Sociology An Introduction

Enduring Questions  Why do cultures differ?  How does society influence individual actions?

Essential Question for Unit 1  Why do cultures differ?

Sociology Defined  Sociology is the social science that studies human society and social behavior.

What do sociologists study? a)Sociologists are mainly interested in social interaction – how people relate to one another and influence each other’s behavior. b)Sociologists study phenomena: an observable fact or event

The Sociological Perspective  Observing and thinking about social life in a systematic, scientific way  By adopting a sociological perspective, we are able to look beyond commonly held beliefs to the hidden meanings behind human actions.

The Sociological Perspective  Helps us see that we are social beings  Allows us to see that our behavior is the result of social factors  Behavior is learned from others

The Sociological Perspective  Helps us find an acceptable balance between our personal desires and the demands of our social environment Examples?

The Sociological Perspective  Dilemma: If we always do what we want to do, we are likely to conflict with others a great deal of the time. On the other hand, if we always do what others demand of us, we will not grow very much as individuals.

The Sociological Imagination  The connection between the larger world and our personal lives  C. Wright Mills, The Sociological Imagination  xR-M

Critical Thinking Assignment  Read chapter 1 (p. 3-17)  In a two paragraph response, describe a situation that illustrates a conflict between the desire of an individual and the demands of the larger social environment. How would a sociological imagination have helped the individual in this situation?  The situation you choose may be an example from the news, popular culture, or your own life.