Unit 1:Unit 1:Culture & Social Culture & Social

StructureStructure

Chapter 1:Chapter 1:The Sociological The Sociological

PerspectivePerspectiveThe social world guides our life choices just as the seasons influence our selection of activities

and clothing.

What is sociology?What is sociology? Mind map!!!Mind map!!! Definition: The social science Definition: The social science

that studies human society and that studies human society and social behavior.social behavior.

What is a social science?What is a social science? The disciplines that study human The disciplines that study human

social behavior or institutions and social behavior or institutions and functions of human society in a functions of human society in a scientific manner.scientific manner.

Sociologists are Sociologists are interested in…interested in…

Social interactionSocial interaction How people relate to one another and How people relate to one another and

influence each other’s behavior.influence each other’s behavior. How has this happened to you?How has this happened to you?

Focus on the group, rather than the Focus on the group, rather than the individual.individual.

Examine Social PhenomenaExamine Social Phenomena Observable facts or events that involve Observable facts or events that involve

human society.human society.

The Sociological The Sociological PerspectivePerspective

Looking beyond commonly held beliefs Looking beyond commonly held beliefs to the hidden meanings behind human to the hidden meanings behind human actions.actions. People are all social beings.People are all social beings. Behavior is influenced by social factorsBehavior is influenced by social factors You have learned your behavior from othersYou have learned your behavior from others See your own day-to-day life through See your own day-to-day life through

another’s eyes.another’s eyes. Balance b/t personal desires and Balance b/t personal desires and

environmental demandsenvironmental demands Social environment shapes you, and you Social environment shapes you, and you

shape itshape it

Let’s test our sociological Let’s test our sociological perspective:perspective:

Write 2-3 paragraphs pretending you Write 2-3 paragraphs pretending you are a person with at least 3 of the are a person with at least 3 of the following characteristics. Indicate following characteristics. Indicate which ones you chose!which ones you chose! 30-40 years older30-40 years older Different race, indicate which oneDifferent race, indicate which one Different religionDifferent religion Different sexual preferenceDifferent sexual preference 50 years ago50 years ago Different genderDifferent gender Different part of the United StatesDifferent part of the United States Much more/less money to your nameMuch more/less money to your name

Mills & the Sociological Mills & the Sociological ImaginationImagination

C. Wright MillsC. Wright Mills Sociological Sociological

Imagination:Imagination: The capacity to The capacity to

range from the most range from the most impersonal and impersonal and remote [topics] to remote [topics] to the most intimate the most intimate features of the features of the human self – and to human self – and to see the relations see the relations between the two”.between the two”.

Connection b/t the Connection b/t the larger world and larger world and your personal life.your personal life.

How does Sociology How does Sociology compare with other social compare with other social

sciences? sciences? Take quiz!Take quiz! AnthropologyAnthropology

Comparative study Comparative study of past and present of past and present cultures.cultures.

Sociology wants Sociology wants group behavior in group behavior in more complex more complex societies.societies.

PsychologyPsychology Mind and behavior Mind and behavior

of individual.of individual. Sociology focuses Sociology focuses

on the group.on the group.

EconomicsEconomics Study of choices Study of choices

people make in an people make in an effort to satisfy their effort to satisfy their needs and wants.needs and wants.

Sociologists study Sociologists study the effects of the effects of economic factors on economic factors on societies.societies.

Political SciencePolitical Science Organization and Organization and

operation of gov’t.operation of gov’t. Sociologists study Sociologists study

voting patterns, voting patterns, politically based politically based groups, etc.groups, etc.

HistoryHistory Study of past eventsStudy of past events

Sociologists study Sociologists study past events to explain past events to explain current current behaviors/attitudesbehaviors/attitudes

Sociology: Then and NowSociology: Then and Now Didn’t develop until the 1800’sDidn’t develop until the 1800’s Industrial Revolution in EuropeIndustrial Revolution in Europe

Caused social and political change to Caused social and political change to emphasize sociology…. How so?emphasize sociology…. How so?

