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This introduction to sociology explores how society and groups influence individual behavior. The course delves into the scientific study of human relationships and societal patterns, aiming to explain, generalize, and predict social phenomena.
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The Sociological Perspective • Stresses the social contexts in which people live and how the contexts influence people’s lives • Sociology looks to answer one question: • How do groups influence people, especially how they are influenced by society? • Society – Group of people who share a culture and a territory
The Sociological Perspective • Each society has its own specific characteristics • Roles of men and women • People don’t do what they do b/c of inherited mechanisms (instincts); they do what they do b/c of external influences – life experiences • This will help us escape the cramped personal view and help us see links b/w what people do and the social settings that shape their behavior
The Sociological Perspective • Throughout this course, you will see that the way you look at the world is a result of your exposure to different human groups. This course will offer you new insight into the process of self-discovery
Explaining different phenomenons • Humans gradually developed science in order to better satisfy their curiosities about the world around them • Science – Application of systematic methods to obtain knowledge and the knowledge obtained by those methods • Sociology – Scientific study of society and human behavior
Explaining different phenomenons • Natural sciences • The intellectual and academic disciplines designed to comprehend, explain and predict events in our natural environment • Biology • Chemistry • Physics • Geology • Social sciences • Examines human relationships • Anthropology • Economics • Political Science • Psychology • Sociology
Goals of Science • 1st goal – Explain why something happens • 2nd goal – Make generalizations, to go beyond the individual case and make statements that apply to a broader group or situation • To achieve generalizations, sociologists look for patterns – recurring events or characters • 3rd goal – Predict, specify what will happen in the future in light of current knowledge
Goals of Science • Scientists in all fields of study try to move beyond “common sense” – prevailing ideas in society, the things that “everyone knows” or “you know…” are true • Everyone today can be mistaken just as much as people were 100 years ago • The world is flat. • No one could ever walk on the moon. • The sun revolves around the Earth.