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Sociology: An Introduction

Sociology: An Introduction. Part 1: Basic Sociological Understandings. “Sociology is everywhere & everywhere is sociology…”. What is Sociology?. DEFINITION : the systematic study of human society & social behavior TWO PRIMARY QUESTIONS : Why do people behave the way they do?

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Sociology: An Introduction

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  1. Sociology: An Introduction

  2. Part 1: Basic Sociological Understandings “Sociology is everywhere & everywhere is sociology…”

  3. What is Sociology? • DEFINITION: the systematic study of human society & social behavior • TWO PRIMARY QUESTIONS: • Why do people behave the way they do? • Why are social situations the way they are?

  4. Sociological Perspective • DEFINITION: a scientific & systematic method of viewing the behavior of groups • Seeing the general in the particular… • Seeing the strange in the familiar…

  5. Sociological Perspective • Peter Berger: • Seeing the general in the particular… • Possible to identify general social patterns in the behavior of particular individuals

  6. Sociological Perspective • C. Wright Mills: • Seeing the strange in the familiar… • There are definite connections between one’s personal life and society as a whole • Society shapes our lives

  7. Sociological Perspective • Sociological Imagination: • The ability to see connections between the larger world and our personal lives • Connection between “history” & “biography”

  8. Sociological Perspective • “The sociological imagination enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society” • http://crookedtimber.org/2011/01/13/a-carpet/

  9. Sociological Perspective • Benefits of the Sociological Perspective: • Assess the truth of “common sense” • Assess the opportunities & constraints in our lives (social forces) • Empowers us to become active social participants • Allows us to live in a diverse world

  10. Part 2: Historical Origins

  11. Historical Background • Developed as an academic discipline during the mid-19th century • Sociology emerged as the intellectual atmosphere of Europe shifted • Change in Focus: • How should an ideal society operate? • How does society operate in reality?

  12. Historical Timeline • Enlightenment (late 1600s to late 1700s) • Industrial Revolution (mid 1700s to mid 1800s) • Urbanization (mid 1800s forward)

  13. Part 3: Who’s Who in Sociology

  14. Auguste Comte (1798–1857) • French philosopher • Father of Sociology (1838) • Coined “Sociology” • One of the 1st to apply the scientific method to study of social life • Focused on social order and social change

  15. Herbert Spencer (1820–1903) • English philosopher • Heavily influenced by Darwin • Believed that social change and conflict were inevitable on the road to a perfect society • “Social Darwinism”

  16. Karl Marx (1818–1883) • German philosopher • Believed that society is a direct reflection of economic organization; driven by economic forces • Two Warring Classes: • Bourgeoisie & Proletariat

  17. Emile Durkheim (1858–1917) • French sociologist • Particularly concerned with social order, as well its maintenance • Interested in the functions of societal institutions • First true sociological study, Suicide (1897)

  18. Max Weber (1864–1920) • German sociologist • Interested in society’s impact on the individual, rather than society as a whole • Vershtehen (fehr-SHTAY-en) • Social actions/motivations

  19. Part 4: Sociological Theory

  20. Importance of Theory • Attempts to explain social behavior in terms of the “real world” • Three Major Theoretical Approaches: • Structural-Functionalism • Conflict Theory • Symbolic Interactionism

  21. Importance of Theory • Each approach provides a set of fundamental assumptions that help guide sociological understanding • Macro-Level v. Micro-Level

  22. CAUTION!

  23. Macro-Level

  24. Structural-Functionalism • Guiding Question: • How do social institutions and processes create stability & security, and what happens when they don’t? • Key Players: • Comte, Spencer, Durkheim

  25. Structural-Functionalism • Assumptions: • Society is an organism comprised of interrelated parts; known as subsystems • Subsystems work together to promote solidarity & stability • Each subsystem has a function (manifest v. latent)

  26. Structural-Functionalism • Major Emphases: • Stability (function v. dysfunction) • Harmony • Evolution

  27. What are the Functions of? • Examples: • Education? • Marriage? • Government? • Religion?

  28. Structural-Functionalism • Key Criticisms: • Does not encourage active social change; Waits for system to naturally stabilize • Subjective and unclear

  29. Conflict Theory • Guiding Question: • How is society organized (or divided) and who benefits from this? • Key Players: • Marx, Weber, Mills

  30. Conflict Theory • Assumptions: • Society consists of basic inequalities; contributes to inevitable conflict • Social relations are in a constant state of change • The “Haves” v. the “Have-Nots”

  31. Conflict Theory • Example: • Think of the term/phrase most commonly used in the United States to describe when people from other countries come to the U.S. without the appropriate legal paper work. What do we tend to call that?

  32. Conflict Theory • Major Emphases: • Competition over scarce resources • Impact of inequalities on power & rewards • Social change as a result of conflict

  33. Conflict Theory • Key Criticisms: • Difficult to explain the more orderly & stable elements of society • Too heavily focused on economy & class; neglects the cultural aspects of society • Assumes that differences ALWAYS lead to conflict

  34. Micro-Level

  35. Symbolic Interactionism • Guiding Question: • How, and in what way, do people interpret and negotiate their surroundings? • Key Players: • Weber, Mead, Cooley

  36. Symbolic Interactionism • Assumptions: • People attach meaning to things based on their ongoing interactions with others • Continuously negotiated • Meanings guide action & reaction • Fake Celebrity Example

  37. Symbolic Interactionism • Major Emphases: • Language & symbols are the building blocks of society • Importance of interpersonal relationships & social interaction • Socialization

  38. Symbolic Interactionism • Examples: • What does this picture symbolize to you? Write the first word that comes to mind…

  39. Symbolic Interactionism • Examples: • What does this picture symbolize to you? Write the first word that comes to mind…

  40. Symbolic Interactionism • Examples: • What does this picture symbolize to you? Write the first word that comes to mind…

  41. Symbolic Interactionism Putin’s Pawn • Examples: • What does this picture symbolize to you? Write the first word that comes to mind…

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