Chapter 1:Chapter 1:

The Sociological PerspectiveThe Sociological Perspective

Bell WorkBell Work: Complete the : Complete the following sentences – following sentences –

1. Someone who can’t find a job is 1. Someone who can’t find a job is ________. ________.

2. Homelessness is the result of 2. Homelessness is the result of _________. _________.

3. Immigrants come here because 3. Immigrants come here because of _________.of _________.

SociologySociology

Definition – Definition –

the scientific the scientific study of human study of human social social behavior.behavior.

Sociological Sociological PerspectivePerspective

A view that looks at group A view that looks at group behavior, not individual behavior, not individual behavior.behavior.

Sociological Sociological ImaginationImagination ( (coined by C. Wright Millscoined by C. Wright Mills))

The ability to see the link The ability to see the link between society and oneself.between society and oneself.

Consequences of Your Consequences of Your ActionsActions A group of teenagers attend a A group of teenagers attend a

party where alcohol is served. party where alcohol is served. After consuming large After consuming large quantities of alcohol, four of quantities of alcohol, four of these teenagers decide to these teenagers decide to leave and drive to another leave and drive to another party.party.

Exercise Your Exercise Your Sociological Sociological ImaginationImagination Using complete sentences describe Using complete sentences describe

at least two examples of the social at least two examples of the social consequences of this action for consequences of this action for each of the following groups:each of the following groups:– The four teenagersThe four teenagers– Other driversOther drivers– The parents of the teenagersThe parents of the teenagers– Society as a wholeSociety as a whole

DISCUSS AND COMPARE DISCUSS AND COMPARE YOUR ANSWERS YOUR ANSWERS WITH A PARTNERWITH A PARTNER

Social StructureSocial Structure

Patterned interaction of people in Patterned interaction of people in social relationshipssocial relationships

Sociological ImaginationSociological Imagination The ability to see The ability to see

the relationship the relationship between between individual individual experiences and experiences and the larger the larger society.society.

Private v. Public Issues

The Sociological The Sociological ImaginationImagination

C. Wright Mills coined the term C. Wright Mills coined the term “sociological imagination” to “sociological imagination” to refer to refer to “...“...the vivid awareness the vivid awareness of the relationship between of the relationship between private experience and the private experience and the wider society.”wider society.”

C. Wright Mills

Interpret the meaning and explain Interpret the meaning and explain whether you whether you agreeagree or or disagreedisagree with the quote: with the quote:

““What is not good for the hive What is not good for the hive is not good for the bee.” is not good for the bee.”

What is What is conformityconformity??

AgreementAgreement between: between:

* an * an individual's behaviorindividual's behavior and and * a * a group's standards or group's standards or

expectationsexpectations. .

A conformist is one who follows the A conformist is one who follows the majority's desires or standards. majority's desires or standards.

Non-conformityNon-conformity or or Deviant Deviant BehaviorBehavior

failure or refusal to conform, failure or refusal to conform, as with established customs, as with established customs, attitudes, or ideas.attitudes, or ideas.

The Scientific Method

Sociology and ScienceSociology and Science

Science is Science is “...a body of “...a body of systematically arranged systematically arranged knowledge that shows knowledge that shows the operation of general the operation of general laws.”laws.”

As a science, sociology As a science, sociology employs the employs the scientific scientific methodmethod

Formulate hypotheses

Choose research design

Gather Data

Analyze Data

Review of literature

Sociology and the Social Sociology and the Social SciencesSciences

The Development of The Development of SociologySociology Sociology emerged as a separate Sociology emerged as a separate

discipline in the nineteenth centurydiscipline in the nineteenth century This was a time of great social This was a time of great social

upheaval due largely to the French upheaval due largely to the French and Industrial Revolutionsand Industrial Revolutions

Several early sociologists shaped Several early sociologists shaped the direction of the disciplinethe direction of the discipline

PositivismPositivism1798-18571798-1857

Auguste Comte Auguste Comte Father of SociologyFather of Sociology

Coined the term sociology – main concern the Coined the term sociology – main concern the improvement of societyimprovement of society

PositivismPositivism- wanted to observe - wanted to observe social behaviorsocial behavior scientificallyscientifically to be “positive” or sure. to be “positive” or sure.

