Chapter 1: A Sociological Compass Melanie Hatfield & Martin Hipkins

social sciences Sociology is one of the social sciences : The disciplines that use the scientific method to examine the social world, in contrast to the natural sciences which examine the physical world. Examples??

The Sociological Imagination Sociologists call stable patterns of social relations social structures. Sociologists call stable patterns of social relations social structures. C. Wright Mills called the ability to see the connection between personal troubles and social structures the… C. Wright Mills called the ability to see the connection between personal troubles and social structures the… Sociological Imagination. Sociological Imagination.

C. Wright Mills

Social Structures Three levels of social structure that surround and permeate us: Three levels of social structure that surround and permeate us: 1. Microstructures: patterns of intimate social relations. 2. Macrostructures: patterns of social relations that lie outside and above your circle of intimates and acquaintances.  Patriarchy, which is the traditional system of economic and political inequality between women and men in most societies. 3. Global structures: patterns of social relations that lie outside and above the national level. “Sociological Imagination,” coined by C. Wright Mills, refers to the ability to see the connection between personal troubles and social structures. “Sociological Imagination,” coined by C. Wright Mills, refers to the ability to see the connection between personal troubles and social structures.

Origins of the Sociological Imagination The sociological imagination was born in the context of three modern revolutions that pushed people to think about society in new ways. The sociological imagination was born in the context of three modern revolutions that pushed people to think about society in new ways. 1. The Scientific Revolution (1550) suggested that a science of society was possible. 2. The Democratic Revolution (1750) suggested that people could intervene to improve society. 3. The Industrial Revolution (1780s) presented social thinkers with a host of pressing social problems crying out for solution. They responded by giving birth to the Sociological Imagination. They responded by giving birth to the Sociological Imagination.

Scientific Revolution – 16 th Century

Industrial Revolution – Turn of the 18 th Century

Democratic Revolution – 18 th Century

Sociological Theoretical Schools and Their Theorists Functionalism Functionalism Durkheim Durkheim Parsons Parsons Merton Merton Conflict Theory Conflict Theory Marx Marx Weber Weber Du Bois Du Bois C. Wright Mills C. Wright Mills Symbolic Interactionism Weber Mead Goffman Feminist Theory Martineau Addams

Features of Functionalism 1. Human behavior is governed by social structures. 2. Theories show how social structures maintain or undermine social stability. 3. Theories emphasize that social structures are based on shared values. 4. Suggests that reestablishing equilibrium can best solve most social problems.

Talcott Parsons A leading proponent of functionalism. A leading proponent of functionalism. Argued that society is integrated and in Argued that society is integrated and in equilibrium when: the family raises new generations the family raises new generations the military defends society the military defends society schools teach students the skills and values they need to function as adults schools teach students the skills and values they need to function as adults religions create a shared moral code among people religions create a shared moral code among people

Robert Merton Leading functionalist in the US Leading functionalist in the US Proposed that social structures may have different consequences for different groups. Proposed that social structures may have different consequences for different groups. Some of those consequences may be disruptive or dysfunctional. Some of those consequences may be disruptive or dysfunctional. Some functions are manifest, others are latent. Some functions are manifest, others are latent.

Conflict Theory 1. Focuses on macro-level structures, such as “class relations”. 2. Shows how major patterns of inequality produce stability in some circumstances and change in others. 3. Stresses how members of privileged groups try to maintain advantages while subordinate groups struggle to increase theirs. 4. Leads to the suggestion that eliminating privilege will lower the level of conflict and increase total human welfare.

Karl Marx Ideas revolves around class conflict, defined as the struggle between classes to resist and over come the opposition of other classes. Ideas revolves around class conflict, defined as the struggle between classes to resist and over come the opposition of other classes. Marx argued that owners of industry, or capitalists, focus on attempting to improve the efficiency of work and earning higher profits. Marx argued that owners of industry, or capitalists, focus on attempting to improve the efficiency of work and earning higher profits. This causes capitalists to concentrate workers in larger establishments, keep wages as low as possible, and invest little in improving working conditions. This causes capitalists to concentrate workers in larger establishments, keep wages as low as possible, and invest little in improving working conditions. Marx felt that workers would eventually become aware of their exploited class, referred to as class consciousness. Marx felt that workers would eventually become aware of their exploited class, referred to as class consciousness.

Max Weber Weber pointed out flaws in Marx’s ideas. Weber pointed out flaws in Marx’s ideas. He noted that the rapid growth of the service sector of the economy, with its many nonmanual workers and professionals. He noted that the rapid growth of the service sector of the economy, with its many nonmanual workers and professionals. He argues many members of these occupational groups stabilize society because they enjoy higher status and income than manual workers employed in the manufacturing sector. He argues many members of these occupational groups stabilize society because they enjoy higher status and income than manual workers employed in the manufacturing sector. Weber showed that politics and religion are also important sources of historical change. Weber showed that politics and religion are also important sources of historical change.

W.E.B. Du Bois The first African American to receive a The first African American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard Ph.D. from Harvard He was a founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and of the country’s second Department of Sociology at Atlanta University in He was a founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and of the country’s second Department of Sociology at Atlanta University in In The Philadelphia Negro, Du bois illustrates that social problems that African Americans face were not due to some “natural” inferiority, but to white prejudice. In The Philadelphia Negro, Du bois illustrates that social problems that African Americans face were not due to some “natural” inferiority, but to white prejudice. He believed that the elimination of white prejudice would create more equality between blacks and whites. He believed that the elimination of white prejudice would create more equality between blacks and whites.

C. Wright Mills Laid the foundation for modern conflict theory in the U.S. in the 1950s. Laid the foundation for modern conflict theory in the U.S. in the 1950s. One of his most important books is the Power Elite, where he argues that power is highly concentrated in American society, which is therefore less of a democracy than we are often lead to believe. One of his most important books is the Power Elite, where he argues that power is highly concentrated in American society, which is therefore less of a democracy than we are often lead to believe.

Symbolic Interactionism 1. Focus on interpersonal communication in micro-level social settings. 2. Emphasis on social life as possible only because people attach meanings to things. 3. Stress the notion that people help create their social circumstances and do not merely react to them. 4. Validation of unpopular and nonofficial viewpoints by focusing on the subjective meanings people create in small social settings.

Feminist Theory 1. Focuses on patriarchy. 2. Holds that male domination and female subordination are determined by power and social convention. 3. Examines the operation of patriarchy in micro- and macro-level settings. 4. Patterns of gender inequality should be changed for the benefit of all members of society.