Introduction to Sociology Chapter 1 George Ritzer Presented

Introduction to Sociology Chapter 1 George Ritzer Presented by Rolande D. Dathis

What is Sociology �According to Ritzer(2015) Sociology is the systematic study of the ways in which people affected by, and affect, the social structures and social processes that are associated with the groups, organizations, cultures, societies, and world in which they exist. ”

Sociology �Auguste Compte- French philosopher- invented the word Sociology in 1989 - He is known as the father of the Sociological field. �Sociology is one of the social science disciplines.

Changing Nature of Sociology and the social world § Sociology looks at current events , but has longer term of interests because of its profound historical origins. § In the 18 th and 19 th century Industrial Revolution known as “industrial age” many early sociologists conducted research on” factories, the production that took place, the blue collar and the manual workers”(Ritzer p. 6). § By the middle of the 20 th century changes in the industrial age to the preindustrial age gave rise to the “information age” or technological world (computers, smart phones etc).

Significance of Sociology �Sociology studies scientifically the social institutions within society. �Sociology studies social phenomena. �Sociology helps individual to find themselves � Sociology studies social change and the social effects and implications of human behavior.

�Social change is the modification mechanisms within the social structure that can bring significant social consequences. i. e. butterfly effect (Lorenz 1995).

Butterfly effect “ The idea is that a relatively small change in a specific location can have far ranging, even global effect, effects, over time and distance “(Ritz 2015

Sociology And Changing Nature of the Social World § Sociology looks at current events , but has longer term of interests because of its profound historical origins. § In the 18 th and 19 th century Industrial Revolution known as “industrial age” many early sociologists conducted research on” factories, the production that took place, the blue collar and the manual workers”(Ritzer p. 6). § By the middle of the 20 th century changes in the industrial age to the preindustrial age gave rise to the “information age” or technological world (computers, smart phones etc).

Sociology And Changing Nature of the Social World § The 21 st century known as the “ information age “ is the era of “increased participation of women in the workplace, growth of unpaid labor, effects of computer technology on society and individuals”(p. 7).

Three main concerns of the 21 st century § Consumption § Technology § Globalization

Key Terms �Consumption : “ the process by which people obtain utilize goods and services” (p. 11) �Technology: “ the interplay of machines, tools, skills, and procedures for the accomplishment of tasks”(p. 15). �Globalization: “ the increasing fluidity of global flows and the structures that expedite and impede those slows”(p. 10).

Sociological Imagination According to C. Wright Mills sociological imagination is the capacity for an individual to connect one’s life to historical events. § Sociological imagination enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society. § Mills argued that micro and macro levels can be connected by the “sociological imagination” which means an individual can only explain his own experience if he situates himself in time of history. §

Key Terms �Micro social phenomena : ” small scale social phenomena such as individuals and their thoughts and actions”(p. 27) �Macro social phenomena: ” large scale phenomena such as groups, organizations, culture , society, and the world”(p. 27). �Society: “ complex pattern of social relationships that is bounded in space and persists over time”(p. 7).

Key Terms �Social structures: ” enduring and regular social arrangements, such as the family and the state”(p. 27). �Social processes : “the dynamic and ever changing aspects of the social world”(p. 27)

Mcdonalization Mc. Donaldization: ” the process by which the rational principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of society and more societies throughout the world”(p. 13).

Utilizing Sociological Imagination § In this contemporary time , social life held on rational organizations and well trained professionals to work in modern corporations and organizing the Nations States which became the fundamental contexts of social life. § For Mills, sociology disregards its classical origins. The sociological imagination was supposed to reinstate that tradition and place individual biographies in a good historical pathway for a better understanding of different social category groups. The changes made in the structure and the institutions were supposed to look for the well being of people.