January 17, 2017

Word Plays Sociology Sociological Imagination Microsociology Macrosociology Theory All must have… 1 definition 2 pictures 3 crosswords

Sociological Imagination https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BINK6r1Wy78

Auguste Comte (KONT) Coined the term “sociology” & thought of as father of sociology Decided the study of society must be empirical Empirical – based on observations, experiments, or other forms of data collection Saw sociology as the scientific study of social statics and social dynamics Social statics – investigates how principles of social order explain a particular society, as well as interconnections between institutions (ex: education, political affiliation, social class, religious groups,) Social dynamics – explores how individuals and societies change over time Emphasized social order and change within and across societies

Harriet Martineau English author, published first sociology research methods textbooks Translated and condensed Auguste Comte’s work for larger audiences to comprehend Emphasized importance of data collection through observation/interviews and objective analysis of data to explain events/behavior

Emile Durkheim Saw societies as characterized by unity and cohesion because members are bound by common interests and attitudes Studied suicide through analysis of statistics Concluded that suicide is not an isolated, individual act Suicide is often based on relationships and social integration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUvCjhjKRHk Studied social facts, division of labor and social integration

Emile Durkheim Social facts – aspects of social life, external to the individual, that can be measured Material facts – demographic info; age, location of residence, population size Non-material facts – communication processes, social movements, collective behavior Division of labor – questioned how people can be autonomous and individualistic while also being integrated into society Social solidarity is held together by a division of labor Social integration – meaningful social relationships (families, social groups, communities) help people feel important, like they belong, etc.

Karl Marx Tried to explain the societal changes taking place during the Industrial Revolution Thought that economic issues produced issues in society Capitalism – an economic system in which the ownership of the means of production is in private hands Saw society as composed of 3 social classes Capitalists – the ruling elite who own the means of producing wealth (ex: factories, machines, raw resources) Petit Bourgeoisie – small business owners/workers who still have their own means of production Proletariat – the masses of workers who depend on wages to survive, have few resources and make up the working class

Karl Marx (continued) Class conflict – Marx believed that society is divided into the “haves” (capitalists) and “have-nots” (proletariat) Capitalists make money by taking advantage of the proletariat This is allowed because the proletariat has to give in to the capitalists in order to survive Argued that there’s a close relationship between inequality, social conflict and social class Saw history as a series of class struggles between capitalists and workers Think about the “1%” and the “Occupy Wall Street” movement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpdpMjG5CmY Foresaw a violent revolution of the proletariat overthrowing the capitalists Never happened in US Alienation – the feeling of separation from one’s group or society Common in all social classes

Max Weber (VAY-ber) Focused on social organization, a subjective understanding of behavior, and a value- free sociology Believed ideas, religions, values, ideologies, and charismatic leaders to be as important as Marx believed economic situations to be Emphasized subjective understanding – verstehen (fer-shtay-en) 2 types of verstehen Direct observational understanding – the social scientists observe a person’s facial expressions, gestures and listens to his/her words Ex: A person bursts into tears and the observer knows what that person is feeling because of DOU (anger, sadness, etc.)

Max Weber (VAY-ber) 2 types of verstehen Explanatory understanding – social scientists tries to grasp the intention and context of a behavior Ex: After that person starts crying, a sociologist using the EU approach theorizes about WHY he/she started crying (break up, dog died, embarrassed, failed test, etc.) Value-free sociology/a value-free sociologist – one who separates his/her personal values, opinions, ideology and beliefs from scientific research Encouraged individuality but thought educators/scholars should be as objective as possible to ensure they’re teaching knowledge and not opinion Objective = unbiased, fair

Jane Addams Social worker Co-founded “Hull House” (one of the first community centers to help the poor) Leader in women’s suffrage First American woman to be awarded the Novel Peace Prize Advocated negotiation, not violence, to settle disputes and disagreements Much of her work contributed to help develop the “symbolic interaction” theory and the idea of applying knowledge to everyday problems https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFQIIM8IRZU Helped map criminology in Chicago

W.E.B. Du Bois (Do-Boice) Prominent black sociologist, writer, editor, social reformer and orator (speaker) 1st African American to receive a PhD from Harvard Helped found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Believe race problems stemmed from ignorance and advocated “cures” for racism Cures included promoting black political power and civil rights and providing blacks with higher education Examined oppressive side effects of race, class and gender issues; advocated for women’s rights and help reshape black-white relations in America