Introduction to Sociology from Latin: socius, "companion"; and the suffix -ology, "the study of"

What is it? Sociology= the study of the development, structure and functioning of human society Includes the study of how groups of people who share common characteristics function

What is it? Sociologist focus on patterns of behaviours shared by members of a particular group of society Study topics such as: Ethnic groups Social class Gender roles Criminology Deviance Institutions within our society

What Sociologists Study Area of Study Focus of Study Examples Knowledge How different social and political ideas originate and how they affect people in society Why do young people reject or accept the ideals of their parents? Social Movements and Collective Behaviour How people gather in groups to achieve their goals How can students organize to bring lasting changes in their schools? Social Identities How race, class, ability, gender and sexual orientation affect people’s lives How do differences in your gender, race or economic status affect they way you are treated?

What Sociologists Study Area of Study Focus of Study Examples Culture How social groups and societies develop cultural practices and institutions How does music that teens listen to affect their attitudes, values, and goals? Economy The structure and influences of economic systems What kinds of industries exist in your community? Why were they built there and what effect do they have on the people in your area? Crime Crime and crime prevention Do police officers treat teen differently from adults?

Sociological Theoretical Perspectives 1) Functionalism Every structure in society has a vital function Most aspects of society contribute to the society’s well-being and survival Ex. Family contributes to society by reproducing and taking care of its members 2) Conflict Perspective Society experiences inconsistency and change everywhere All societies involve control and coercion of some members by others Ex. Some people have power over others- bosses, police, head of the family

Sociological Theoretical Perspectives Continued… Symbolic interactionism is a sociological perspective that society is constructed by people’s interpretations of reality (i.e. what they believe to be true as opposed to what is objectively true). Max Weber: “ individuals act according to their interpretation of the meaning of their world” George Herbert Mead is credited with introducing the framework in the 1920’s

Sociology and Anthropology- What’s the Difference? Similarities: Examine the human condition Examine the “big picture” Examine the way society influences people’s lives Overlap in the study of culture Differences: Anthropologists study cultures as a whole Sociologists study parts of a society Components that make up culture Institutions such as family, religion or economic system

A Brief History of Sociology Sociology is a young science Began in the later 1800’s During the Industrial Revolution society was undergoing much change People were moving from country to city This had a huge impact on the way in which society functioned

A Brief History of Sociology Migration to the cities led to problems of pollution, poverty, malnutrition, unemploy-ment and crime Social unrest and disorder resulted First sociologists studied these problems in an effort to help people understand and deal with these issues

Pioneers of Sociology Emile Durkheim-Developed the theory of social facts, which maintained that things such as customs, institutions and organizations exert control over people Karl Marx- believed capitalism, the economic system that brought class differences, would be overthrown by communism and result in more equality

Pioneers of Sociology Max Weber- believed that human values and beliefs affected how people acted throughout society Dorothy E. Smith- provided insight into how women and the powerless have been excluded from sociological research

Agents of Socialization Social group, institutions, and groups that provide structured situations in which socialization takes place Family Schools Peers Mass Media The process of socialization is a lifelong process in which we learn the rules to becoming functioning members of society

Institutions A large organization with a particular type of work or purpose A system of organization that has existed for a long time Social Institutions: “established sets of norms and subsystems that support each society’s survival” * family, education, religion, economic systems, political systems

Power Max Weber: “The ability to control others, events, or resources; to make happen what one wants in spite of obstacles, resistance or oppostion” Karl Marx: “power rests in a social classes position in relations to production, therefor it does not lie with individuals, but in a social class”. Talcott Parsons: “Power is not a matter of domination, but instead a social systems potential to coordinate human activity and resources to accomplish goals.

Topics in Sociology Gossip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFDWOXV6iEM Empathy: https://www.ted.com/talks/sam_richards_a_radical_experiment_in_empathy?language=en Violence in society Digital Citizenship Social Activism Teen pregnancy Discrimination based on race, gender, sexuality Prisons and rehabilitation Happiness…