What is sociology?What is sociology?

The systematic study of human societyThe systematic study of human society (Macionis 2008:2)(Macionis 2008:2)

The study of social life, social change, and The study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of the social causes and consequences of human behavior.human behavior.

American Sociological American Sociological AssociationAssociation

Seeing the General in the Seeing the General in the ParticularParticular

Sociologists look for general patterns of Sociologists look for general patterns of behavior in particular people.behavior in particular people.

(Macionis 2008:2)(Macionis 2008:2)

Recognizing how the general Recognizing how the general categories into which we fall, impact categories into which we fall, impact the experiences of our daily lives.the experiences of our daily lives.

Seeing the Strange in the Seeing the Strange in the FamiliarFamiliar

Giving up the idea that everything that occurs Giving up the idea that everything that occurs in our life is a matter of what we decide and in our life is a matter of what we decide and accepting the idea that social forces and accepting the idea that social forces and experiences impact the decisions we make.experiences impact the decisions we make.

Why are you at Oakton? Why do some Why are you at Oakton? Why do some people go to Northwestern and others don’t?people go to Northwestern and others don’t?

The Sociological The Sociological ImaginationImagination

The ability to see the impact of society The ability to see the impact of society on our everyday lifeon our everyday life

Those who are marginalized are Those who are marginalized are generally better able to use it.generally better able to use it.

Sometimes develops as a result of Sometimes develops as a result of crisiscrisis

Global PerspectiveGlobal Perspective

Allows us to see our society’s place in the worldAllows us to see our society’s place in the world

High income countries – industrialized; most people live High income countries – industrialized; most people live in material abundance in material abundance 

Middle income countries – limited industrialization and Middle income countries – limited industrialization and moderate income moderate income 

Low income countries – little industrialization; severe Low income countries – little industrialization; severe poverty is the rule.poverty is the rule.

The Beginnings of SociologyThe Beginnings of Sociology

Social ContextSocial Context

New industrial economyNew industrial economy

The growth of cities The growth of cities

Political changePolitical change

Growth of Scientific StudyGrowth of Scientific Study

Positivism Positivism a means of understanding the world a means of understanding the world

through sciencethrough science

Positivist thought had become an Positivist thought had become an important aspect in the study of the important aspect in the study of the physical world, so it made sense to physical world, so it made sense to apply it to the social world. apply it to the social world.

Auguste ComteAuguste Comte Among the earliest Among the earliest

theorists to use theorists to use science to exam science to exam the social world.the social world.

Created the term Created the term “sociology” to “sociology” to describe the describe the scientific study of scientific study of society in 1838society in 1838

Levels of AnalysisLevels of Analysis

Macrosociology – looks at the Macrosociology – looks at the world on the large (global) world on the large (global)

scalescale

Microsociology – looks at the Microsociology – looks at the world on a smaller scale; of world on a smaller scale; of

from an individual from an individual perspective.perspective.

MacrosociologyMacrosociology

Functionalist ParadigmFunctionalist Paradigm

Conflict ParadigmConflict Paradigm

The Functionalist ParadigmThe Functionalist Paradigm

a framework that sees society as a complex a framework that sees society as a complex system whose various parts work together to system whose various parts work together to allow society to functionallow society to function

believes our lives are guided by social believes our lives are guided by social structure – stable patterns of social behaviorstructure – stable patterns of social behavior

structures are understood through their structures are understood through their social functions and consequences for the social functions and consequences for the operation of societyoperation of society

Emile DurkhiemEmile Durkhiem

Stressed the use of social Stressed the use of social facts – aspects of social facts – aspects of social life that shape our actions life that shape our actions as individualsas individuals

Organic Solidarity Organic Solidarity (society as human (society as human

body)body)

Mechanical Solidarity Mechanical Solidarity (no (no

differentiation)differentiation)

AnomieAnomie

Herbert SpencerHerbert Spencer

Studied sociobiologyStudied sociobiology

Coined the term Coined the term “survival of the fittest”“survival of the fittest”

Robert K. MertonRobert K. Merton

Developed the concepts of Developed the concepts of manifest and latent manifest and latent functionsfunctions

Manifest – the recognized and Manifest – the recognized and expected consequences of expected consequences of social patterns social patterns

Latent – unexpected and often Latent – unexpected and often unrecognized consequences unrecognized consequences

