“Study shows juvenile delinquency increases as church attendance decreases” If you saw this headline in your local paper, you might be tempted to think what? Most people might say “well duh” but there is a third factor that comes in place: Age, older adolescents tend to go to church less as a whole. Older adolescents also tend to become more a delinquent than younger teens.

The Sociological Point of View Chapter One We live in a complex social environment. Sociology can give us a new perspective, for looking at ourselves and the world There are many different perceptions of social reality. Sociologist must have the ability to see the connection between the larger world and our personal lives. (sociological imagination)

Sociological Perspective: Using a sociological perspective allows people to become more active and aware and to think more critically in our daily lives -Using sociology benefits us in four ways: 1.The sociological perspective helps us assess the truth of “common sense” 2.The sociological perspectives helps us see the opportunities and constraints in our lives 3.The sociological perspective empowers us to be active participants in our society 4.The sociological perspective helps us live in diverse world

Global Perspective: Comparing the United States to rest of the world Where we live shapes the lives we lead Societies throughout the world are increasingly interconnected Many social problems that we face in the United States are far more Serious elsewhere Thinking globally helps us learn more about ourselves

The Origins of Sociology: Why was sociology developed? Three major events occurred: 1. factory-based industrial industry 2. growth of cities 3. new ideas about democracy and political rights

Important People in Sociology Auguste Comte: coined the term Sociology * often described as the “father of sociology” * he wanted societies to be studied by observations, experiments, or experiences * his emphasis on social order and change within and across societies is still useful today C. Wright Mills: American sociologist who created the term sociological imagination

Karl Marx: a German social philosopher, is often described as the most influential social scientist who ever lived. * tried to explain changes in society that were taking place during the Industrial Revolution * capitalism one of the greatest social changes * he felt that there was a close relationship between inequality, social conflict, and social classes * Marx believed a capitalistic society encourages competition, backstabbing, and “looking out for number one.”

Herbert Spencer: * an English contemporary of Comte, * was strongly influenced by the works of Charles Darwin, and he saw society as a set of interdependent parts that work together to maintain the system over time * “survival of fittest” believe the fittest societies would survive over time Emile Durkheim: a French sociologist and writer * he believed societies are characterized by unity and cohesion because its members are bound together by common interests and attitudes * was the first sociologist to use scientific methods in his research. * all his theories were supported with research to them

Max Weber: German sociologist, economist, legal scholar, historian, and politician * rejected the Marxian view that economics was a major factor in explaining society. He focused on social organization, a subjective understanding of behavior, and a value-free sociology.

Current Perspectives : 1.Functionalism: an approach that maintains that society is a complex system of interdependent parts that work together to ensure a society’s survival. * Structures: organized units, that are connected to each other and within which behavior occurs. * Functions: or purposes and activities, to meet different needs that contribute to a society’s stability and survival. (Dysfunctions, Manifest and Latent functions) Influenced by: Durkheim, Spencer, Comte Conflict Theory: an approach the examines the ways in which groups disagree, struggle over power, and compete for scarce resources (such as property, wealth, and prestige) * the see societies as a system of widespread inequality. There is a continuous tension between the “haves” and the “have-nots” Influenced by” Marx

Symbolic Interactionism: a micro-level perspective that looks at individuals’ everyday behavior through the communication of knowledge, ideas, beliefs, and attitudes. * society is socially constructed through human interpretation Influenced by: Weber