The Sociological Perspective Sociology SIXTEENTH EDITION Chapter 1 The Sociological Perspective

Learning Objectives (1 of 2) 1.1 Explain how the sociological perspective differs from common sense. 1.2 State several reasons that a global perspective is important in today's world. 1.3 Identify the advantages of sociological thinking for developing public policy, for encouraging personal growth, and for advancing in a career.

Learning Objectives (2 of 2) 1.4 Link the origins of sociology to historical social changes. 1.5 Summarize sociology's major theoretical approaches. 1.6 Apply sociology's major theoretical approaches to the topic of sports.

The Power of Society Sociology shows us the power of society to guide all our life decisions in much the same way that the seasons influence our choice of clothing.

What groups do you belong to? We all belong to many different groups. Are our roles the same for each? Why or why not? How do we know what our roles are?

The Sociological Perspective: What Is…? Sociology Systematic study of human society The study of groups and group interactions, societies and social interactions, from small and personal groups to very large groups Distinctive view guided by sociological perspective Society- a group of people who live in a defined geographic area, who interact with one another, and who share a common culture Sociological Perspective View that sees general patterns of society in the lives of particular people The most important skill to gain from this chapter is the ability to use what we call the sociological perspective. Systematic Scientific discipline; patterns of behavior Human society Group behavior is primary focus; how groups influence individuals and vice versa At the “heart of sociology” Sociological perspective; unique societal view

The Sociological Perspective How is the sociological perspective defined? Seeing general patterns in the behavior of particular people (Berger 1963) Seeing society shapes what we think and do in patterned ways Seeing society in our everyday lives Seeing sociologically, especially through marginality and crisis Seeing sociologically Seeing the general in the particular Sociologists identify general social patterns in the behavior of particular individuals. Seeing the strange in the familiar Understanding that society shapes our lives in patterned Seeing society in our everyday lives

How does the power of society guide marriage partner selection? Stay tuned! We will revisit this topic at the end of the chapter. Sociology teaches us that the social world guides our life choices in much the same way that the seasons influence our choice of clothing. Do we simply “pick” our marriage partners? In 77 percent of all married couples in the United States, both partners are within five years of the age of each other; in 78 percent, both partners have achieved the same level of schooling; and in 93 percent of married couples, both partners are of the same racial or ethnic category. Although we tend to think of love and marriage as very personal matters, it is clear that society guides the process of selecting a spouse.

How does the power of society influence private decisions throughout the world? Is childbearing simply a matter of personal choice? A look around the world shows that it is not. In general, women living in poor countries have many more children than women in rich nations. Can you point to some of the reasons for this global disparity? In simple terms, such differences mean that if you had been born into another society (whether you are female or male), your life might be quite different from what it is now. Is childbearing simply a matter of personal choice?

Sociologists Study All Aspects of Society Micro-level- study small groups and individual interactions Example: Study accepted rules of conversation in various groups such as teenagers or business professionals Macro-level- large groups and societies Example: The ways in which language has changed over time

The Sociological Perspective: Durkheim's Study of Suicide Does society affect decisions about suicide? Emile Durkheim's research findings More likely to commit: Male Protestants who were wealthy and unmarried Less likely to commit: Male Jews and Catholics who were poor and married One of the basic findings: Why? The differences between these groups had to do with “social integration” Those with strong social ties had less of a chance of committing suicide Freedom weakens social ties and increases risk of suicide

The Sociological Perspective: Contemporary Suicide Statistics A century later Durkheim's analysis hold true. Suicide rates are higher for white people than they are for black people and Hispanic people. Within each category, suicide rates are higher for men than for women. Rates indicate the number of deaths by suicide for every 100,000 people in each category for 2010. Suicide rates are higher for white people than for black people and Hispanic people. Among all categories of the population, rates are several times higher for men than for women. Rates indicate the number of deaths by suicide for every 100,000 people in each category for 2010.

