Sociological Perspectives What are the origins of sociological thinking? What are the contemporary perspectives in sociology and their interpretation of society?

Origins of Sociological Thinking Comte, Martineau, Spencer & Durkheim focused on social order and stability in society Marx, Weber, & Simmel focused on conflict and social change Comte- “Positivism”-scientific study of society Martineau-impact of large scale social structures on lives of marginalized people (e.g. women) Spencer-evolutionary process of social order Durkheim-social facts (patterns) existing outside individual build society by exerting social control(anomie-loss of shared values from social change-strain) Marx-class conflict produces social change Weber-religion’s role in social change, rational bureacracies Simmel-society is a web of patterned interactions, form and content of social interaction varies

Contemporary Perspectives Functionalist Conflict Symbolic Interactionist Postmodernist Identify basic perspective and characteristics 2-3 points Identify how they would explain or examine shopping & consumption 1-2 points Procedure: Groups of 4, work on 1 perspective, share with group (pages 23-32) If finished early read Box 1.3 on 20-21, Census profiles on 26, Box 1.4 on 28-29 and can turn in ½ page summary of thoughts on consumerism from a sociological view

Summary of Contemporary Perspectives Functionalist (Macrolevel) Society is a stable, orderly system Each component serves a “function” (social consensus) Conflict (Macrolevel) Continuous power struggle among groups Symbolic Interactionist (Mycrolevel) Society as social interactions in which people rely on shared symbols to make sense of everyday social interactions (“Dramaturgical analysis”) Postmodernist(Macro/Microlevel) Society has changed in unique ways due to technology, an information explosion, and an economy in which people either use or provide information