SOCIOLOGY INTRODUCTION Section 2 of Chapter 1

Review Slide (Sect 1- Slide 1) What Sociology IS  Sociology – Social Science of human society and social behavior (Study of Society [groups]) (Study of Society [groups])  Social Science – Disciplines that study human social behavior, functions, and institutions in a scientific way functions, and institutions in a scientific way  Social Interaction – How people relate and influence each other  Social Phenomena – Observable facts and events in society  Sociological Perspectives – Look beyond commonly held beliefs to the hidden meanings behind human actions  Sociological Imagination – Connecting the larger world to (C. Wright Mills) your personal life (C. Wright Mills) your personal life

Review Slide (Sect 1 – Slide 2) What Sociology is NOT All of the below Social Sciences are the study of the material listed beside them…Study of…  Anthropology – comparing past -vs- present cultures  Psychology – Behaviors and mental processes  Economics – Choices people make to meet their needs and wants needs and wants  Political Science – Organization and Operation of governments of governments  History – Past events

Then and Now  Industrial Revolution → Rapid Social and Rapid Social and Political Changes Political Changes ∙ Result = Housing Shortages ∙ Result = Housing Shortages Pollution ↑ Pollution ↑ Crime ↑ Crime ↑ Unemployment Unemployment  BIG IDEA – They could no longer deny the longer deny the effects of society effects of society on its people and on its people and began studying began studying Sociology Sociology

The Early Years  Auguste Comte (French)  Founder of Sociology as a subject; coined the term “sociology”  Social Statics – Unchanging society structures that hold it structures that hold it together together  Social Dynamics – Changes in society that allow it to that allow it to develop develop

The Early Years  Herbert Spencer (English)  Used Darwin’s ideas of Evolution to describe society → Social Darwinism 1 - Society is constantly working towards perfection towards perfection 2 - “Survival of the Fittest” would eventually lead to a better world eventually lead to a better world

The Early Years  Karl Marx (German)  Structure of Society is directly related to the structure of its’ economy  Society has two classes: 1 – Bourgeoisie (Owners) 1 – Bourgeoisie (Owners) 2 – Proletariat (Workers) 2 – Proletariat (Workers) ∙ He believed the differences between the two would lead to between the two would lead to conflict ending only when conflict ending only when workers had power workers had power

The Early Years  Emile Durkheim (French)  Society is made up of interdependent parts in terms of their functions –Function – is a part that makes up society · Ex → Religion · Ex → Religion  Said we should only study things that are directly observable

The Early Years  Max Weber (German)  Beyond observation to uncover feelings/thoughts of groups/indiv.  Verstehen – Attempt to understand the meanings others the meanings others attach to their actions attach to their actions ∙ Being able to put yourself in other ∙ Being able to put yourself in other peoples shoes peoples shoes  Ideal Type – Description made up of essential characteristics essential characteristics of a feature of society of a feature of society · Ex → General description of public Schools · Ex → General description of public Schools

Current Perspectives  Current Perspectives (Terms) · Theory – Explanation for relationships · Theory – Explanation for relationships between particular phenomena between particular phenomena ∙ Theoretical Perspectives – General set of assumptions ∙ Theoretical Perspectives – General set of assumptions about the nature of things about the nature of things * Most sociologists use one of the following perspectives to * Most sociologists use one of the following perspectives to attempt to explain the behaviors of groups within a society attempt to explain the behaviors of groups within a society

Current Perspectives  Functionalist Perspective  From Comte, Spencer and Durkheim  Society is a set of related parts that work together for success · Works through consensus · Works through consensus  Certain elements can be dysfunctional ∙ Having a negative consequence on the stability of society ∙ Having a negative consequence on the stability of society Ex → Crime Ex → Crime  Manifest Function – Intended and Recognized consequence  Latent Function – Unintended and Unrecognized consequence –Ex. The function of a car

Current Perspectives  Conflict Perspective  From Marx  Society is the result of competition and change (How those with power control those w/o power) (How those with power control those w/o power) ∙ Competition over scarce resources → conflict ∙ Competition over scarce resources → conflict ∙ Conflict → Social Change so those without the scarce ∙ Conflict → Social Change so those without the scarce resources can get them resources can get them

Current Perspectives  Interactionist Perspective  From Weber  Focus on how individuals interact with one another in society  Examine the roles of symbols in our daily lives · A symbol is anything that represents something else · A symbol is anything that represents something else ∙ Symbolic Interaction – The use of symbols when interacting ∙ Symbolic Interaction – The use of symbols when interacting Ex. American flag, bald eagle, 4 th of July are symbols for the USA