What situations help people see clearly how society shapes individual lives? Seeing sociologically Marginality; living on the edge Social crisis; turning personal problems into public issues

Culture Culture- group’s shared practices, values, and beliefs Way of life, everyday interactions Includes everything produced by a society, including all of the social rules Sociologists often study culture using the sociological imagination

What is the sociological imagination? C. Wright Mills Sociological imagination- awareness of the relationship between a person’s behavior and experience and the wider culture that shaped the person’s choices and perceptions Society, not people, is main cause of poverty and other social problems. By turning personal problems into public issues, the sociological imagination is the key to bringing people together to create needed change. Mills Sociological perspective lies in changing individual lives & in transforming society Society, not people's personal failings, is the cause of social problems. The sociological imagination transforms personal problems into public issues. Marginality People with the greatest privileges tend to see individuals as responsible for their own lives. Those at the margins of society, by contrast, are quick to see how race, class, and gender can create disadvantages

The Importance of a Global Perspective: What Is…? Study of the larger world and our society's place in it Global Awareness Logical extension of the sociological perspective

In what way can nations be categorized by their level of economic development? Country categories Low-income Nations with a low standard of living in which most people are poor Forty-nine nations include most of Africa and part of Asia Middle-income Nations with a standard of living about average for the world as a whole Seventy-two nations include many of the countries of Eastern Europe, some of Africa, and almost all of Latin America and Asia High-income Nations with the highest overall standards of living Seventy-four countries include the U.S. and Canada, Argentina, the nations of Western Europe, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Australia

Why is it important to study comparisons between the U. S Why is it important to study comparisons between the U.S. and other nations? Comparisons are important because: Where we live shapes the lives we lead. Societies are increasingly interconnected through technology and economics. Many social problems that we face in the United States are more serious elsewhere. Thinking globally is a good way to learn more about ourselves. To understand ourselves and appreciate how others live, we must understand something about how countries differ, which is one good reason to pay attention to the global maps found throughout this text. About 1.3 million immigrants enter the United States each year, bringing their skills and talents, along with their fashions and foods, greatly increasing the racial and cultural diversity of this country (Hoefer, Rytina, & Baker, 2012; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2012). In the last several decades, the power and wealth of the United States have been challenged by what some analysts have called “the rise of the rest”.

Importance of a Global Perspective “In sum, in an increasingly interconnected world, we can understand our way of life and ourselves only to the extent that we understand others and the societies in which they live.” What then are the benefits of applying the sociological perspective?

Applying the Sociological Perspective Usefulness of applying the sociological perspective Sociology guides many of our life-shaping laws and policies. Using a sociological perspective leads to important personal growth and awareness. Studying sociology aids in the preparation for the world of work.

Applying the Sociological Perspective: Sociology and Public Policy Sociologists shape public policy in countless ways What examples can you identify? Laws and regulations that govern how people in communities live and work from racial desegregation and school busing to laws regulating divorce.

Applying the Sociological Perspective: Sociology and Personal Growth Helps us assess truth of common sense Helps us see opportunities and constraints Empowers us to be active participants in society Helps us live in a diverse world

Applying the Sociological Perspective: Careers The “sociological advantage” Sociology is excellent preparation for jobs in dozens of diverse fields (American Sociological Association, 2002, 2011a, 2011b).

Origins of Sociology What are the origins? The birth of sociology was itself the result of powerful social forces. Let's take a closer look at some of these forces.

What kinds of social change were especially important in the development of sociology? During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries Rise of a factory-based industrial economy Explosive growth of cities New ideas about democracy and political rights

Social Change and Sociology: A New Industrial Economy Middle Ages: Farming and small-scale manufacturing End of Eighteenth Century New energy sources Large, anonymous work forces Large scale production; movement of system of production Weakening of community influence

Social Change and Sociology: Growth of Cities Urban migrant problems: Pollution, crimes, and homelessness Enclosure movement: Reduction in tenet access and movement to city

Social Change and Sociology: Political Change Middle Ages: Society is an expression of God's will Gradual attack of tradition: Thomas Hobbes (1588– 1679), John Locke (1632–1704), and Adam Smith (1723–1790) Shift to self-interest: Personal liberty and individual rights French Revolution: Greater break with politics and social tradition: Tocqueville (1805–1859) The French social analyst Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–1859) thought the changes in society brought about by the French Revolution were so great that they amounted to “nothing short of the regeneration of the whole human race” (1955:13, orig. 1856).

Social Change and Sociology: A New Awareness of Society What changes combined to make people more aware of their surroundings? Huge factories Exploding cities New spirit of individualism The new discipline of sociology was born in England, France, and Germany. Do you know why? The new discipline of sociology was born in England, France, and Germany—precisely where the changes were greatest.

