1. Chapter 1: Understanding Sociology

2. Important Questions  What is Sociology?  Why is it important?  What types of things do Sociologists study?

3. Sociology and the Social Sciences  Science : a body of knowledge obtained by methods based on systematic observation What’s the difference between the social sciences and the natural sciences and what do they have in common?  Hook- Up Culture in College:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoJsUXr3P88 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoJsUXr3P88

4. The Sociological Imagination

5.  Allows us to look at the world critically and question common sense assumptions Thomas Theorem: what you believe to be real is real in it’s consequences.

6. The Three Main Sociological Perspectives

7. Symbolic-Interactionism  Focuses on the Micro and Social Psychology  Humans living in a world of meaningful objects  Looks at Nonverbal Communication  Founder: George Herbert Mead

8. Functionalism  Emphasizes the ways parts of a society are structured to maintain stability. Looks at the Macro  Interconnected parts working together to keep society functioning  Social Institutions make up these parts.  Manifest functions  Latent Functions  Dysfunctions  Founder: Emile Durkheim

9. Conflict Perspective  Groups struggle for resources and power  Bourgeoisie and the proletariat  Helps to maintain privileges of some groups at the expense of others.  Looks at the science of exploitation Feminist View : Sees inequality in gender as central to all behavior  Founder: Karl Marx

10. Are you feeling overwhelmed?  That’s ok! That’s why I am here. Let’s practice!!!!

11. Example #1- The Family How might we analyze the family using the three sociological perspectives? Jenna McCarthy’s Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y 8u42OjH0ss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y 8u42OjH0ss

12. Example #2: Prostitution  How does the world’s oldest profession create stability for society?  What social institutions are involved?