Social StaticsSocial Statics – study of social stability and – study of social stability and orderorder

Social DynamicsSocial Dynamics – The study of social change – The study of social change

Harriet MartineauHarriet Martineau1802-18761802-1876

Translated Comte’s bookTranslated Comte’s book

Feminist theorist she saw a link Feminist theorist she saw a link between slavery and the oppression between slavery and the oppression of womenof women

Believed women’s lack of economic Believed women’s lack of economic power helped keep them dependent.power helped keep them dependent.

Herbert Spencer (1820-Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)1903)

Authored the first sociology text, Authored the first sociology text, Principles of SociologyPrinciples of Sociology

Most well known for proposing a Most well known for proposing a doctrine called “Social Darwinism”doctrine called “Social Darwinism”• Suggested that people who could not Suggested that people who could not

compete were poorly adapted to the compete were poorly adapted to the environment and inferiorenvironment and inferior

• This is an idea commonly called This is an idea commonly called survival of the fittestsurvival of the fittest

Herbert SpencerHerbert Spencercont.cont.

Compared society to the human Compared society to the human body body Society is composed of Society is composed of parts working parts working together to promote together to promote its well-being and its well-being and survival. survival.

Brains, stomachs, nervous systems, limbsBrains, stomachs, nervous systems, limbs

Economies, religions, governments, familiesEconomies, religions, governments, families

Each part is crucial!!!Each part is crucial!!!

Social Darwinism – natural selection would insure Social Darwinism – natural selection would insure the survival of the fittest society.the survival of the fittest society.

OPPOSED SOCIAL REFORMOPPOSED SOCIAL REFORM

Karl Marx (1818-1883)Karl Marx (1818-1883)

Marx is the father of Marx is the father of conflictconflict theorytheory Saw human history in a continual Saw human history in a continual

state of conflict between two major state of conflict between two major classes:classes:• Bourgeoisie—Bourgeoisie—owners of the means of owners of the means of

production (capitalists)production (capitalists)• Proletariat—Proletariat—the workersthe workers

Predicted that revolution would Predicted that revolution would occur a communist societyoccur a communist society

Emile Durkheim (1858-Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)1917)

Durkheim moved sociology Durkheim moved sociology fully into the realm of an fully into the realm of an empirical scienceempirical science

Most well known empirical Most well known empirical study is called study is called SuicideSuicide, where , where he looks at the social causes of he looks at the social causes of suicidesuicide

Generally regarded as the Generally regarded as the founder of founder of functionalist theoryfunctionalist theory

Emile Durkheim

Emile Durkheim cont.Emile Durkheim cont. Society exists because of Society exists because of

broad broad consensusconsensus Mechanical solidarityMechanical solidarity (preindustrial (preindustrial

society)– values, beliefs, strong social society)– values, beliefs, strong social pressures for conformity, and pressures for conformity, and dependence on tradition and familydependence on tradition and family

Organic SolidarityOrganic Solidarity (industrial society)– (industrial society)– based on web of highly specialized roles. based on web of highly specialized roles. These roles make other members socially These roles make other members socially interdependent for goods and servicesinterdependent for goods and services

Max Weber Max Weber (1864-1920)(1864-1920)

Human beings act on the Human beings act on the bases of bases of their own understanding their own understanding of a of a situation situation

VerstehenVerstehen – putting yourself in “someone else’s – putting yourself in “someone else’s shoes” to understand them.shoes” to understand them.

RationalizationRationalization – mind set that uses knowledge, – mind set that uses knowledge, reason, and planning. Marked a change from reason, and planning. Marked a change from tradition, emotion, and superstition of pre-tradition, emotion, and superstition of pre-industrial society.industrial society.

Max Weber cont.Max Weber cont.

Much of Weber’s work was a critique Much of Weber’s work was a critique or clarification of Marxor clarification of Marx

His most famous work, His most famous work, The Protestant The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of CapitalismEthic and the Spirit of Capitalism directly challenged Marx’s ideas on directly challenged Marx’s ideas on the role of religion in societythe role of religion in society

Weber was also interested in Weber was also interested in bureaucracies and the process of bureaucracies and the process of rationalization in societyrationalization in society

The Development of The Development of Sociology in the United Sociology in the United StatesStates

American sociology had its beginnings at the University American sociology had its beginnings at the University of Chicago in the early 20of Chicago in the early 20thth century century

The early emphasis was on empirical study of The early emphasis was on empirical study of communities and neighborhoodscommunities and neighborhoods

Later, East Coast schools such as Columbia and Later, East Coast schools such as Columbia and Harvard Universities began sociology departments, Harvard Universities began sociology departments, producing scholars such as W.E.B. Dubois, Talcott producing scholars such as W.E.B. Dubois, Talcott Parsons, and Robert MertonParsons, and Robert Merton

