1. Chapter One: Discovering Sociology
Chapter Two: Doing Sociology

2. Chapter Overview What is Sociology? The Origins of Sociology
First Sociologists
Sexism in Early Sociology
Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology

3. What is Sociology?
The scientific study of human behavior, groups, and society
Great tool for analyzing and understanding social life or the world
Attempt to understand without judgment
Examine how social contexts influence people’s lives
Examines the link between what people do and the social setting that shapes behavior.
Small group social settings
Large group social settings

4. Social Location What is Sociology?
Sociologists study ones social location to understand human behavior
Jobs, Social Class, Race, Occupation, Sex, Religion and other demographics
Social Location can shape our ideas of who we are and what we should attain in life

5. The Sociological Perspective
Stresses the social contexts in which people live
Looks at how people are influenced by their society and how social forces affect human behavior
“The Sociological Imagination”

6. Development of Sociology
Major social change in the 19th century (1800’s)
The Industrial Revolution challenged traditional ideas about social life
Intellectual climate
American and French Revolution
The scientific method, which was used in the physical sciences, led to the birth of Sociology

7. Auguste Comte: Founder of Sociology Lived in France
1st Sociologist to advocate using positivism to studying social life
Sociology a new science
Coined the term “Sociology” (the study of society)
Advocate of social reform

8. Herbert Spencer: Social Darwinism Lived in England
Disagreed with Comte that Sociology should guide reform
Coined the term “Survival of the Fittest”
Societies are evolutionary
Evolve from lower to higher forms
Civilians (higher forms)
Barbarians (lower forms)
Over time societies improve and become advanced
Social Reform interferes with natural process of selection
Social Philosopher
Did not conduct scientific studies
Only developed ideas about society

9. Karl Marx: Class Conflict Human history Class Conflict
Created by class conflict
Economics is central force for social change
Class Conflict
Proletariat vs. the Bourgeoisie
Marx’ predictions
Social class revolution
Classless society
Marxism is not the same as Communism
“I am not a Communist”

10. Max Weber: Religion Lived in Germany Disagreed with Marx
Economics is not the central force for social change
Religion central for social change in society
The Protestant Ethic is tied to the rise of capitalism 10

11. Protestant Ethic and the Rise of Capitalism
Compared Catholic religion with Protestant religion to prove this theory
Catholic religion encourages followers to hold onto traditional ways of life and believe everyone will go to heaven
Protestant religion encourages followers to embrace change
Religion was a key factor to the rise of capitalism

12. Emile Durkheim: Social Integration
First to establish sociology as a separate academic discipline; a social science
Explained that Sociological ideas could be tested and published
Theory: Social forces shape human behavior
Studied suicide rates in several European countries

13. Rural Areas Urban Areas City life Agricultural life Larger population
Individualistic: no time for social interaction or new friendships
People work hrs a day/ 6 to 7 days a week
Isolated among family and friends
Higher suicide rates
Agricultural life
Smaller population
Close friendships and family ties
Great social support and social control
People followed rules of social conduct
Lower suicide rates

14. Catholics and Protestants
Married and unmarried
Females and males
SOCIAL FACTORS underlie suicide
Social Integration
The degree to which people are tied to their social group
How closely linked people are to their social group (strong or weak bonds)

15. Types of Suicide Egotistic Altruistic Anomic Suicide
Low social integration/weak bonds
Individualistic
Altruistic
High social integration/strong bonds
Willing to die to accomplish group’s goals
Anomic Suicide
No integration
Can not pursue society’s goals

16. Sexism in Early Sociology
Attitudes of the Time
1800s Sex Roles Rigidly Defined
Higher education reserved for men and the wealthy
Women devoted themselves to the 4 C’s
Church, cooking, children, and clothes
Harriet Martineau
Published Society in America Before Durkheim and Weber Were Born
Known for translating Comte’s works from French to English
Harriet Martineau

17. Jane Addams and Social Reform
Jane Addams
Came from a background of privilege
Social reformer
She worked tirelessly for social justice
Co-founded the Hull House in 1889
Campaigned for laws against child labor
Leader of women’s rights and peace movement of World War I
Co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931

18. W.E.B. Du Bois and Race Relations
1st African American to earn a doctorate at Harvard
Grew up within a very racist society
Every year between 1896 and 1914 he published a book on race relations between African Americans and Whites
Souls of Black Folk 1903
Philadelphia Negro
He became active in social reform after years of collecting and interpreting data
Founded the N.A.A.C.P

19. Three Theoretical Perspectives
Theory-a general statement about how some parts of the world fit together and how they work
Symbolic Interactionist
Functional Analysis
Conflict Theory

20. Applying Theories
Each theoretical perspective looks at statistical data in a different light, i.e. marriage and divorce rates

21. Symbolic Interactionism
Symbolic Interactionists believe that individuals evaluate their own conduct by comparing themselves with others
Symbolic Interactionists study:
How people interpret symbols
How people interact one on one
How people behave according to how they define themselves and others

22. Functional Analysis
The Functional Analysis perspective views society as a whole unit, made up of interrelated parts that work together.
Functional Analysists study:
The structure of society
How each part of society has certain functions that must be fulfilled
What happens to society when dysfunctions occurb

23. Conflict Theory Founded by Karl Marx
Groups competing for scarce resources
Groups competing for power and authority
Conflict can be positive as it can bring about positive change

25. Sociological Analysis
Two Levels of
Sociological Analysis
Macro Level - Large Scale Patterns in Society
Functional Analysis and Conflict Theory are components of Macroanalysis
Micro Level-Social interactions on a small scale
Symbolic Interactionism is a component of Microanalysis
Which level of analysis is best?