Unit 1: Introduction to Sociology

What the Heck is Sociology? Sociology is a social science that studies human society and social behavior Sociologists focus on social interactions (usually group vs. individual) Sociology uses scientific methods to investigate social institutions

When was Sociology started? One could speculate that Enlightenment Age thinkers began the practice of Sociology Many give the distinction to a group of men from Europe that started studying social patterns during the Industrial Revolution

Why Study Sociology? Gain a Sociological perspective and imagination Offers a look at the world based on research rather than common sense Colleges generally require you to take a course in Sociology Job Opportunities duh!!!

Who Founded Sociology? Five men from different regions during the same time period began studying human interaction and actually coined the name sociology Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber are the founders of Sociology

Auguste Comte Lived from 1798-1857 in France, Germany and England. Considered father of Sociology Focused on social order and change (French Rev.) Believed in using scientific method to study society

Karl Marx Lived 1818-1883 in Prussia (Germany) Radical writer Believed society is organized by its economy (Bourgeoisie vs. Proletariat) Imbalance of power leads to conflict between owners and workers Father of communism Created the Conflict Theory

Herbert Spencer Lived 1820-1903 in England Largely influenced by Darwin (Social Darwinism) Viewed society as a set of interdependent parts that work together to maintain a system over time Social unrest and change is natural to correct social problems

Emile Dirkheim Lived 1858-1917 in France 1st College Sociology course 1st to apply systematic methods to the study of society Concerned with social order (functions) Shared beliefs held a society together Believed in studying only observable info

Max Weber Lived 1864-1920 in Prussia (Germany) Focused on groups within a society rather than society as a whole Verstehen: focused on thoughts and feelings (put yourself in their shoes) Ideal type: the description comprised of essential characteristics in a social institution

Sociological Perspectives Theory: Systematic explanation of the relationships among phenomena Theoretical Perspective: General set of assumptions about nature or phenomena 3 perspectives of Sociology: Functionalist, Conflict, and Interactionist

Functionalist View society as a set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable social system (Spencer and Durkheim) Society is held together through an agreement on what is best View certain elements of society in terms of their function in society Things that don’t run well = dysfunctional

Functionalist cont. Things can be manifest or latent: Manifest Function – intended and recognized consequences of some element of society Latent Function –unintended and unrecognized consequences of an element of society

Conflict Perspective Focus on forces in society that promote competition and change (Marx) How those with power control those without See social change as an inevitable part of society because of conflict over things to gain power. (natural resources)

Interactionist Perspective Focus on how individuals relate/interact within society (social psychologists) Interested in meaning of actions and choices (Weber) Interested in the use of symbols in daily life (anything that stands for something else) Symbolic Interaction: focus on the interactions between people through the use of symbols

Research Methodology Sociology studies human behavioral patterns by using the scientific method This method, as many of you probably remember, is made up of 6 steps: Define the problem Review the literature Form a hypothesis Choose a research design (Observation, Questionnaire, Survey, or Data Analysis) Collect and analyze data Presenting a conclusion