Criticisms of the Criticisms of the Functionalist ParadigmFunctionalist Paradigm

Structural-Functionalism glosses over Structural-Functionalism glosses over issues of inequality issues of inequality

its focus on stability often ignores its focus on stability often ignores conflict and change conflict and change

Social Conflict ParadigmSocial Conflict Paradigm

sees society as an arena of inequality that sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and changegenerates conflict and change

focuses on divisions through inequalityfocuses on divisions through inequality

examines the unequal distribution of examines the unequal distribution of money, power, education, and social money, power, education, and social prestigeprestige

argues that social structure benefits some argues that social structure benefits some people while depriving otherspeople while depriving others

Karl MarxKarl Marx

Economics the most important Economics the most important defining factor of societydefining factor of society

Materialist conception of Materialist conception of history history (how we produce material goods shapes our (how we produce material goods shapes our

experience)experience)

Bourgeoisie and ProletariatBourgeoisie and Proletariat

Race Conflict ParadigmRace Conflict Paradigm

Focal point of social research had been Focal point of social research had been whiteswhites

Addresses inequality and conflict between Addresses inequality and conflict between people of different races and ethnicitiespeople of different races and ethnicities

Points out contributions made by people of Points out contributions made by people of colorcolor

W. E. B. DuBoisW. E. B. DuBois

First African American to First African American to earn a doctorate at Harvardearn a doctorate at Harvard

Founding member of the Founding member of the NAACPNAACP

Research addressed issues Research addressed issues of race and conflictof race and conflict

Feminist ParadigmFeminist Paradigm(Gender Conflict Approach)(Gender Conflict Approach)

As with all other sciences, the focal As with all other sciences, the focal point of social research had been menpoint of social research had been men

focus is on the intersection of gender, focus is on the intersection of gender, race, and classrace, and class

Stresses advocacy for political and Stresses advocacy for political and social activitiessocial activities

Harriet MartineauHarriet Martineau

First woman sociologistFirst woman sociologist

Argued that when studying any Argued that when studying any society, one must look at all aspects of society, one must look at all aspects of itit

Said women’s lives must be studiedSaid women’s lives must be studied

First to study issues such as marriage, First to study issues such as marriage, children, race relations, and religious children, race relations, and religious and domestic lifeand domestic life

Jane AddamsJane Addams Founded Hull House to assist Founded Hull House to assist

immigrantsimmigrants Brought various groups of people Brought various groups of people

(from poor immigrants to wealthy (from poor immigrants to wealthy businessmen) together to discuss businessmen) together to discuss social issues.social issues.

Worked for women’s Worked for women’s suffragesuffrage

Helped found the NAACPHelped found the NAACP Helped found the ACLUHelped found the ACLU Won the Nobel Peace PrizeWon the Nobel Peace Prize

Criticism of Conflict Criticism of Conflict ParadigmParadigm

Doesn’t address shared values or Doesn’t address shared values or interdependence that leads to unity interdependence that leads to unity

MicrosociologyMicrosociology Symbolic Interactionist ParadigmSymbolic Interactionist Paradigm

Focuses on social interaction in specific situationsFocuses on social interaction in specific situations

Sees society as the product of the everyday Sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals interactions of individuals

Shared reality – we construct our reality as we Shared reality – we construct our reality as we interact with one anotherinteract with one another

Definition of reality differs from one person to the Definition of reality differs from one person to the nextnext

Max WeberMax Weber

understand setting through understand setting through point of view of those in it point of view of those in it

Studied bureaucracyStudied bureaucracy

George Herbert MeadGeorge Herbert Mead

We build our personalities We build our personalities through our social through our social experiencesexperiences

Criticism of Symbolic Criticism of Symbolic InteractionismInteractionism

Tends to overlook social structures Tends to overlook social structures and the widespread effects of culture. and the widespread effects of culture.

Other Important ParadigmsOther Important Paradigms

Rational ChoiceRational Choice

If there could be only one explanation for the If there could be only one explanation for the actions we take, it would be self-interest.actions we take, it would be self-interest.

Other Important ParadigmsOther Important Paradigms

PostmodernPostmodern

There is no longer an historical context There is no longer an historical context for our social developmentfor our social development

Modern society is pluralistic and diverseModern society is pluralistic and diverse