The Sociological Perspective Chapter 1

After studying this chapter, you should be able to do the following: Understand the sociological point of view and how it differs from that of journalists and talk-show hosts. Compare and contrast sociology with the other major social sciences. Describe the early development of sociology from its origins in nineteenth-century Europe. Know the contributions of sociology’s pioneers: Comte, Martineau, Spencer, Marx, Durkheim, and Weber. Describe the early development of sociology in the United States. Understand the functionalism, conflict theory, and the interactionist perspectives. Realize the relationship between theory and practice.

Sociology as a Point of View What is Sociology? It is the scientific study of human society and social interactions. Main focus Group Seeks to Understand forces that operate throughout society Forces that mold individuals Shape their behavior Thus determine social events

To be a sociologist, you would have to: Change how you see the world Broaden your perspective on the world Make sense out of what’s going on around you.

Example Without a full sociological understanding of domestic violence many believe that the victims should simply just walk away. Is it easy for domestic violence victims to leave? Why or why not? See figure 1.1

The Sociological Imagination C. Wright Milles (1959) used the term sociological imagination to refer to: The relationship between individual experiences Forces in the lager society that shape our actions

How to apply sociology to the real world Can you think of an issue that may have or had some affect or you or society as a whole? (explain) Examples Divorce Tax increase Increased tuition Suicide or death of a loved one

Sociological Imagination Is the process of looking at all types of human behavior patterns and finding previously unseen connections among them. Why do most children who witness abuse in the home become abusers? Why is it likely that a woman who leaves her abuser will return?

The focus of sociological imagination: Every aspect of society Every relationship among individuals Crowds at sports events Shifts in styles of dress and popular music Changing patterns in courtship and marriage The emergence and fading of different lifestyles Political movements Religious sects The distribution of income and access to resources and opportunities Decisions made by the Supreme Court, congressional committees, and local zoning boards.

Sociology and Science Sociology Commonly described as one of the social sciences Refers to a body of systematically arranged knowledge that shows operation of general laws Employs the same general methods of investigation that are used in the natural science.

Scientific Method A process by which a body of scientific knowledge is built through observation, experimentation, generalization, and verification.

Empiricism The view that generalizations are valid only if they rely on evidence that can be observed or verified through sense. Theologians Philosophers Sociologists Faith produces true happiness Debate what happiness encompasses Note, analyze and predict consequences of such measurable items as job satisfaction, relationship between education and income, and role of social class and divorce.

Social Science Consist of all those disciplines that apply scientific methods to the study of human behavior.

Social Science Disciplines Cultural Anthropology Psychology Economic History Political Science Social Work

Sociology versus Other Disciplines Sociologist study groups and institutions within large, modern, industrial, societies using research methods that enable them rather quickly to gather specific information about large numbers of people Cultural Anthropologist immerse themselves in another society for a long time, trying to learn as much as possible about that society and the relationships among it. Sociologist looks at patterns of behavior Psychologist looks at motivations, perceptions, cognition, creativity, mental disorders, and personality. Sociologist study social factors that influence a person’s economic decision Economist studies price availability factors Sociologist looks at historical events within their social contexts to discover why things happened and more important, to assess what their social significance was and is. Sociology focus on the present History looks at past events to attempt to learn what happened, when it happened, and why it happened Sociologist focuses on how political system affects other institutions on society Political Science devotes more attention to the forces that shape political systems theories for understanding these forces. Sociology is to help understand why problems exist Social work is to help people solve problems

Development of Sociology Emerged as a separate field of study in Europe During the 19th century Period social order was shaken by the Industrial Revolution and the American and French Revolution.

Key Sociologists Auguste Comet (1798-1857) Harriet Martineau (1802-1876) Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) Karl Marx (1818-1883) Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) Max Weber (1864-1920) W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963)

Auguste Comte (1798-1857) Coined sociology Set out to develop a science of man that would reveal the underlying principles of society much as the sciences of physics and chemisty explained nature and produced industrial progress. Sociology would be a cohesive discipline

Harriet Martineau (1802-1876) Published Theory and Practice of Society is America in 1837. Traveled throughout the United States observing day to day life. Was outspoken about treatment of women in the United States Translated Auguste Comte’s six volume Positive Philosophy to English.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) Believed that society was similar to a living organism Proponent of a doctrine know as social Darwinism Applied to society Charles Darwin’s notion “survival of the fittest,” in which those species of animals adapted to the environment survived and prospered while the poorly adapted died out.

Three scholars responsible for shaping sociology into relatively coherent discipline Karl Marx (1818-1883) Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) Max Weber (1864-1920)

Karl Marx (1818-1883) Looked for ways to improve human condition History of societies could be seen in class conflict Bourgeoisie-owners and controllers of the means of production (capitalists) Proletariat-makes up the mass of workers Developed the conflict theory

Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) Believed individuals were exclusively the products of their social environment and that society shapes people in every possible way Focused on forces that hold society together-functions of varies parts. Functionalist Studied suicide People committed suicide because they were members of different social groups that were influenced by a variety of social factors

Identified three types of Suicide Egoistic Suicide comes from low group solidarity, and under involvement with others. Altruistic Suicide derives from a very high level of group solidarity, and over involvement with others. Anomic Suicide results from a sense of feeling disconnected from society’s values.

Max Weber (1864-1920) Studied social actions. Believed that conflict between social classes determined many thins in society. Focused on individual meaning people attached to the world around them. Viewed capitalism as the source of control, exploitation, and alienation of human beings

W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963) First African-American to receive a PhD from Harvard is 1896. Editor of the Crisis Believed that doctrines and theories had a powerful effect on social conditions. Argued for the acceptance of African Americans into all areas of society and advocated militant resistance to white racism Whites held blacks back Published The Souls of Black Folk in 1903

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 consequencesof such processes New opportunities Finding lasting friendships

Functionalism Views society as a system of highly interrelated structures or parts that function or operate together harmoniously

Conflict People are basic struggling battling over something

Symbolic interaction Concerned with the meaning that people place on their own and one another’s behavior.

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

Middle-range Theories Concerned with explaining specific issues or aspects of society instead of trying to explain how all of society operates. Contemporary sociological theory Continues to build on the original idea proposed in the interactionist, perspective, functionalism, and conflict theory. Sociological Theory Gives meaning to sociological practice.