INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

Objectives To provide an exciting and challenging introduction to sociology by picking up material from everyday life. The students will be introduced to basic concepts of sociology; To learning to think sociologically i.e. cultivating sociological imagination. Interpreting the dynamics of varying human behavior dispassionately in a wider context; and To the applicability of sociological insights to behavior of people operating in different work situations.

Methodology There will be 45 lectures each of 50 minutes duration. The lectures will be delivered in mixture of English and Urdu. The lectures will be supported by slides presentation where necessary.

THE ORIGINS OF SOCIOLOGY Lecture#01

Sociology is the scientific study of human social life, groups, and societies. Definition

No sociology as a distinct discipline before the advent of 19th century.

Three factors led to the development of sociology The first was the industrial revolution. The second factor that stimulated the development of sociology was imperialism. The third impetus for the development of sociology was the success of the natural sciences.

The First Factor Masses of people migrated to cities in search of By the mid 19th century Europe was changing from agriculture to factory production. Emergence of new occupations as well as new avenues of employment away from the land. Masses of people migrated to cities in search of jobs. Pull and push factors . People in these industrial cities developed new ideas about democracy and political rights.

Second Factor Europeans successfully conquered many parts of the world. They were exposed to radically different cultures. Startled by these contrasting ways of life, they began to ask why cultures differed.

Third Factor People moved to question fundamental aspects of their social world. They started using the scientific method (systematic observation, objectivity) to the study of human behavior.

Auguste Comte The idea of applying the scientific method to the social world, known as positivism, was apparently first proposed by Auguste Comte (1798-1857)

Comte became interested in the two interrelated issues: social order (social static) and social change (social dynamics).

Comte concluded: What holds the society together (Why is there in a social order)? What causes it to change? • The right way to answer such questions was to apply the scientific method to social life. • There must be laws that underlie the society. • Discover these principles by applying scientific method to social world. • Apply these principles for social reform.

Science of Sociology This will be a new science and Comte named it as Sociology (1838) – the study of society. Comte is credited with being the founder of sociology.

Herbert Spenser (1820-1903) Englishman. Other early pioneer names:  Karl Marx (1818-1883)  German. Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)  French Max Weber (1864-1920)  German.

The Fields of Sociology Big diversity in fields of interest. • Biosociology • Collective Behaviour/Social Movements • Community • Comparative Sociology//Macrosociology • Criminal Justice • Criminology/Delinquency • Cultural Sociology • Demography • Development/Modernization • Deviant Behaviour/Social Disorganization

Economy and Society Education • Environmental Sociology • Ethnomethodology • History of Sociology/ Social Thought • Human Ecology • Industrial Sociology • International development/Third World • Law and Society • Leisure/Sports/Recreation • Marriage and the Family

Mass Communication/Public Opinion Mathematical sociology Medical Sociology Methodology: Qualitative Approaches Methodology: Quantitative Approaches Micro computing/Computer Applications Military Sociology

Occupations/Professions Penology/Corrections Political Sociology Race/Ethnic/Minority Relations Religion Rural Sociology Small Groups Social Change Social Control Social Networks Social Organizations/formal/complex

Social Psychology Socialization Sociological Practice/Social Policy Sociology of Aging/Social Gerontology Sociology of Art/Literature Sociology of Knowledge Sociology of Language/Social Linguistics Sociology of Markets Sociology of Mental Health Sociology of Science Sociology of Sex and Gender

Sociology of World Conflict Stratification/Mobility Theory Sociology of Work Sociology of World Conflict Stratification/Mobility Theory Urban Sociology Visual Sociology Source: American Sociological association Guide to Graduate departments, 1992 : 290-308.