1. Chapter 1
Sociology 101

2. What is Sociology?
Sociology: Scientific study of social behavior in human groups
Focus on:
How relationships influence people’s attitudes and behavior
How societies develop and change

3. The Sociological Imagination
C. Wright Mills describes sociological imagination as
An awareness of the relationship between an individual and the wider society, and…
the ability to view one’s society as an outsider would, without one’s limited experiences and cultural biases

4. The Sociological Imagination
Looks beyond a limited understanding of human behavior
View the world and its people in a new way
See through a broader lens

5. Sociology and Science
Science: body of knowledge obtained by methods based on systematic observation
Natural Science: study of physical features of nature and the ways they interact and change
Social Science: study of social features of humans and the ways they interact and change

6. Sociology and Science
Study the influence that society has on people’s attitudes and behavior
Seek to understand ways in which people interact and shape society
Examine social relationships with others scientifically

7. Sociology and Common Sense
Sociologists do not accept something as fact because “everyone knows it”
Each piece of information must be tested, recorded, and analyzed
Women tend to be chatty
Military marriages more likely to end in separation or divorce

8. What Is Sociological Theory?
Set of statements that seeks to explain problems, actions, or behavior
Effective theories have explanatory and predictive power
Theories are never a final statement about human behavior

9. The Development of Sociology
Philosophers/religious authorities of ancient and medieval societies made observations of human behavior
European theorists in the 19th century made pioneering contributions to the development of the science of human behavior

10. August Comte (19th Century 1798-1857). French Sociologist
Auguste Comte Compte coined the term “sociology”
Systematic investigation of behavior needed to improve society
became interested in the twin problems of social order and social change

11. Herbert Spencer English sociologist (1820-1903)
sometimes called the second founder of sociology.
Studied “evolutionary” change in society
used an organic analogy that compared society to a living organism made up of interdependent parts.
Spencer was convinced that societies evolve from lower (“barbarian”) to higher (“civilized”) forms

12. As generations pass, he said, the most capable and intelligent (“the fittest”) members of the society survive
believed that if left alone, social problems will work themselves out through the process of natural selection called “survival of the fittest”
this implies that the “fittest” (rich and powerful) deserve to enjoy their wealth or success because they have been “selected” by nature to be what they are.

13. Emile Durkheim French Sociologist (1858-1917)
Durkheim’s major goals was to study how individual behavior is shaped by social forces.
Was interested in the rates of suicide and how they varied form country to country
Durkheim insisted that behavior cannot be fully understood in individualistic terms, instead it must be understood within a larger social context.

14. Durkheim found that Protestants, males, and the unmarried killed themselves at a higher rate than did Catholics, Jews, females, and the married.
The force that he found to have a great impact on suicide was social integration
Anomie: Refers to a loss of direction that is felt in a society when social control of individual behavior has become ineffective.

15. It occurs when people have lost their sense of purpose or direction, often during a time of profound social change
Altruistic: Somebody that feels a deep sense of moral obligation and is willing to sacrifice for the group's well being

16. Max Weber German Sociologist (1864-1920)
One of Weber’s most important contributions to sociology was his study of the rise of capitalism
Weber theorized that the Roman Catholic belief system encouraged Catholics to cling to this traditional way of life, while the Protestant belief system, especially Calvinism, encouraged people to embrace change

17. Weber also stressed that one cannot understand human behavior simply by looking at statistics
Weber said "To fully comprehend behavior, we must learn the subjective meanings people attach to their actions- how they themselves view and explain their behavior”
In other words people should use Verstehen the German word for "understanding"

18. Karl Marx German Sociologist (1818-1883)
Marx believed that the key to human history is class conflict
Divided in two social classes 1. bourgeoisie 2. proletariat
The bourgeoisie rely on the exploitation of the proletariat.

19. Marx believed that an entire system of economic, social, and political relationships had been established to maintain the power and dominance of the owners over the workers
Marx argued that the working class needed to overthrow the existing class system

20. W.E.B. Du Bois
First Black person to receive doctorate from Harvard University
Contributed with studies of urban life, among both Whites and Blacks
Believed in granting of full political rights to Blacks.
Challenged the status quo
Helped to found the NAACP

21. Sociological Perspectives
The different sociological perspective tend to focus on one of two different levels.
Theories of society (macro theories)
social psychological theories (micro theories)

22. Structural Functionalism
Macro Theories Conflict Theory
Micro Theories Symbolic Interaction

23. Functionalist Perspective
Emphasizes that parts of a society are structured to maintain its stability
Talcott Parsons (1902 – 1972) key contributor
Viewed society as vast network of connected parts, each of which helps to maintain the system as a whole

24. Functionalist Perspective
Manifest Functions: institutions are open, stated, conscious functions that involve intended, recognized, consequences of an aspect of society
Latent Functions: unconscious or unintended functions that may reflect hidden purposes of an institution
Dysfunctions: element or process of a society that may actually disrupt the social system or disrupt its stability

25. CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE Influenced by Karl Marx’s work.
Conflict perspective assumes that social behavior is best understood in terms of conflict or tension among competing groups.
Sociologists use the conflict model not only on economic conflicts but also on conflicts that have no clear economic basis, conflicts over values, ethics, and behavior.
Conflict theorists are interested in the kind of changes that conflict can bring about

26. SYMBOLIC-INTERACTIONIST PERSPECTIVES
George Herbert Mead American Sociologist ( ) is regarded as the founder of the interactionist perspective
Symbolic interactionists view symbols- things that we attach meaning- as the basis of social life.
A symbol is something representing something else:
symbols range from words and language to nonverbal gestures and signs.

27. According to symbolic interaction, people attach meanings to each other’s words and actions
Their actions and attitudes, are not determined by some action in and of itself
This understanding of the of the conditions in which we find ourselves, known as the definition of the situation

28. Interactionist Perspective
George Herbert Mead (1863—1931)
Erving Goffman (1922—1982)
Dramaturgical approach: people seen as theatrical performers

29. Major Theoretical Perspectives
Table 1-1 Comparing Major Theoretical Perspectives
Table to be continued on next slide

30. The Sociological Approach
Gain broadest understanding of society by drawing on all major perspectives, noting where they overlap or where they diverge
Each perspective offers unique insights into the same issue
A researcher’s work always will be guided by his or her theoretical viewpoint

31. Table 1-2: Sociological Major Perspectives

32. Applied and Clinical Sociology
Applied Sociology: use of the discipline of sociology with the intent of yielding practical applications for human behavior and organizations
Clinical Sociology: facilitating change by altering social relationships or restructuring social institutions

33. Developing a Sociological Imagination
Theory in Practice
Research in Action
Thinking Globally
Globalization: worldwide integration of government policies, cultures, social movements, and financial markets through trade and the exchange of ideas

34. Developing a Sociological Imagination
The Significance of Social Inequality
Social inequality: condition in which members of society have differing amounts of wealth, prestige, or power
Speaking Across Race, Gender, and Religious Boundaries
Social Policy Throughout the World

35. Careers in Sociology
Number of students graduating with a degree in sociology has risen steadily
Provides strong liberal arts background for entry-level positions
Business
Social services
Foundations
Community organizations
Law enforcement
Government

36. Figure 1-4: Sociology Degrees Conferred in the United States by Gender
Source: American Sociological Association 2005c.

37. Figure 1-5: Occupational Fields of Sociology BA/MA Graduates
Source: Schaefer 1998b.