteb. Emile Durkheimc. Karl Marxd. Harriet Martineau

Answer: aThe sociologist that first coined the term sociology is Auguste Comte.

4. According to Karl Marx, the most important influence on what humans think and how they behave is:a. the socio-emotional organization of societyb. the economic organization of societyc. the political organization of societyd. the religious organization of society

Answer : bAccording to Karl Marx, the most important influence on what humans think and how they behave is the economic organization of society.

5. Symbolic interactionism emphasizes:a. the role of coercion and powerb. class strugglesc. face-to-face contactd. the interdependent parts of society

Answer: cSymbolic interactionism emphasizes face-to-face contact.

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