Home page of the University of the Chicago Sociology Dep’t

Theoretical Theoretical PerspectivesPerspectives

Theoretical Theoretical PerspectivePerspective A set of assumptions about an A set of assumptions about an

area of study accepted as truearea of study accepted as true

Theoretical Perspectives: Theoretical Perspectives: FunctionalismFunctionalism

Functionalism emphasizes the Functionalism emphasizes the contributions made by each contributions made by each part of societypart of society

The image that functionalists use to The image that functionalists use to understand society is a living understand society is a living organismorganism

Each part of society works together Each part of society works together for the benefit of the whole much for the benefit of the whole much like a living organismlike a living organism

Functionalism cont.Functionalism cont.

There are There are two typestwo types of functions of functions 1. 1. Manifest functionsManifest functions: intended and : intended and

recognized consequences of an aspect recognized consequences of an aspect of societyof society

2. 2. latent functionslatent functions: unintended and : unintended and unrecognized consequences of and unrecognized consequences of and aspect of society.aspect of society.

Ex: School serves different functions. Ex: School serves different functions.

Functionalism cont.Functionalism cont.

Not all elements of society make Not all elements of society make a positive contribution.a positive contribution.

DysfunctionDysfunction: negative : negative consequences of an aspect of consequences of an aspect of societysociety

Theoretical Perspectives: Theoretical Perspectives: Conflict TheoryConflict Theory

Conflict theory is grounded in the work of Karl Conflict theory is grounded in the work of Karl MarxMarx

Society is understood to be made up of Society is understood to be made up of conflicting interest groups who fight for power conflicting interest groups who fight for power and privilegeand privilege

Conflict theoryConflict theory focuses heavily on focuses heavily on inequality and differential distribution of inequality and differential distribution of power and wealthpower and wealth

Conflict Theory cont.Conflict Theory cont.

PowerPower: the ability to control the : the ability to control the behavior of others behavior of others

ExplanationExplanation: Because some : Because some groups have more power than groups have more power than others, they are able to constrain, others, they are able to constrain, or limit the less powerful.or limit the less powerful.

Theoretical Perspectives: Theoretical Perspectives: Symbolic InteractionismSymbolic Interactionism

Definition: the approach that Definition: the approach that focuses focuses on the interactions among people on the interactions among people based on mutually understood based on mutually understood symbolssymbols..

Symbolic Symbolic Interactionism cont.Interactionism cont.

DramaturgyDramaturgy: depicts human : depicts human interaction as theatrical interaction as theatrical performance.performance.

Explanation: Like actors on a stage, Explanation: Like actors on a stage, people present themselves through people present themselves through dress, gestures, tone of voicedress, gestures, tone of voice

3 Assumptions of 3 Assumptions of Symbolic Symbolic

InteractionismInteractionism 1. We learn meanings of symbols 1. We learn meanings of symbols

from how others react to it.from how others react to it. 2. Once meanings of symbols are 2. Once meanings of symbols are

learned we base our behavior on learned we base our behavior on them.them.

3. We use meanings of symbols to 3. We use meanings of symbols to imagine how others will respond imagine how others will respond to our behavior.to our behavior.

Comparing Theoretical PerspectivesComparing Theoretical PerspectivesPerspectivePerspective Scope of Scope of

AnalysisAnalysisPoint of ViewPoint of View Focus of Focus of

AnalysisAnalysisStructural-Structural-FunctionalismFunctionalism

Macro Macro LevelLevel

1.1. Various parts of society Various parts of society are interdependentare interdependent

2.2. Social systems are Social systems are highly stablehighly stable

3.3. Social life governed by Social life governed by consensus & consensus & cooperationcooperation

Functional and Functional and dysfunctional dysfunctional aspects of aspects of societysociety

Conflict Conflict TheoryTheory

Macro Macro LevelLevel

1.1. Society accommodates Society accommodates between competing between competing interest groupsinterest groups

2.2. Society unstable and Society unstable and prone to changeprone to change

3.3. Social life conflict-ladenSocial life conflict-laden

1. How social 1. How social inequalities inequalities produce conflictproduce conflict2. Who benefits 2. Who benefits from social from social arrangementsarrangements

InteractionistInteractionist Micro-LevelMicro-Level 1.1. Actions have Actions have symbolic meaningssymbolic meanings

2.2. Meanings can varyMeanings can vary

How people How people make sense of make sense of their worldtheir world