1 The Sociological Perspective

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3 How did Sociology get started? From France, Germany & England August Comte (France) “Father of Sociology” Coined the tern “Sociology” Behavior more complex than natural phenomena Becomes an academic discipline in U.S. around 1900

What is the Sociological Perspective? Sociology looks at the power of society to shape your individual life. Why are you going to college? Who will you fall in love with? How many children will you have? Will you commit suicide? 4

5 What is the Sociological Perspective? Peter Berger Seeing the general in the particular Durkheim’s Study of suicide Lack of social integration Eg. Wealthy, unmarried Protestant male

6 What is the Sociological Perspective? C. Wright Mills “The Sociological Imagination” Personal problems become public issues Abortion Home foreclosure Number of children (e.g. China)

Do you remember? Who is the father of Sociology? Who wanted you to see “The general in the particular”? Who wanted you to see how personal problems become public issues? 7

8 What are social theories? How do they help us? Theory How & why specific facts are related Integrates data and information Help decide what kinds of research questions to ask. Confirmed, modified, or rejected through research

9 What types of theories are there? Structural Functionalism Conflict Symbolic interaction

10 What is Structural Functionalism? How does it see the world? Macro focused Sees society as a complex system promoting solidarity and stability Manifest functions Recognized or intended consequences Latent functions Unrecognized and unintended consequences Social dysfunction Examples Family P.M. Sex Prohibition

11 What is Conflict Theory? How does it see the world? Macro focused Inequality = conflict Karl Marx Social patterns benefit some people while depriving others Example Workers VS owners

12 What is Symbolic Interaction? How does it see the world? Micro focuses Society operates on the subjective meanings of symbols Examples: Stubborn VS. steadfast Bus Police lights & bar fight Slides & Clothes Cloning VS “Somatic nuclear cell transfer”

Do you remember? What are the three main Sociological theories? Which two theories are macro focused? Which one looks at society as an integrated system? Which one looks at how we interpret the meanings of words and symbols? 13

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