The Sociological Perspective Chapter 1

1. The Sociological Perspective Chapter 1

2. Sociology as a Point of View Sociologyis the scientific study of human organization and social interactions. Main focus Group Seeks to Understand forces that operate throughout society, Understand the conditions that mold individuals, shape their behavior and, determine social events

3. Examples Is it easy for domestic violence victims to leave their abusive spouses? Why or why not? (See figure 1.1) Ishomelessness the result of individual action or broader social conditions? • In the U.S. homelessness is highly related to: • Alcohol and drug addiction • War veterans • Mental illness • Availability of low income housing • Availability of social networks (social capital)

4. The Sociological Imagination C. Wright Mills (1959) used the term sociological imagination to refer to: The relationship between individual experiences and the forces in the lager society that shape our actions Can you think of an issue that may have had some effect on you? On your society as a whole?

5. Sociological Imagination The Sociological Imagination can be described as the process of looking at patterns of human behavior and finding previously unseen connections among them.

6. Sociology and other social science disciplines

7. Development of Sociology Sociology emerged as a separate field of study in Europe during the 19th century During this period, the social order was shaken by the Industrial Revolution and the American and French Revolutions.

8. Sociology in the 19th Century • Three scholars shaped sociology into a relatively coherent discipline: • Karl Marx • Émile Durkheim • Max Weber • Their ideas were greatly shaped by industrialization, capitalism, and socio-political revolutions

11. Karl Marx (1818–1883) • Believed the history of human societies could be seen as the history of classconflict between: • The bourgeoisie, who own and control the means of production, and • The proletariat, who make up the mass of workers. • A critique of capitalism (unequal playing field)

12. Karl Marx (1818–1883) • Marx lived shortly after the French and American revolutions • He was greatly influenced by what he observed to be conflict as an engine of change • Saw society as an iceberg: • At the tip of the iceberg you can see things like war, poverty, revolutions, etc. • The invisible part includes all of those relationships, conditions, and social forces (conflict) that shape the “visible” part of the iceberg.

13. Émile Durkheim (1858–1917) • Believed that individuals were the product of their social environment, and that society shapes people in every possible way • What makes an American different from a French or an Italian? • Showed how a personal act, such as suicide is really patterned by social forces • Differences in suicide according to religious practices • Differences in suicide according to group solidarity

14. Durkheim’s Three Types of Suicide • Egoistic suicide - derives from loneliness and a commitment to personal beliefs over group values • single people, protestants who overemphasize individualism • Altruistic suicide - the individual is willing to die for the sake of the community • Kamikaze pilots, suicide bombers • Anomic suicide - results from feeling disconnected from society’s values • Depression

15. Suicide in the United States • Social factors: • Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds. • Older adults account for 20% of suicide deaths, but only 13% of the overall U.S. population. • Suicide rates for Native Americans are 1.5 times the national rates. http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_sui_rat_mal-health-suicide-rate-males

16. Max Weber (1846 – 1920) • Ideology can influence the economic system (material conditions) • Ideology as means to explain the development of capitalism • Rational man • Minimize risk – maximize profits • Bureaucracy

17. Other sociologist Robert Merton Influential proponent of the functionalist theory. Two forms of social functions Manifest The intended and recognized consequences of those process Going to college to obtain knowledge Latent Unintended or not readily recognized consequences of such processes New opportunities Finding lasting friendships

18. Contemporary Sociology What is a theory? A theory is a systematic explanation for the observations related to a particular aspect of life.

20. Conflict Theory The social order consists of groups and individuals trying to advance their own interests over others. In this sense, you could explain things like slavery, poverty, politics, discrimination and sexism (among other things in society) as the result of conflict between those who have power and wealth over those who do not.

21. Functionalism Views society as a system of highly interrelated structures or parts that function or operate together harmoniously Society benefits from the contributions of people to function and survive Just like an organism has parts such as a heart, lungs, a liver, a kidney, or a stomach which contribute to its survival, society has policemen, firefighters, teachers, or bankers to contribute to its survival. So, if a behavior, belief, or arrangement exists in society it must contribute in one way or another for society

22. Symbolic Interactionism Concerned with the meaning that people place on their own and one another’s behavior. If a certain behavior is becomes defined as prestigious, people will do it Crime and deviance can be understood from the individual reasoning of deviants and the specific situations in which they participate Chicago bank robbers