Science and Sociology Ancient civilizations Medieval period Thought about nature of society K'ung Fu-tzu, Confucius, Plato, Aristotle Medieval period Imagined ideal study society Marcus Aurelius, Aquinas, Pisan, Shakespeare

Science and Sociology: A New View Comte Coined term “sociology” in 1838 Saw sociology as product of a three-stage historical development Theoretical stage (Church in the Middle Age Metaphysical stage (Enlightenment and the ideas of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau) Scientific stage (Modern physics, chemistry, sociology, and the work of Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton)

Science and Sociology: A Closer Look at Comte Comte (continued) Used scientific approach to the study of society in positivism Believed that society operates according to its own laws, much as the physical world operates according to gravity and other laws of nature Disputed by modern sociologists who posit a more complex view of human behavior, including that related to social injustice

Sociological Theory: What Is…? Statement of how and why specific facts are related Theoretical Approach Basic image of society that guides thinking and research Structural-functional Social-conflict Symbolic-interaction

Structural-Functional Approach (1 of 2) The basics Macro-level orientation is concerned with broad patterns that shape society as a whole. Society is viewed as a complex system; parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. Approach sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.

Structural-Functional Approach (2 of 2) Key elements Social structure: Any relatively stable patterns of social behavior found in social institutions Social function: Consequences for the operation of society as a whole Manifest functions: Recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern Latent functions: Unrecognized and unintended consequences of any social pattern

Who's Who in the Structural-Functional Approach (1 of 2) Auguste Comte Importance of social integration during times of rapid change Emile Durkheim Helped establish sociology as a discipline Herbert Spencer Compared society to the human body

Who's Who in the Structural-Functional Approach (2 of 2) Robert K. Merton Manifest functions are recognized and intended consequences Latent functions are unrecognized and unintended consequences Social dysfunctions are undesirable consequences

Evaluation of the Structural-Functional Approach Favored approach in mid-1900s Focus on stability at expense of conflict makes this approach somewhat conservative Less utilized today

Social Conflict Approach: What Is…? (1 of 2) Sees society as arena of inequality that generates conflict and change

Social Conflict Approach: What Is…? (2 of 2) Gender-conflict theory Focuses on inequality and conflict between women and men Feminism Race-conflict theory Focuses on inequality and conflict between people of different racial and ethnic categories

Social-Conflict Approach (1 of 3) The basics Factors such as race, sex, class, and age are linked to social inequality Dominant group vs. disadvantaged group relations The social-conflict approach points out patterns of inequality in everyday life. The TV series Keeping Up with the Kardashians takes a close-up look at the lives of extremely affluent women. In what ways do they depend on the work of people of lower social position?

Social-Conflict Approach (2 of 3) Key elements Rejects the idea that social structure promotes the operation of society as a whole Suggests society is structured in ways to benefit a few at the expense of the majority Level of analysis Macro-oriented

Social-Conflict Approach (3 of 3) Evaluation Many sociologists use social-conflict approach not just to understand society but also to bring about societal change that would reduce inequality. Critics of the conflict perspective point to its overly negative view of society.

Who's Who in the Social-Conflict Approach Karl Marx Focus on importance of social class in inequality and social conflict W.E.B. Du Bois Focus on race as the major problem facing the U.S. in the 20th century

Gender-Conflict Approach and Feminism The basics Gender-conflict theory: Focuses on inequality and conflict between women and men Feminism: Advocacy of social equality for women and men linked to gender-conflict theory

Who's Who In Feminism and the Gender-Conflict Approach Harriet Martineau First woman sociologist Translated Comte's work from French to English Documented the evils of slavery, argued for laws to protect factory workers, and fought for changes in education policy for women

Who's Who In Feminism and the Gender-Conflict Approach Jane Addams Was a sociological pioneer who helped found Hull House Dealt with issues involving immigration and the pursuit of peace Won Nobel Peace Prize (1931) We can use the sociological perspective to look at sociology itself. All of the most widely recognized pioneers of the discipline were men. This is because in the nineteenth century, it was all but unheard of for women to be college professors, and few women took a central role in public life.

The Race-Conflict Approach (1 of 2) The basics Focus on inequality and conflict between people of different racial and ethnic categories

The Race-Conflict Approach (2 of 2) The basics Focuses on inequality and conflict between people of different racial and ethnic categories Suggests racial conflict is still an issue in U.S.

