Sociology Then Now Chapter 1 2 Objectives How

Sociology: Then & Now Chapter 1: 2

Objectives: • How did the field of sociology develop? • In what ways do the three main theoretical perspectives in sociology differ in their focus?

Industrial Revolution: • The factory replaced the home as the main site for manufacturing. • People left their homes in the countryside in search of work.

Rapid Growth of urban populations produced SOCIAL PROBLEMS: • Number of people seeking work outpaced available jobs. • Housing shortages developed • Crime increased • Pollution became a major problem. • People found it difficult to adapt to impersonal nature of cities.

What Then? • These political, social, and economic changes caused some scholars to question the traditional explanations of life. • Sociology took root in the 1800 s. – (Primarily in France, Germany, & England since felt effects of Industrial Revolution)

Overall Reasons for the Development of Sociology: • The rapid social and political changes that took place in Europe as a result of the Industrial Revolution. • Rapid growth of urban populations produced a multitude of social problems. • Over time, it became more difficult to ignore the effect of society on the individual.

Most influential of the early sociologists: Auguste Comte Herbert Spencer Karl Marx Emile Durkheim Max Weber

August Comte: • (1798 -1857) • Considered FOUNDER of Sociology • Applied physical science to methods of Sociology/Used scientific research. • Focused on social order and change. • Believed in two social forces: – Social statics: Certain processes that hold society together. (static cling) – Social dynamics: Definite processes that changes society. • Sociologists today, however, do not agree with his ideas of order and change.

Herbert Spencer: • (1820 -1903) • Influenced by Charles Darwin. – Agreed with only fittest societies would survive over time. (FYI: He actually coined the phrase survival of the fittest) • Believed society is a set of interdependent parts that work together to maintain the system over time. Social Darwinism: – Perspective that holds that societies evolve toward stability and perfection. – This was Spencer’s overview of society- a social organism

What do you think? What might be some arguments against theory of Social Darwinism?

Possible Answer: Poor people who have achieved success or the positive social results of programs to help disadvantaged groups.

Focus and Review #4 • We talked earlier about the fact that the Industrial Revolution spurred the growth of the field of sociology due to the multitude of social problems Your Question: What social problems exist today that keep sociology alive? List as many as you can in 5 minutes. (Example: Crime)

Karl Marx: • 1818 -1883 • Believed the structure of society is influenced by how its economy is organized. • Believed society divided into 2 classes: – Bourgeoisie: capitalist/upper class • Owned the means of production…materials/goods used to produce goods/services. – Proletariat: workers • Provided labor needed to produce goods/services.

Karl Marx (continued) • Believed imbalance between 2 groups (bourgeoisie and proletariat) would lead to conflict. • Conflict would end only the proletariat (workers) united to overthrow those in power (bourgeoisie).

The Result: • The workers would build a classless society in which each citizen would contribute “according to his ability” and would be rewarded “according to his needs. ” • Primary cause of social change: – CONFLICT – Developed the conflict perspective.

Emile Durkheim: • 1858 -1917 • Developed first university Sociology course. • Saw society as a set of interdependent parts in terms of their functions: – Consequence that an element of society produces for the maintenance of its social system. • EX: Religion creating social order in society. • Believed should study features of society that are directly observable. - they can be tested with scientific tools and statistical analysis

Emile Durkheim: • Famous study: – Suicide – Examined suicide rates in several European countries. – Showed that the decision to commit suicide was based NOT only on personal factors BUT also on social factors.

Max Weber: vay-buhr • 1864 -1920 • Focused on the effect of society on the individual. • Wanted sociologists to go beyond studying what can be directly observed and attempt to uncover the feelings and thoughts of individuals.

Max Weber • Verstehen: – Involves an attempt to understand the meanings individuals attach to their actions. – One puts oneself in the place of others and tries to see situations through their eyes. See what they are feeling.

Max Weber • Ideal Type: – A description comprised of the essential characteristics of a feature of society. – EX: Ideal type of the public school. • Do we show all the basic characteristics of a high school?

Current Perspectives of Sociology Functionalist Perspective Conflict Perspective Interactionist Perspective

Few Basic Terms: • Theory: – Explanation of the relationships among particular phenomena. • Theoretical perspective: – General set of assumptions about the nature of things. – Outlines specific ideas about the nature of social life

3 Perspectives of Sociology: Functionalist Perspective Conflict Perspective Interactionist Perspective

Functionalist Perspective: • Based on ideas of Comte, Spencer, and Durkheim • View society as a set of interrelated parts that work together to produce a stable social system. • Believe that most people agree on what is best for society and work together to ensure that the social system runs smoothly. – EX: Interested in functions of family and education on society.

Functionalist Perspective (continued) • Looks at society in terms of functions: – Dysfunctional: • Negative consequence an element has for the stability of the social system. – EX: Crime – Manifest function: • Intended and recognized consequence of some element of society. – EX: Manifest function of car is to provided fast transportation. – Latent function: • Unintended and unrecognized consequence of an element of society. – EX: Latent function of car is to gain social standing through display of wealth.

Conflict Perspective: • Focus on the forces in society that promote competition and change. • FOUNDER: Karl Marx • Interested in how those who possess more power in society exercise control over those with less power. • NOT all focus on violent acts: – EX: Nonviolent competition between men vs. women; people of different ages and races; etc….

Conflict Perspective (Continued) • Basis of social conflict: – Competition over scarce resources. • EX: Power & wealth. – People compete over these resources!

Interactionist Perspective: • Focuses on how individuals interact with one another in society • Interested in work of Max Weber. • Interested in role of symbols: – Anything that represents something else. – Members of society MUST agree on it, however, – EX: Physical objects, gestures, words, events.

Interactionist Perspective: • Symbolic interaction: – How people use symbols when interacting. – EX: • Used to study topics such as child development, relationships within groups, and mate selection. • EX: How do women attract men?