INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY Sociology The scientific study of

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

Sociology • The scientific study of human society and social behavior. • Focus on the group, not the individual • 2 interests: • Social interaction – how people relate to one another and influence behaviors • Social phenomena – observable facts or events that involve human society Observation Theory Prediction or Hypothesis Choose Research Method Analyze Data Conclusion

Why Study Sociology? • To gain a sociological perspective. . . • Look past “common sense” explanations of the world • Take a scientific systematic viewpoint • All people are social beings… look for the hidden or not obvious motives for behaviors • Helps you view your life in context of your culture and in history

Sociology and the Social Sciences

The Sociological Imagination • “The capacity to range from the most impersonal and remote [topics] to the most intimate features of the human self – and to see the relations between the two. ” – C. Wright Mills • The ability to see the connection between the larger world and your personal life.

Personal Troubles vs. Public Issues • Read the excerpt of C. Wright Mills’ “The Promise of the Sociological Imagination. ” • Answer the following questions in your notes… 1. What are the main differences between personal troubles and public issues? 2. Is sociology more concerned with personal troubles or public issues? 3. How can an issue, such as unemployment, be a personal trouble or a public issue? 4. Describe 1 example from society that can be a personal trouble AND a public issue. (Hint: think about current events)

Personal Troubles vs. Public Issues • Differences… • Troubles deal with the individual and are dependent on the individual’s values and immediate social setting…. PRIVATE MATTER • Issues deal with groups of people or institutions (gov’t, religion, marriage, etc) and are dependent on the structure of the institution… PUBLIC MATTER • There will always be people who want status quo (no change) and people who want change (antagonists, antagonisms)

Personal Troubles vs. Public Issues • Sociology is more concerned with public issues, however individuals MAKE groups, therefore personal troubles must be shared to make a public issue. • Unemployment • Personal trouble – 1 person unemployed… Lazy? Uneducated? Unfortunate life events? No open jobs? Etc… • Public issue – millions of people unemployed… what is wrong with the gov’t, economy, political system, etc?

Personal Troubles vs. Public Issues • WAR • Personal trouble (dependent on one’s values)– how to survive or how to die with honor, how to make money, how to contribute to the war effort and/or termination. • Public issue (dependent on structural issues) – what are the causes of the war, what are the effects on the economy, political system, and culture, how will the world be different?

Personal Troubles VS. Public Issues • MARRIAGE • Personal trouble – personal problems/issues between a couple • Public issue – high or increasing divorce rates… what is wrong with the institution of marriage? Are there economic factors? • ALSO, current debate on same-sex marriage… no longer a personal trouble…

History of Sociology • Late 1700 s-mid 1800 s - Industrial Revolution in Europe and America • Increased social classes, cities, population • increased social problems • Late 1700 s - American and French Revolutions • Demand for personal liberty and social change

Auguste Comte (1798 -1857) • Coined “sociology” – the study of society • Interested in the causes of the French Revolution social order and social change • Studied using sci. method • Social statics – processes that hold society together • Social dynamics – processes that change society

Karl Marx (1818 -1883) • Father of “conflict theory” • Society is divided into two parts: • Bourgeoisie (capitalists) • Own the means of production • The “haves” • Proletariat (workers) • Own nothing, provide labor • The “have-nots” • Imbalance inevitable conflict, in which the proletariat must overthrow the bourgeoisie • Result classless society to which each citizen would contribute and be rewarded according to needs (socialism then communism)

Herbert Spencer (1820 -1903) • Influenced by Darwin’s ideas • Viewed society as a biological organism – a set of interdependent parts that worked together to maintain the system over time. • Social Darwinism – the fittest societies survive over time general upgrading of global societies • No longer used to describe societies due to lack of scientific method

Emile Durkheim (1858 -1917) • Founder of “functionalist theory” • Very concerned with sociology as a SCIENCE • Society is like a biological organism, in which each part of society serves a function • If the function can be done without, that part of society disappears. • First true sociological study ever – Suicide (1897) • Examined suicide rates in several European countries

Max Weber (1864 -1920) • Interested in effects of society on the individual • Go beyond directly observable behaviors and events and consider emotions and thoughts • Interpretive rather than empirical (based upon sci. evidence) • “Protestant work ethic” – religion and capitalism • Insecurity about salvation influenced Protestants to look for signs of later salvation profits and financial gain

Current Perspectives • Theory – an explanation of phenomenon that organizes data and predicts future behaviors • Theoretical perspectives – a school of thought, a general set of assumptions about the nature of things. Functionalist Symbolic Interactionist Conflict

Functionalist Perspective • Macro (big picture) • Comte, Spencer, and Durkheim • Society is like an organism in which each part serves a function. • Society is held together through consensus. • Most people agree on what is best for society and work together to ensure the system runs smoothly. • Dysfunctional elements have negative societal consequences, but can still serve a purpose • Ex: “What role does crime play in society? ”

Functionalist Perspective • Manifest function – the intended and recognized consequence of a societal element • EX: The manifest function of the automobile is to transport people/things. • Latent function – unintended and unrecognized consequence of a societal element • EX: The latent function of the automobile is to display wealth or social status.

Conflict Perspective • Macro (big picture) • Marx • There always forces in society that promote competition and change. • Conflict occurs due to scarcity of wanted resources. Conflict • Haves vs. have-nots • Shown in revolutions (violent) to competition between men and women (nonviolent) • Ex: “What types of group conflict motivate criminal actions? ” Social change

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective • Micro (small scale) • Focuses on how people interact with one another and how people assign meaning to actions. • Symbols – anything that represents something else, individuals in a society must agree on meaning • Objects, gestures, words, events • Symbolic interaction – how people use symbols to interact with one another • Ex: ”How do people use criminal actions to symbolize thoughts? ” Perspectives Video