Sociology – Welcome Back! Collection of Signed Forms

Welcome (back) to Sociology!!! Think about this: A man has to take a wolf, a cat, and a mouse across a stream. He can only carry one at a time. If he takes the mouse, the wolf is left alone with the cat, and will eat it. If he takes the wolf, the cat will eat the mouse. How does he get them over the river?

What is Sociology anyways?

Isn’t it just common sense?? “After September 11, 2001, Americans became more patriotic” Some Americans are more or less likely than others to proclaim extreme pride in their country….but why?? THAT’S SOCIOLOGY! Who bought a flag? Who joined the army? Why didn’t I?

Lets start at the beginning…. Social Science: The study of the social features of humans and the ways in which they interact and change Divisions of Social Science: Anthropology Psychology Economics Political Science History Sociology

How did Sociology emerge? People have been trying to figure out how social life works since ancient times Emerged in the 1800s Rapid social and political changes b/c of Industrial Revolution Rapid growth of urban populations = social problems Focus on liberty and individual rights in political movements Attempts to prove beliefs through observations and experimentation

What is Sociology? Definition: The scientific study of social behavior and human groups Focuses on social relationships How those relationships influence people’s behavior How societies develop and change What is a society?

Sociological Imagination (C. Wright Mills) An awareness of the relationship between an individual and the wider society, both today and in the past Key element: Gives us the ability to view one’s own society as a outsider would, rather than only from the perspective of personal experiences and cultural biases

Sociological Imagination Ability to see relationship between individual experience and larger society Personal troubles – private problems (losing a job) Social issues – public issues, problems, trends (high unemployment)

Why do people only have two children? Cost Tired from one child Want more freedom Overpopulation Why do individuals join gangs? Your thoughts? Think outside factors!!!

2 major questions we ask two basic questions that sociologists ask about human behavior: 1. the descriptive question (What do people do?) 2. the explanatory question (Why do people do what they do?)

Let’s try something List 6 reasons why someone might seriously consider suicide

For your 6 reasons… Tell me the feelings that go along with each reason In other words: what feelings would such a person experience that would lead him or her to consider suicide

Look at your list of feelings How are they alike? What are the sociological factors? Psychological factors?

Why is the rate of suicide higher in Oregon than it is in Pennsylvania?

What factors did you list? How are they similar?

The difference between the “thinkings” “sociological thinking” considers external factors non-sociological (or individualistic) consider internal factors