Chapter 1 – Sociology: A Unique Way to View the World

Why is the Social World Important? Humans are fundamentally social beings The social world is not just outside us; we also carry it within us We take social patterns for granted as routine, ordinary, and expected Without socially shared expectations, life would be chaotic Individuals and the social world mutually influence one another

What is Sociology? Sociology: the scientific study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior Sociologists ask questions such as: Why and how do people and groups interact with one another? How are different groups or societies organized? How do they deal with conflict and change? How do changes in one society affect other societies?

What is Sociology? Sociologists study groups of all sizes Dyads (e.g., a romantic couple) Small groups (e.g., a family) Large groups (e.g., the auto industry) Nations (e.g., the U.S.) The global society (the world as an interdependent entity)

What is Sociology? Underlying assumptions of sociology People are social by nature People live most of their lives in social groups Interactions between people and groups are reciprocal: each influences the other Groups feature recurrent social patterns, ordered behavior, shared expectations, and common understandings Conflict and change are natural and inevitable

What is Sociology? Sociology vs. Common Sense Many commonly held beliefs are not actually true Sociology uses scientific methods to test ideas, including common sense assumptions Scientific methods involve analyzing evidence in a way that is planned, objective, systematic, and repeatable Many common sense ideas are challenged by scientific evidence

What is Sociology? The sociological imagination Defined by C. Wright Mills as understanding individual problems to be rooted in broader social or public issues Many individual problems are rooted in social issues For example … How do social factors influence layoff rates and personal experiences of unemployment? How have social factors shaped the causes and rates of divorce?

What is Sociology? Questions sociologists do and don’t ask Sociologists don’t ask questions that require philosophical or moral judgments Sociologists do ask questions that can be studied objectively and scientifically e.g., sociologists may study a group’s religious beliefs, but they do not make judgments about whether the beliefs are right or wrong

What is Sociology? Comparing the social sciences All study aspects of human behavior and social life, using the scientific method, but each has a different focus: Cultural anthropology: the culture or way of life of a society Psychology: individual behavior and mental processes Political Science: government systems and power Economics: economic conditions and how people organize, produce, and distribute goods Sociology: human interaction, groups, and social structure

What Do Sociologists Do—and Why? Essential ingredients in sociological study: Ability to observe what is happening in the social world and can inform social policy Helps us to be more effective as we carry out our roles Desire to understand and explain why it is happening (i.e. High School Dropouts)

What Do Sociologists Do—and Why? Some practical rewards of sociological study: Self-awareness and self-improvement Better understanding of social situations Objective, systematic understanding of both domestic and global problems Understanding of diverse cultural perspectives Ability to assess the impact of social policies Appreciation of the complexities of social life Useful skills Learn how to change your environment and society

What Do Sociologists Do—and Why? What sociologists do Work in colleges and universities Teach, conduct research Work in social service organizations Address interpersonal relations or deviant behavior Work in business Address organizational needs or human resources Work in government Provide data for policy and planning

What Do Sociologists Do—and Why? Useful skills honed in sociological training Communication & interpersonal Analysis and research Computer/technical Flexibility Leadership Sensitivity to diversity and global understanding Organizing and planning Conceptual, problem-solving Personal values

The Social World Model Levels of analysis: size of the social groups being considered, from the smallest to the largest Understanding sociology requires understanding multiple levels of analysis The social world model allows us to picture levels of analysis in our social environment as an interconnected series of small groups, organizations, institutions, and societies Important question: How do the levels connect or conflict with one another?

The Social World Model

The Social World Model Social Structures Social units: interconnected parts of the social world Social structure: a particular combination of social units that orders our lives Social institutions: provide the rules, roles, and relationships to meet human needs and guide human behavior National society: a population of people living in a specified geographic area with a common political authority, many common ideas, and a social structure and institutions

The Social World Model Social Processes Social processes: actions taken by people in social units. For example, Process of socialization: how we learn to be productive members of society Process of conflict: occurs between individuals or groups over money, jobs, and other needed or desired resources Process of change: every social unit is continually changing, and change in each unit affects others

The Social World Model The Environment The environment: the setting that surrounds and influences each social unit e.g., physical, organizational, or technological setting Each unit has its own distinctive environment, to which it must adjust To understand a social unit, we must consider not only the structure and processes within the unit, but also its interaction with the surrounding environment

The Social World Model Studying the Social World: Levels of Analysis The social world can be studied at many levels: Micro-level (individuals and small groups) Importance: micro interactions form the basis of all social groups and organizations Meso-level (intermediate size units) Importance: helps explain relations among institutions, organizations, and large groups Macro-level (nations, global & international trends) Importance: helps explain how larger social forces and global events shape everyday life Each level adds depth to a topic

The Social World Model Levels of Analysis

The Social World Model Which level of analysis would you use to examine each of the following questions? How do couples divide housework responsibilities? Which factors determine the percentage of women in political power in a certain country? Does the size of a school’s sports stadium matter for students who are choosing a college?

The Social World Model Answer: All three questions could be studied from any of the levels, or from a combination of levels