The Sociological Perspective Chapter 1 The Sociological Perspective

Sociology The scientific study of society and human behavior. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Seeing the Broader Social Context How Groups Influence People How People are Influenced by Their Society - People Who Share a Culture - People Who Share a Territory The sociological perspective focuses on the importance of groups, and how people are influenced by their society. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Sociological Imagination An awareness of the relationship between an individual and the wider society. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Sociological Imagination Personal trouble versus public issue Link between public and private © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Social Location - Corners in Life Jobs Income Education Gender Age Race/Ethnicity © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Origins of Sociology Tradition vs. Science The Social Upheavals of the Industrial Revolution, which changed the way people lived their lives The Political Revolutions in America and France The Rise and Success of the Natural Sciences © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

European Founders From left to right: Auguste Comte, Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber. © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Auguste Comte and Positivism Applying the Scientific Method to Social World Comte began to wonder what holds society together Coined the Term “Sociology” “Armchair Philosophy” © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Herbert Spencer - Social Darwinism Second Founder of Sociology Disagreed sharply with Comte’s idea that sociologists should guide social reform Lower and Higher Forms of Society Coined Phrase “Survival of the Fittest” Spencer’s idea that it was wrong to help the poor offended many © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Karl Marx and Class Conflict Engine of Human History is Class Conflict The Bourgeoisie vs. The Proletariat Marxism Not the Same as Communism Marx thought that people should try to change society Marx did not think of himself as a sociologist © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Durkheim and Social Integration Got Sociology Recognized as Separate Discipline Studied How Social Forces Affect Behavior Identified “Social Integration” - Degree to Which People are Tied to Social Group © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Max Weber and the Protestant Ethic Religion and the Origin of Capitalism Disagreed with Marx’s claim that economics is the central force in social change Said that role belongs to religion Favored social over material causes Religion is Central Force in Social Change Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Sexism in Early Sociology Attitudes of the Time - 1800s Sex Roles Rigidly Defined - Few People Educated Beyond Basics Harriet Martineau - Published Society in America before Durkheim and Weber Were Born In Martineau’s day, women were suppose to devote themselves to the four Kirche, Küche, Kinder, und Kleider (church, cooking, children, and clothes).   © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Racism at the Time: W.E.B Du Bois B.A. from Fisk University First African American to Earn PHD at Harvard It is difficult to grasp how racist society was at this time Published a Book Each Year from 1896-1914 Neglected by Sociologists Until Recently © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Major U.S. Contributors Influential U.S. Sociologists. From left to right, Jane Addams, C.W. Mills, and Talcott Parsons © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Influential U.S. Sociologists. From left to right, Jane Addams, C.W. Mills, and Talcott Parsons

Jane Addams: Sociologist and Social Reformer Member of American Sociological Society from Start Came from Background of Wealth and Privilege Co-Founded Hull House Co-Founded American Civil Liberties Union © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Talcott Parsons and C. Wright Mills Many early North American sociologists saw society as corrupt & in need of reform Parsons Developed Objective Analysis and Models of Society Mills Deplored Theoretical Abstractions in Favor of Social Reform Continuing Tension in Sociology © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.