1. The Sociological Perspective
Chapter 1
The Sociological Perspective

2. Seeing the Broader Social Context
How Groups Influence People
How People are Influenced by Their Society
People Who Share a Culture
People Who Share a Territory
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3. Social Location - Corners in Life
Jobs
Income
Education
Gender
Age
Race/Ethnicity
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4. C. Wright Mills - History and Biography
History - Location in Broad Stream of Events
Biography - Individual’s Specific Experiences
External influences—our experiences—become part of our thinking and motivation
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5. The Global Context and the Local
The Global Village
Instant Communication
Pick up a telephone or use the Internet to communicate instantly with people anywhere
Sociology Studies both the Global Network and Our Unique Experiences
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6. Sociology and the Other Sciences
The Natural Sciences
Explain and Predict Events in Natural Environment
The Social Sciences
Examine Human Relationships
Divided into specialized fields based on their subject matter
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7. Sociology and the Other Sciences
Anthropology
Studies Culture
Economics
Studies the Production and Distribution of Goods and Services
Political Science
Studies How People Govern Themselves
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8. Sociology and the Other Sciences
Psychology
The Study of Processes Within Individuals
Sociology
Similarities to Other Disciplines
Sociologists focus primarily on industrialized & postindustrialized societies
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9. The Goal of Science Explain Why Something Happens Make Generalizations
Look for Patterns
Predict What will Happen
Move Beyond Common Sense
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10. Risks of Sociology Nooks and Crannies People Prefer Hidden
People Attempt to Keep Secrets
People Feel Threatened by Information
They peer behind the scenes to get past those sugar-coated images
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11. Origins of Sociology Tradition vs. Science The Industrial Revolution
Masses of people moved to cities in search of work
Grew Out of Social Upheaval
Imperialism of the Time
Rise of the Scientific Method
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12. Auguste Comte and Positivism
Applying the Scientific Method to Social World
Comte began to wonder what holds society together
Coined the Term “Sociology”
“Armchair Philosophy”
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13. Herbert Spencer - Social Darwinism
Second Founder of Sociology
Disagreed sharply with Comte’s idea that sociologists should guide social reform
Lower and Higher Forms of Society
Coined Phrase “Survival of the Fittest”
Spencer’s idea that it was wrong to help the poor offended many
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14. Karl Marx and Class Conflict
Engine of Human History is Class Conflict
The Bourgeoisie vs. The Proletariat
Marxism Not the Same as Communism
Marx thought that people should try to change society
Marx did not think of himself as a sociologist
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15. Durkheim and Social Integration
Got Sociology Recognized as Separate Discipline
Studied How Social Forces Affect Behavior
Identified “Social Integration” - Degree to Which People are Tied to Social Group
Applying Durkheim
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16. Max Weber and the Protestant Ethic
Religion and the Origin of Capitalism
Disagreed with Marx’s claim that economics is the central force in social change
Said that role belongs to religion
Religion is Central Force in Social Change
Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism
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19. Values in Sociological Research
Sociology Should be Value-Free
Sociology Should be Objective
Research Should Involve Replication
Goals and Uses of Sociology
That bias has no place in research is not a matter of debate
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20. Verstehen and Social Facts
Weber
Verstehen - “To Grasp by Insight”
Importance of Subjective Meanings
Durkheim
Stressed Social Facts
Explain Social Facts with Other Social Facts
How Social Fact & Verstehen Fit Together
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21. Sociology in North America
First Took Root in 1890 at University of Kansas
Spread Rapidly in Next 20 Years
Not at Harvard until 1930
American Journal of Sociology 1895
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22. Sexism in Early Sociology
Attitudes of the Time
1800s Sex Roles Rigidly Defined
Few People Educated Beyond Basics
Harriet Martineau
Published Society in America Before Durkheim and Weber Were Born
Her work was Ignored
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24. Racism at the Time: W.E.B Du Bois
B.A. from Fisk University
First Harvard Ph.D. for African American
It is difficult to grasp how racist society was at this time
Published a Book Each Year from
Neglected by Sociologist Until Recently
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25. Jane Addams: Sociologist and Social Reformer
Member of American Sociological Society from Start
Came from Background of Wealth and Privilege
Co-Founded Hull House
Co-Founded American Civil Liberties Union
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26. Talcott Parsons and C. Wright Mills
Many early North American sociologists saw society as corrupt & in need of reform
Parsons Developed Objective Analysis and Models of Society
Mills Deplored Theoretical Abstractions in Favor of Social Reform
Continuing Tension in Sociology
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27. Theoretical Perspectives
Basic Sociology
Symbolic Interactionism
How People Use Symbols in Everyday Life
Applying Symbolic Interactionism
Changing meaning of symbols affects expectations
Public Sociology
Social Reform is risky
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31. Applying Symbolic Interactionism - Examples
The Meaning of Marriage
The Meaning of Divorce
The Meaning of Parenthood
The Meaning of Love
In Sum
Symbolic interactionists look at how changing ideas put pressure on married couples
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32. Functional Analysis
Society is a Whole Unit Made Up of Interrelated Parts that Work Together
Functionalism, Structural Functionalism
Robert Merton and Functionalism
Functions
Manifest
Latent
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33. Functional Analysis Applying Functional Analysis Dysfunctions
Economic Teams
Education of Children
Teaching of Religion
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34. Functional Analysis Care of the Sick and Elderly
A Glimpse of the Past s
Changes in the Functions of…
Family
Friends
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35. Conflict Theory Karl Marx and Conflict Theory Conflict Theory Today
Feminists and Conflict Theory
Applying Conflict Theory
Functionalists and Conflict Theorists - Macro Level
Symbolic Interactionists - Micro Level
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37. Trends Shaping the Future
Sociology Full Circle: Reform vs. Research
Three Stages in Sociology
Diversity of Orientations
Globalization
Application of Globalization
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