Who's Who in the Race-Conflict Approach (1 of 2) Ida Wells Barnett Born to slave parents but rose to become a teacher and then a journalist and newspaper publisher Campaigned for racial equality throughout her life

Who's Who in the Race-Conflict Approach (2 of 2) W.E.B. Du Bois Earned the first doctorate awarded by Harvard to a person of color Founded the Atlanta Sociological Laboratory Believed that sociologists should not simply learn about society's problems but also try to solve them

Social-Conflict Theories Evaluation Large following gained in recent decades Focus on inequality, but largely ignores how shared values and interdependence unify members of a society Cannot claim scientific objectivity

Symbolic-Interaction Approach (1 of 2) The basics Presents a micro-level orientation Offers a close-up focus on social interactions in specific situations Views society as the product of everyday interactions of individuals

Symbolic-Interaction Approach (2 of 2) Key elements Society is a shared reality that people construct as they interact with one another. Society is a complex, ever-changing mosaic of subjective meanings.

Who's Who in the Symbolic-Interaction Approach (1 of 2) Max Weber Understanding a setting from the people in it George Herbert Mead How we build personalities from social experience

Who's Who in the Symbolic-Interaction Approach (2 of 2) Erving Goffman Dramaturgical analysis George Homans and Peter Blau Social-exchange analysis

Overall Evaluation Structural-Functional Social-Conflict Appears too broad Ignores inequalities of social class, race and gender Focuses on stability at the expense of conflict Social-Conflict Ignores how shared values and mutual interdependence unify society Pursues political goals Symbolic-Interaction Ignores larger social structures, effects of culture, factors such as class, gender, and race

Applying the Approaches: The Sociology of Sports APPLYING THEORY Major Theoretical Approaches Structural-Functional Approach Social-Conflict, Gender-Conflict, and Race-Conflict Approaches Symbolic-Interaction Approach What is the level of analysis? Macro-level Micro-level What image of society does the approach have? Society is a system of interrelated parts that is relatively stable. Each part works to keep society operating in an orderly way. Members generally agree about what is morally right and morally wrong. Society is a system of social inequalities based on class (Marx), gender (genderconflict theory and feminism), and race (race-conflict theory). Society operates to benefit some categories of people and harm others. Social inequality causes conflict that leads to social change. Society is an ongoing process. People interact in countless settings using symbolic communications. The reality people experience is variable and changing. What core questions ask? How is society held together? What are the major parts of society? How are these parts linked? What does each part do to help society work? How does society divide a population? How do advantaged people protect their privileges? How do disadvantaged people challenge the system seeking change? How do people experience society? How do people shape the reality they experience? How do behavior and meaning change from person to person and from one situation to another?

The Sociology of Sports (1 of 2) Functions of Sports A structural-functional approach directs our attention to ways sports help society operate. Sports have functional and dysfunctional consequences.

The Sociology of Sports (2 of 2) Sports and conflict Social-conflict analysis points out games people play reflect their social standing. Sports have been oriented mostly toward males. Sports in the United States are bound up with inequalities. Can you think of any of these inequalities? Big league sports excluded people of color for decades.

Do the Math! Why is there a high number of African Americans in some professional sports? Athletic performance in some sports can be precisely measured and is not influenced by racial prejudice. Athletic performance—in terms of batting average or number of points scored per game—can be precisely measured and is not influenced by racial prejudice. The race-conflict approach illustrates that racial discrimination still exists in professional sports. African Americans have a large share of players in only five sports: baseball, basketball, football, boxing, and track.

Is race is linked to stacking of the positions athletes play on the field in baseball? African Americans represent only 3 percent of pitchers and there are no black catchers at all. At the same time, 8 percent of infielders are African Americans, as are 27 percent of outfielders, positions characterized as requiring “speed and reactive ability” (Lapchick, 2012). What do you see?

Sports as Interaction Symbolic-interaction approach Posits sports are less a system than an ongoing process Structural-functional, social-conflict, and symbolic- interaction Provide different insights into sports No one is more correct than the others

Is sociology nothing more than a stereotype? Generalizations are not applied to everyone in a category. Generalizations square with the available facts. Generalizations are offered fair-mindedly, with an interest in getting at the truth. A sociology classroom is a good place to get at the truth behind common stereotypes.

Back to Marriage Partner Selection True or False? All societies enforce various rules that state who should or should not marry whom. True Society is at work on many levels. Consider (1) rules about same-sex and other-sex marriage, (2) laws defining the categories of people whom one may marry, (3) the importance of race and ethnicity, (4) the importance of social class, (5) the importance of age, and (6) the importance of social exchange (what each partner offers the other).