The Social Sciences: Anthropology, Psychology & Sociology Let’s Get Started

pk0 pk0 Bing Bang Theory Sheldon on the Social Sciences (45 seconds)

Let’s see what you know…

True of False? 1. Violent crime is on the rise in Canada.

True or False? 1. Violent crime is on the rise in Canada. FALSE – rates of violent crime have been fairly stable back from when the death penalty was used until now

True or False? 2. In terms of close personal relationships, opposites attract and typically form long lasting relationships.

True or False? 2. In terms of close personal relationships, opposites attract and typically form long lasting relationships. FALSE – typically relationships based on homogamy (similarities) are more likely to last There may be more initial attraction due to the differences but this often fades away

True or False? 3. Primitive societies have very little technology.

True or False? 3. Primitive societies have very little technology. FALSE – technology also includes the hoe, the shovel, the spear, dishes, etc., so primitive cultures are rich in technology; we have borrowed and built upon what they have achieved

True or False? 4. Poverty is decreasing in Canada.

True or False? 4. Poverty is decreasing in Canada. FALSE – much as we would like this to be so, it is not; the rich are getting richer (concentrating their wealth) while the poor become poorer

True or False? 5. Capital punishment deters murderers.

True or False? 5. Capital punishment deters murderers. FALSE – typically when someone commits a capital offense, they are less likely to be considering the punishment than they are to be considering the act that they are about to commit

True or False? 6. Children on divorced parents tend to have more problems at school.

True or False? 6. Children on divorced parents tend to have more problems at school. FALSE – children with divorced parents are very common in our schools and have no more problems related to this than any other children However, the number children with problems may be on the increase, OR perhaps we may be better able at identifying these problems!

True or False? 7. Homeless people want to be on the streets.

True or False? 7. Homeless people want to be on the streets. FALSE – there may be some who feel this way, but many homeless individuals don’t have another viable option; they do not have adequate money (working poor, unemployed), they are suffering from untreated mental illness or drug/alcohol abuse, they are looking for a better place than what they left (abuse, mistreatment)

True or False? 8. Some people dream and some do not.

True or False? 8. Some people dream and some do not. FALSE – everyone dream but not everyone remembers their dreams!

True or False? 9. Young people from working-class backgrounds are more likely to commit crimes than those from middle-class backgrounds.

True or False? 9. Young people from working-class backgrounds are more likely to commit crimes than those from middle-class backgrounds. FALSE – crimes are committed by both groups but the types of crimes vary

True or False? 10. Men have always been dominant over women.

True or False? 10. Men have always been dominant over women. FALSE – Native societies have typically been matriarchal, for example

These are popular misconceptions! Myths! The field of social science explores human behaviour by looking at a multitude of factors that influence it, seeking to understand it, and then dispel these myths.

Continuing on …

Why do people have different reactions to the same situation? Consider the various behaviours of people when they see …

A burning building

A car accident

Someone who obviously needs help

What factors do you think influence a person’s decision to help someone in need?

The answers to these questions help to explain why people behave the way that they do … and that is…

Social Science

Social science is the study of people, their actions and customs in relationships to others

2Gg 2Gg What subject areas are involved in the social sciences?

Social science includes the disciples of: – Anthropology – Psychology – Sociology – Economics – Geography – History – Political science – Religion – And others

Combining information from all of these areas of studies enables us to have a better understanding of why people may behave as they do

The Kitty Genovese Story

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