What is a Sociological Perspective Sociological imagination The

What is a Sociological Perspective?

Sociological imagination The ability to see the impact of social forces on individuals’ private and public lives. C. Wright Mills, 1959

Sociological Perspective � Stresses the Social Contexts in which people live. � How people are influenced by society… › Social location �Gender �Age �Race, ethnicity �Class �Culture

How are people (i. e. you) shaped by society?

Vocabulary �Paradigm �Consensus �Macro �Micro

Origins of Sociology � Tradition v. Science › Tradition �based theories on superstition, myth, stars, bias…etc. �Untested… › Science �theories that can be tested using scientific method. › Soft-Science �Generalities, patterns of behavior

Perspectives Major Sociological Perspectives

Perspectives Sociologists look at events from a ‘Holistic’, or multi-dimensional perspective. i. e. Biopsychosocial perspective combines several perspectives and approaches. �Uses: �History �Psychology �Anthropology �Economics �Political Science �Literature �Science �Art �Etc.

Classical Perspectives �Positivism �Social Darwinism �Class Conflict �Social Integration �Protestant Ethic

Postvism the application of Scientific Method to the Social World � Auguste Comte (1798 - 1857) �“Father of Sociology” �First proposed using Scientific Method to understand society � Believed that society develop and progress through the following stages: �Religious, Metaphysical, and Scientific � Comte and other early social scientists assumed human behavior must obey laws of nature � (i. e. Newton's laws of motion) � If discovered, those laws could eliminate moral evils and create a better society i. e. the same way medical scientists discovered how diseases worked and eliminated a lot of human suffering.

Social Darwinism Survival of the Fittest � Herbert Spencer (1820 -1903) › Thought societies evolve from ‘lower’ to ‘higher’ civilized forms › Over time, the most capable survive, while the less capable die out. › Helping the ‘lower’ classes interfers with this natural process and holds back society � NOTE: Did Not conduct Scientific studies!!!

Class Conflict � Karl Marx (1818 -1883) › Class Conflict drives Human History �Bourgeoisie (owners) vs. Proletariat (workers) › Economic Determinism › Influenced many Sociologists esp. Conflict Theorists

Social Integration the degree to which people are tied to their social group � Emile Durkheim (1858 -1917) › Wanted sociology recognized as separate discipline › First Professor of Sociology › Show social forces affect people’s behavior.

Protestant Ethic ideal of self-denying, highly moral life accompanied by hard work and frugality. � Max Weber (1864 -1920) › Author Spirit of Capitalism › Disagreed with Marx �(economics is central force in society) › Religion is central force. �(key factor in rise of Capitalism)

Sexism in Early Sociology � Harriet Martineau (1802 -1876) � Focused on male perspectives � Women’s roles assigned to wife/mother � Only handful got higher educations � Writings of women ignored… i. e. �Jane Frohock �Lucretia Mott �Elizabeth Cady Stanton �Frances Perkins

Sociology in N. America � Early History › University of Kansas (1890) › *University of Chicago (1892) �George Herbert Mead (symbolic interactionist perspective) › Atlanta University (1897)

Women � Like European women, mostly ignored and denied positions, so many turned to activism. �Jane Addams �Emily Green Balch �Isabel Eaton �Charlotte Perkins Gilman �Florence Kelly �Elsie Clews Parsons �Alice Paul

Social Reform (Praxis) � Jane Addams (1860 -1935) › Most successful of the women › Worked for social justice �Co-founded Hull House �Co-founded American Civil Liberties Union �Campaigned for Child Labor Laws �Eight hour work day › Co-winner of Nobel Peace Prize (1931) (first sociologist to do so!)

African American Contrib. W. E. B. Du Bois (1868 -1963) Minority professionals also found it difficult to find positions and contribute in the field due to racism. Also turned to social action.

Theory vs. Reform � 1940’s � Two shifted from reform to theory Schools of thought: › Talcott Parsons (1902 -1979) �Developed models of society showing how everything worked together harmoniously (no need to fix) › C. Wright Mills (1916 -1962) �Urged social reform, (need to fix) �The Power Elite/ inequality threatens

Applied Sociology ‘the middle way’ � Theory vs. Reform leads to Applied Sociology � The use of sociology to solve problems � Division still exists: › Want focus on social reform › If applied social work, not sociology

3 Main Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology… � Symbolic Interactionism � Functional Analysis � Conflict Theory › Macro – Large scale patterns in society › Micro – patterns between individuals

Symbolic Interactionism � Considers symbols in daily life � what these symbols mean � How people interact with each other › People attach meanings to symbols and act according to their interpretations of them �Language (verbal and written) �Music, clothing, etc.

Critique � Neglects the macro level of social interactions i. e. The Big Picture � Dismisses the influence of social forces and institutions on individual interactions

Functionalism � Each aspect of society is interdependent and contributes to society’s functioning as a whole. � Held together by social consensus and cooperation. �Mechanical Solidarity- maintain similar values and beliefs and engage in similar types of work. �Organic Solidarity- interdependent, but have varied beliefs and work.

Critique � Neglects the negative functions �i. e. divorce � Justifies the status quo � Doesn’t encourage change � See active social change as undesirable because will take care of itself.

Conflict theory � Focuses on conflict and change › Dialectics � Challenge the status quo � Encourages social change

Critique � Negative (focus on problems) � Cynical �i. e. sees the system as manipulative and having ulterior motives � Sees capitalism as controlling the masses �not as preserving society and social order

Other Perspectives: � Cross-Species �Considers the similarities in differences between human and social behavior and that of other animals. � Cross-Cultural �Compares customs and standards of behavior within a community or system. � Statistical perspective �How often an attitude or practice occurs within any given group.

Perspectives Continued: � Historical Perspectives �Deals with social issues from the point of view of historical attitudes, values, practices and contexts. � Religious Perspective �Considers the effects that religious doctrines, scriptures, and spirituality have in individuals and society. � Feminist Perspective �Concerned with gender differences and the limitations associated with traditional , male dominated theories of society.

Integrated Perspective � NOTE: › All perspectives have strengths and weaknesses and present a single-sided, distorted picture of society. › Some compliment each other, some contradict. › Integrated approach gives the fullest understanding of issues.