People left homesPeople left homes Rural to urbanRural to urban Rapid urbanization, city problemsRapid urbanization, city problems Unemployment, povertyUnemployment, poverty

New focus caused by individual New focus caused by individual rights movementsrights movements American and French RevolutionAmerican and French Revolution Civil Rights Movement… any others?Civil Rights Movement… any others?

How society was influenced by all How society was influenced by all these things became a very these things became a very hot/interesting topic for some.hot/interesting topic for some.

Important Sociological Important Sociological ThinkersThinkers Split into five groups:Split into five groups:

Each group will study their important Each group will study their important Sociological contributor & teach to the class.Sociological contributor & teach to the class.

Each group must:Each group must: Provide some background information.Provide some background information. Explain their importance to the fieldExplain their importance to the field

i.e. Significant contributions.i.e. Significant contributions. How they were received by the public.How they were received by the public. How their theories stand today.How their theories stand today.

Put this information in a five slide max Put this information in a five slide max power point with at least three images.power point with at least three images.

Group assignments:Group assignments: Group 1 – Auguste ComteGroup 1 – Auguste Comte Group 2 – Herbert SpencerGroup 2 – Herbert Spencer Group 3 – Karl MarxGroup 3 – Karl Marx Group 4 – Emile DurkheimGroup 4 – Emile Durkheim Group 5 – Max WeberGroup 5 – Max Weber

Little more about Little more about SociologySociology

Examines the forces Examines the forces that compel so many to that compel so many to behave in a similar way:behave in a similar way: Alcohol, drugs addictsAlcohol, drugs addicts

Examine nature vs. Examine nature vs. nurturenurture

Ah, the theatreAh, the theatre How sociologist view How sociologist view

common human common human situationssituations

Boy meets girl – descries Boy meets girl – descries two basic sociological two basic sociological concepts:concepts:

Role Role Social structureSocial structure

Role – expected Role – expected performance of performance of someone who occupies someone who occupies a specific position. a specific position. Each position has Each position has established a script established a script that suggests that suggests appropriate line, appropriate line, gesture and behaviorgesture and behavior

Social structure – the Social structure – the larger structure of the larger structure of the play in which the roles play in which the roles are playedare played FamilyFamily

First Sociologists:First Sociologists:Auguste Comte: 1798-1857Auguste Comte: 1798-1857

Founder of sociologyFounder of sociology Coined the term Coined the term

sociologysociology Applied methods of Applied methods of

physical science to the physical science to the study of social lifestudy of social life

Tried to find solutions to Tried to find solutions to the chaos caused by the the chaos caused by the French RevolutionFrench Revolution

Theory of Statics – social Theory of Statics – social structurestructure Hold society togetherHold society together

Theory of Dynamics – Theory of Dynamics – social processsocial process Society changingSociety changing

Karl Marx: 1818-1883Karl Marx: 1818-1883 Father of communismFather of communism Believed that structure Believed that structure

of society is influenced of society is influenced by how the economy is by how the economy is organizedorganized Bourgeoisie (capitalists)Bourgeoisie (capitalists) Proletariat (workers)Proletariat (workers)

Thought that people who Thought that people who own the means of own the means of production control production control societysociety

Social scientists should Social scientists should be social activistsbe social activists Trouble due to capitalist Trouble due to capitalist

system…class divisions.system…class divisions. Conflict is the cause of Conflict is the cause of

social changesocial change

Herbert Spencer: 1820-Herbert Spencer: 1820-19031903

Was influenced by views of Was influenced by views of Charles DarwinCharles Darwin

Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism Asserted that the fittest Asserted that the fittest

societies would survive over societies would survive over timetime

““Sociology can become a Sociology can become a science only when it is science only when it is based on the idea of natural based on the idea of natural evolution”evolution”

