Sociology Ch.1 Ppt. 1

To educate a person in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.

-Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President

Sociological perspective• Changes the view – You & Your World– Scientific approach (not common sense explanations)

• Social being• Learned behavior• Varying vantage points• Social Imagination

Bridge the extreme between larger World and the your personal lifeImpersonal and remote to intimate

Place in the Social Sciences• Anthropology – past cultures (less complex)• Psychology – individual behavior and thinking • Economics – choices made to satisfy wants &

needs• Political Science – voting patterns,

concentration of poli. pwr., formation of poli. groups

• History – past events

Theoretical Perspective• Functionalist Perspective – Society is held

together by consensusPeople agree on what is best and work together to ensure functionality

– Dysfunctional – crime and poverty – Manifest Function – intended consequences

(ex. Clothing, protection form the elements)– Latent Functions – unintended consequences

(ex. Social standing through a display of wealth)

TP cont.• Conflict Perspective – force that promote

conflict and change– Men & women, Rich & Poor, Old & Young, Workers

& Employees– Competition for limited resources is the bases for

social conflict

TP cont.

• Interactionist Perspective – how individuals interact with one another in society– Symbols – American Flag, Bald Eagle, EV, Wedding

Ring (society must agree on the symbolic meanings)

– Symbolic interaction – how people use symbols when interacting• Child development• Relationships within groups• Mate selection