Sociology -- the scientific study of human social relationships

WHAT IS SOCIAL?

Social -- interaction between two or more people

Asocial -- not social, not interacting with others Either by choice … … or by being left out

Anti-social -- negative interaction or avoidance of interaction KEEP OUT

Pseudo-social -- appears to be social, but isn’t

Early Sociologists A Brief Review

Theorists of Sociology Comte Durkheim Marx Spencer Weber 1

Auguste Comte Considered the founder of Sociology Coined the term “sociology”

Comte coined term “Sociology” Socious- companion (Latin) Logos- study of (Greek) 3

Theorists of Sociology Auguste Comte- French Philosopher, interested in finding solutions to the chaos of the French Revolution 2

Comte believed that sociologists should be concerned with two main concepts: Order & Change

Comte Social Statics constants non-changing principles life and death man v. nature 4

Comte Social Dynamics change attitudes and acceptable behaviors 5

Auguste Comte Practiced “cerebral hygiene”

Comte Positivism- all science should be value free and objective 6

Karl Marx Not really a sociologist, but a social philosopher

Karl Marx Believed that class conflict led to social change Influenced the modern conflict theory

Theorists of Sociology Karl Marx (1818-1883) not a sociologist but had a profound affect on sociology (and history) 7

importance of economics in everyday life and in history Marx- Economic Determinism importance of economics in everyday life and in history 8

Concerned with class conflict Marx- Concerned with class conflict Worker v. Capitalist 9

Felt that any historical change would involve conflict between the workers and capitalists Marx 10

Organic Totalitity Marx- society similar to a human body- each part performs a function many parts make up the whole 11

Herbert Spencer Was strongly influenced by Charles Darwin Believed no steps should be taken to correct society’s problems

Herbert Spencer Coined the phrase “Survival of the Fittest” His theory is called “Social Darwinism”

Herbert Spencer Society is made up of interdependent parts 12

Emile Durkheim First sociologist to systematically apply the scientific method to the study of society

Emile Durkheim Greatly influenced the modern Functionalist theory

Emile Durkheim- Thought only the overt should be studied Not- thoughts, feelings or emotions Believed that everything has numerous functions 14

Emile Durkheim- functions Manifest Function- the intended or primary purpose of an object transportation Latent Function- the unintended purpose of an object status symbol 16

Max Weber Studied the effects of society on the individual Influenced the modern Inter-actionist theory

Max Weber Verstehen -- essentially seeing a situation through someone else’s eyes

Interested in groups within society, not just society as a whole Max Weber- Interested in groups within society, not just society as a whole 17

Max Weber- Verstehen understanding the meaning others attach to their actions 18

… And now for something new ...

Sociological Imagination

C. Wright Mills No social study is complete until it deals with the “intersection” of History and Biography H t i s r y Biography

This “intersection” is the connection between the larger world (history) ... … and our personal lives (biography)

Sociological Imagination … can therefore be defined as the ability to perceive the connection between your per-sonal life and the larger world around you.

Sociological Imagination Mills said that the researcher must follow three lines of questioning to utilize sociological imagination:

What is the structure of the society as a whole? What are its essential components? How are they interrelated? How does this society differ from others?

Where does this society stand in human history? How is it changing? How is it affected by the historical period in which it exists?

What varieties of people prevail in this society? What are the men and women in this society like? Who are the “winners” and how are these people selected or formed in this society?

Q. Which theorist developed the idea of “Social Darwinism”? Theorist Evaluation Q. Which theorist developed the idea of “Social Darwinism”? 19

Q. Which theorist developed the idea of “Social Darwinism”? Theorist Evaluation Q. Which theorist developed the idea of “Social Darwinism”? A. Herbert Spencer 19

Q. Who coined the term “sociology”? Theorist Evaluation Q. Who coined the term “sociology”? 20

Q. Who coined the term “sociology”? A. Auguste Comte Theorist Evaluation Q. Who coined the term “sociology”? A. Auguste Comte 20

Q. Which theorist emphasized class conflict? Theorist Evaluation Q. Which theorist emphasized class conflict? 21

Q. Which theorist emphasized class conflict? A. Karl Marx Theorist Evaluation Q. Which theorist emphasized class conflict? A. Karl Marx 21

Q. Which theorist is responsible for the idea of verstehen? Theorist Evaluation Q. Which theorist is responsible for the idea of verstehen? 22

Q. Which theorist is responsible for the idea of verstehen? Theorist Evaluation Q. Which theorist is responsible for the idea of verstehen? A. Max Weber 22

Q. Which theorist applied the scientific method to sociology? Theorist Evaluation Q. Which theorist applied the scientific method to sociology? 23

Q. Which theorist applied the scientific method to sociology? Theorist Evaluation Q. Which theorist applied the scientific method to sociology? A. Emile Durkheim 23

… And now for the Sociological Theoretical Perspectives ...

Current Sociological Theories Functionalist Perspective: Asks the question: “What is the use or purpose of A or B?”

Current Sociological Theories Function -- the positive consequence of an element of society stabilizes society

Current Sociological Theories Dysfunction -- the negative consequence of an element of society destabilizes society

Current Sociological Theories Example: Cars Function? Dysfunction?

Current Sociological Theories Manifest function -- the intended and recognized function Latent function -- the unintended and unrecognized function

Current Sociological Theories Cars … Manifest function? Latent function?

Current Sociological Theories Conflict Perspective: Asks the question: “How is A pitted against B, and why?”

Current Sociological Theories Conflict Perspective: Society is divided between “haves” and “have-nots” Conflict leads to social change

Current Sociological Theories Conflict Perspective: Looks at who has power and who does not. How did those in power get it and how do they keep it?

Current Sociological Theories Conflict Perspective: Who does not have power and how are they trying to get it? What obstacles stand in their way from succeeding?

Current Sociological Theories Interactionist Perspective: Asks the question: “How is A related to B?”

Current Sociological Theories Interactionist Perspective: Looks at how individuals relate to one another.

Current Sociological Theories Interactionist Perspective: An area if interest is understanding the meaning that people attach to their own and others’ actions.

Current Sociological Theories Symbolic Interaction

Correlation & Causation

Notes: Social Phenomenon -- an act or occurrence in human society that can be observed and studied

Variable -- a characteristic that can change from one individual (or group) to another (opposite of “constant”)

Correlation -- when a change in one variable is associated with a change in another variable

Causation -- when a change in one brings about a change in another variable.

Ex: Smoking & Lung Cancer This is a direct or a positive correlation

Does one cause the other? Ex: Amount of Homework & Stress Does one cause the other?

Ex: Exercise & Heart Disease This is an inverse or a negative correlation

Does one cause the other? Ex: Hospitalization & Death Does one cause the other?

NO! A third variable causes both! Hospitalization Death Serious Illness NO! A third variable causes both!

When a third variable causes both, this is called a spurious correlation.