Some findings of Sociology support commonsense understandings of social life, while others contradict them. Can you tell the difference? 1. True/False More U.S. students are killed in school shootings now then ten or fifteen years ago. 2. True/False The earnings of U.S. women have just about caught up with those of U.S. men. 3. True/False When faced with natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes, people panic and social organizations disintegrates. 4. True/False Most rapists are mentally ill. 5. True/False Most people on welfare are lazy and looking for a handout. They could work if they wanted to. 6. True/False Compared with women, men make more eye contact in face-to-face conversations.

7. True/False Couples who live together before marriage are usually more satisfied with their marriages than couples who do not live together before marriage. 8. True/False Most husbands of working wives who get laid off from work take up the slack and increase the amount of housework they do. 9. True/False Because bicyclists are more likely to wear helmets now than just a few years ago, their rate of head injuries has dropped. 10. True/False Students in Japan are under such intense pressure to do well in school that their suicide rate is about double that of the U.S. students

IMAGINE YOURSELF AT THE MALL ON A FRIDAY NIGHT…SITTING ON A BENCH…DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SEE AROUND YOU

What is sociology???

n. 1. The study of human social behavior, especially the study of the origins, organization, institutions, and development of human society. 2. Analysis of a social institution or societal segment as a self- contained entity or in relation to society as a whole. What does that mean?? The study of why societies act and behave in certain ways -race-practices-social establishments -religion-relationships-schools -stereotypes-economics-beliefs -behaviors-ethnicity-customs -culture-problems-rites of passage

Sociology Sociology = the science that studies human society and social behavior Focuses on: - social interaction - social phenomenon

Psychology examines more of the workings of the human mind, why persons think and behave as they do. Sociology tends to examine groups of persons (societies), communities, and nations. They might examine and discuss such things as folkways, mores, changes in populations, effects of events on entire communities, etc... So one way to look at it is that psychology is more about the individual or small group, and sociology is more about communities and larger groups of persons.

What is necessary in order to study human behavior?

Sociological Perspective - - allows human behavior to be studied in a scientific way - allows us to view the world and ourselves more objectively Sociological Imagination - ability to see the connection between the world and our personal lives

Sociology as a Social Science Social science = related disciplines that study human social behavior anthropology psychology sociology economics political science history Comparative study of past and present Behavior of thinking organisms Study of past events Choices made to satisfy needs Organization and operation of gov’t Study past to explain current behaviors and attitudes

Working in pairs you will examine the societal issue of the Great Depression from the perspectives of each of the social sciences. Anthropology Economics Psychology Political Science History Sociologist What would each of these be specifically concerned about?