Believed that social change Believed that social change and unrest were natural and unrest were natural occurrences in society’s occurrences in society’s evolution towards stability evolution towards stability and perfectionand perfection

Emile’ Durkheim: 1858-Emile’ Durkheim: 1858-19171917

Taught first social science Taught first social science course in Francecourse in France

Developed the idea of a Developed the idea of a function-positive consequencefunction-positive consequence that an element of society has that an element of society has for the maintenance of a social for the maintenance of a social systemsystem Studied function of religion in Studied function of religion in

maintaining social ordermaintaining social order Values and beliefs hold society Values and beliefs hold society

together.together.

Study only what is observable Study only what is observable (Phenomena) and test it using (Phenomena) and test it using statistical analysisstatistical analysis Used approach in a study on Used approach in a study on suicidesuicide

Max Weber: 1864-1920Max Weber: 1864-1920 Focused on effect of Focused on effect of

society on the society on the individual/small groupsindividual/small groups

Uncover the thoughts and Uncover the thoughts and feelings of an individual, feelings of an individual, not just observablenot just observable

To do… use To do… use VerstehenVerstehen Try to put yourself in the Try to put yourself in the

place of others and see place of others and see situations through their situations through their eyes… what do we call this?eyes… what do we call this?

Used concept of ideal Used concept of ideal type – essential type – essential characteristic of some characteristic of some aspect of societyaspect of society

Current Sociological Current Sociological Perspectives:Perspectives:

Functionalist TheoryFunctionalist Theory Aka: Consensus TheoryAka: Consensus Theory Comte, Spencer and DurkheimComte, Spencer and Durkheim All society’s parts are independent and All society’s parts are independent and

function as one organism.function as one organism. Society is held together through consensus of Society is held together through consensus of

norms and valuesnorms and values Function equals positive, dysfunction equals negativeFunction equals positive, dysfunction equals negative Manifest – intended consequence, Latent – unintended Manifest – intended consequence, Latent – unintended

consequenceconsequence

Want to know everything’s function! Want to know everything’s function! (especially education & family)(especially education & family)

MacroMacro sociology sociology

Current Sociological Current Sociological Perspectives:Perspectives:

Conflict TheoryConflict Theory MarxMarx Focus on the forces in society that promote Focus on the forces in society that promote

competition and change.competition and change. Interested in violent and non-violent competition b/t different Interested in violent and non-violent competition b/t different

peoplepeople Ex: decision making in families, relationships among racial Ex: decision making in families, relationships among racial

groups, disputes between workers and employees, etc.groups, disputes between workers and employees, etc. How do people who have power over others, keep it?How do people who have power over others, keep it?

Constant change in conflict due to inequality among Constant change in conflict due to inequality among different groups.different groups. Disagreement over distribution of power and/or resources Disagreement over distribution of power and/or resources

(those who are in charge seek to stay in charge)(those who are in charge seek to stay in charge) Some have resources… others don’t… what happens next?Some have resources… others don’t… what happens next?

Competition, structured inequality, and revolution… Competition, structured inequality, and revolution… changes occur as a result.changes occur as a result.

MacroMacro Sociology Sociology

Current Sociological Current Sociological Perspectives:Perspectives:

Interactionist TheoryInteractionist Theory Focuses on how individuals interact with Focuses on how individuals interact with

one another in society (Weber)one another in society (Weber) How do individuals respond to each other in How do individuals respond to each other in

everyday situations?everyday situations? Why do we attach meanings to our own Why do we attach meanings to our own

actions & to the actions of others actions & to the actions of others For example – road rageFor example – road rage

Symbolic interaction – how we use Symbolic interaction – how we use symbols in our interactionssymbols in our interactions To be a symbol, society must agree on its To be a symbol, society must agree on its

meaningmeaning Ex: objects, gestures, words, events,Ex: objects, gestures, words, events,

MicroMicro Sociology Sociology