Welcome to SOCI 1010 4B Introduction to Sociology Winter quarter 2012-13 Monday and Wednesday 12– 1:55 p.m. Metropolitan Community College

Agenda for Class #1 Introduction Attendance Survey Review Syllabus Assign Syllabus Activity Historical Development Websites Printing Notes Student email Film clip, if time TGMBC

Attendance Survey What is your favorite snack or comfort food?

Reviewing the Syllabus

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOLOGY SOCI 1010, CHAPTER #1

Came from other fields of study Early Theorists Came from other fields of study Had to “sell” the importance of sociological study Sociology is a young discipline compared to some of the other sciences such as chemistry, mathematics or even history. Founders came from other fields such as biology, philosophy or economics. For thumbnail backgrounds see http:\\www.macionis.com

Industrial Revolution INDUSTRIALIZATION Crowding Urbanization Crime Social problems Interest in sociology came as the result of world events. A primary influence was the industrial revolution which sparked tremendous change first in Western Europe and then in the U.S. and Canada.

Germ theory John Snow - London cholera epidemic Advances In Sciences Germ theory John Snow - London cholera epidemic Evolution Charles Darwin - On the Origin of the Species New technologies Simultaneous advancement in the sciences increased our interest in sociology. John Snow, a London physician, helped identify the source of a cholera epidemic. This was related to the invention of the microscope and the identification of microorganisms. Note similarities in vocabulary between sociology and microbiology, “culture”, “colonies”, etc.. The publication of controversial literature on evolution challenged long held religious explanations yet provided a rationale for the structural-functional explanations for social life - - an integrated whole with emphasis on the purposes of things and the importance of consensus for healthy functioning. (Society is like a giant body -- if one organ is sick it affects the performance of the remaining organs = organic analogy. If the economy is depressed, that influences family life, funding for education, satisfaction with government, etc.)

Multicultural contacts Diffusion of aspects of culture Age Of Exploration Multicultural contacts Diffusion of aspects of culture Recognition of universals Sociology became a recognized academic endeavor near the close of a period of exploration and colonization by the countries of Western Europe. Obviously, life for the Native Americans changed as the result of contact with Europeans. But the explorations had both positive and negative effects on the Europeans as well. Think about all the ways European life changed as the result of contact with and importation of products from the “new world”. Go to Course Communication to add an entry to the discussion now.

Age Of Revolution Rapid social change Different ideologies The “Enlightenment” period of the 17th & 18th centuries brought renewed interest in democracy and dissatisfaction with exploitation. The U.S. Revolution, the French Revolution(s) and finally the Russian Revolution created major change in the power structure and the belief systems related to power, leadership and governance.

Methodology Dilemmas Could the methods of the “natural” sciences be applied to the social world or to human behavior? Because of the unpredictable nature of human behavior, some individuals have viewed the application of scientific methods to social problems as artificial or pretentious. The debate between “pure” science and the “softer” social sciences continues. As a social scientist how do you feel about these applications?

Could you take the “science” out of the laboratory? Is the world our laboratory? *Inset is petroglyph account of Kit Carson’s conflict with Dine’ (Navajo) native peoples. See http://www.viewzone.com/rocks.html virtual field trip for preview of activities that may be used later in the course.

What is a laboratory? Lesson 2 will explore the application of scientific methods to a variety of social situations.

SOCI 1010 Websites www.mccneb.edu Student email Film-- TGMBC Printing notes http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_macionis_society_9 Student email Film-- TGMBC

Film Clip TGMBC

Assignment Syllabus Activity Read Chapters 1 - 2