2. + Introduction to Sociology 1.1 – The Basics of Sociology

3. Main Idea Essential Question What factors influence human behavior?

4. Objectives Describe how Sociology is a field that studies human society and social behavior Identify the three major theoretical perspectives Explain the difference between micro and macro Sociology

5. + Common Sense vs. Reality Social Science – disciplines that study human behavior and the functions of human society in a scientific way. Includes history, psychology, political science, anthropology and economics Sociology – Sociologists believe studying others will provide insight on society and our interactions Some of sociology is merely common sense. The majority is based on scientific evidence Some beliefs or ideas based on common sense prove to be false. Some discoveries reinforce already perceived knowledge. Statistically there are more poor than rich people in jail. However sociological research can be used to discover why that is and lead to changes

6. + Thinking Like a Sociologist Social Forces – Society offers great diversity based on race, gender, age, sexual orientation and many other social characteristics. Studying these differences provides an opportunity to know one another and gain insight know how society operates Social Interaction – how people relate to one another and influence each other’s behavior Integration – Marginality – Their social marginality reminds them of how difficult it is for them to make it in a society that treats them like outsiders. In contrast those who enjoy social advantages find it easier to succeed.

7. + How Important is Social Integration? Can people get along fine on their own?

8. + Sociological Imagination To understand human behavior, sociologists stand back and look “from the outside” at individuals as members of society rather than “inside them” to examine their thoughts or personalities Sociologists have found that no matter how personal our experiences are, they are influenced by social forces – forces that arise form the society of which we are part Social forces exist outside the individual in the form of social relationships such as those we share with friends, relatives, and people in educational, economic, religious, and other institutions. Sociological Imagination – Look at suicide. An individual kills themselves because they are unhappy. sociological imagination leads us to look not at the individual personalities of those who commit suicide but at the social forces.

9. + Major Perspectives in Sociology In an effort to explain the social world, sociologists develop theories, or explanations of the relationships among particular phenomena Sociologists not only use theories, but also adopt broad theoretical perspectives to provide a foundation for their inquiries Theoretical Perspectives – Functionalist Perspective Conflict Perspective Interactionist Perspective

10. + Functionalist Perspective Functionalist Perspective – Social Consensus – Not all parts of society work in cohesion. A dysfunction is the negative consequence an element has for the stability of society Manifest Functions – a function that is intended and seems obvious Latent Functions – a function that is unintended and often unrecognized Herbert Spencer – believed that society compared to a living organism. Each part has a function it must perform, if one fails others adapt and work harder Concluded that society, if left alone could correct its own problems organically.

11. + What are the intended outcomes of Boston Calling? What are the unintended consequences?

12. + Conflict Perspective Conflict Perspective – Conflict theorist don’t limit their attention to acts of violence. They are also interested in nonviolent competition between various groups in society Competition over scarce resources is the basis of conflict Assumes 4 major things are present in society – competition, structural inequality, revolution, war Karl Marx observed underlying conflict within society’s as economic based. Concluded that primary feature of society was not harmony and interdependence, instead conflict and competition Economics determines a society’s religious beliefs, values, education system and government

13. + Social Conflict

14. + How does the 2016 Presidential election demonstrate the conflict perspective?

15. + Social Darwinism Sociologist Lester Ward's Dynamic Sociology (1883) was an extended thesis on how to reduce conflict and competition in society and thus optimize human progress. Ward believed that it was possible to build on and reform present social structures with the help of sociological analysis. At the most basic level Ward saw human nature itself to be deeply conflicted between self-interest and altruism, and between emotion and intellect Social Darwinism – Darwinists have different views about which groups are the strong and the weak, and they also hold different opinions about the precise mechanism that should be used to promote strength and punish weakness.

16. + Interactionist Perspective: A Focus on Social Interactions Interactionist Perspective – 3 Basic Premises Human beings act towards things how they perceive them Perceptions of those things are derived from social interaction Perceptions are modified continuously

17. Critical Thinking Look at Wakefield High School and all its functions. How can you view our school from all three perspectives (functionalist, conflict and interactionist)?