Introduction to Sociology By: Mr. Alain Saulnier Digby Regional High, 2008

The Sociological Perspective Chapter 1: The Sociological Perspective

What to Expect in This Chapter... Defining the Sociological Perspective The Sociological Imagination Sociology and Common Sense Sociology and Science Sociology and the Social Sciences The Development of Sociology Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology

Defining the Sociological Perspective “Sociology is the scientific study of human society and social interactions.” What makes sociology “scientific?” Personal experience Awareness of friends Systematic study with drug use and associates’ patterns of a random of drug use sample of drug users Levels of Understanding Drug Use

Sociology and Common Sense Common sense assumptions are usually based on very limited observation. Sociology seeks to: use a broad range of carefully selected observations; and theoretically understand and explain those observations. While sociological research might confirm common sense observation, its broader base, data and theoretical rational provide a stronger basis for conclusions.

Choose research design Sociology and Science The Scientific Method Analyze Data Science is “...a body of systematically arranged knowledge that shows the operation of general laws.” As a science, sociology employs the scientific method Gather Data Choose research design Formulate hypotheses Review of literature

Sociology and the Social Sciences Cultural Anthropology Psychology Economics History Political Science Social Work

The Development of Sociology Sociology emerged as a separate discipline in the nineteenth century This was a time of great social upheaval due largely to the French and Industrial Revolutions Several early sociologists shaped the direction of the discipline

Auguste Comte (1798-1857) French Philosopher, Physician, Positivism, & Father of Sociology Worked during French Revolution & Napoleon Bonaparte rule. Responsible for coining the term “sociology” Father of Sociology Set out to develop the “science of man” that would be based on empirical (data or evidence) observation called Positivism Focused on two aspects of society: Social Statics—forces which produce order and stability Social Dynamics—forces which contribute to social change

Harriet Martineau (1802-1876) English journalist, political economist, abolitionist, writer & philosopher Authored one of the earliest analyses of culture and life in the United States entitled Theory and Practice of Society in America Translated Comte’s Positive Philosophy into English

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) English philosopher, classical liberal, political & sociological theorist Authored the first sociology text, Principles of Sociology Most well known for proposing a doctrine called “Social Darwinism” Suggested that people who could not compete were poorly adapted to the human environment and inferior This is an idea commonly called survival of the fittest

Karl Marx (1818-1883) Jewish German Philosopher, political economist, sociologist, humanist, political theorist, revolutionary Father of Communism Marx is the father of conflict theory Saw human history in a continual state of conflict between two major classes: Bourgeoisie—owners of the means of production (capitalists) Proletariat—the workers Predicted that revolution would occur producing first a socialist state, followed by a communist society (wrote: The Communist Manifesto )

Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) Jewish French Sociologist (specialist on education, crime, religion & suicide) Durkheim moved sociology fully into the realm of an empirical (data & evidence) science using research methods Most well known empirical study is called Suicide, where he looks at the social causes of suicide Generally regarded as the founder of functionalist theory

Max Weber (1864-1920) Calvinist German Political economist & Modern Sociologist (University of Berlin) Much of Weber’s work was a critique or clarification of Marx His most famous work, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism directly challenged Marx’s ideas on the role of religion in society Weber was also interested in bureaucracies and the process of rationalization in society

The Sociological Imagination C The Sociological Imagination C. Wright Mills (1916-1962) American Sociologist (USA) (Columbia University, Manhattan NY) C. Wright Mills coined the term “sociological imagination” to refer to “...the vivid awareness of the relationship between private experience and the wider society.” Wrote the controversial books titled White Collar: The American Middle Classes (1951) & The Power Elite (1956) C. Wright Mills

C. Wright Mills (1916-1962) White Collar: The American Middle Classes (1951) contends that bureaucracies have overwhelmed the individual worker, robbing him or her of all independent thought and turning him into a sort of a robot that is oppressed but cheerful. He or she gets a salary, but becomes alienated from the world because of his or her inability to affect or change it. Mills commuted to Columbia College on his motorcycle. (Photo by Yaroslava Mills).

Sociological Imagination C. Wright Mills (1959) is best remembered for his highly acclaimed work The Sociological Imagination, in which he set forth his views on how social science should be pursued. Hailed upon publication as a convincing and hard-hitting critique, The Sociological Imagination took issue with the growing schools of sociology in the United States, calling for a humanist sociology connecting the social, personal, and historical dimensions of our lives. The sociological imagination Mills calls for is a sociological vision, a way of looking at the world that can see links between the apparently private problems of the individual and important social issues. Throughout his career until his untimely death, Mills struggled with the question, "what is the nature of the social sciences."  He uniquely described the "promise" of sociology for a world of people trapped in a virtual maze of "private troubles."    Nowadays, people often feel that their private lives are a series of traps. They sense that within their everyday worlds, they cannot overcome their troubles, and in this feeling, they are often quite correct. Mills proposed that the sociological imagination enables the individual a way to liberate himself from these traps.  The sociological imagination is a quality of mind that will help individuals to use information and to develop reason in order to achieve coherent summations of what is going on in the world and what may be happening within individuals. Mind Stimulating Exercises

Patricia Marchak Canadian Sociologist & Educator (UBC, Vancouver Institute) Universities are failing to teach, are too elitist and too democratic minded. Terrorism, terror or fear is a modern technique of the powerful in controlling effectively the mass population (any doubts, just watch news programs, newspapers or movies). We are being scared into fearing A to Z. Bacterias to Bin Laden, you must be afraid in order to save yourself. However, you must purchase security. Soldiers or alarm systems, all have a cost.

Theoretical Perspectives: Functionalism Functionalism sees society as a system of highly interrelated parts that work together harmoniously The image that functionalists use to understand society is a living organism Each part of society works together for the benefit of the whole much like a living organism

Theoretical Perspectives: Conflict Theory Conflict theory is grounded in the work of Karl Marx Society is understood to be made up of conflicting interest groups who vie for power and privilege This dynamic results in continuous social change, which is the normal state of affairs Conflict theory focuses heavily on inequality and differential distribution of power and wealth

Theoretical Perspectives: The Interactionist Perspective Focuses on how individuals make sense of and interpret the world This perspective tends to focus on the “micro-order” of small groups Has given rise to several specific approaches: Symbolic Interactionism developed by George Herbert Mead Ethnomethodology developed by Harold Garfinkel Dramaturgy developed by Erving Goffman

Comparing Theoretical Perspectives Scope of Analysis Point of View Focus of Analysis Structural-Functionalism Macro Level Various parts of society are interdependent Social systems are highly stable Social life governed by consensus & cooperation Functional and dysfunctional aspects of society Conflict Theory Society accommodates between competing interest groups Society unstable and prone to change Social life conflict-laden 1. How social inequalities produce conflict 2. Who benefits from social arrangements Interactionist Micro-Level Actions have symbolic meanings Meanings can vary How people make sense of their world

Society as an Illusion http://www.csus.edu/indiv/m/monkd/optical_illusion.html The following pictures are NOT animated.

The "illusion" is that this is just a picture of coffee beans; but it is not. Can you find a man's face among the beans? Some say that if you find the man in 3 seconds or less, the right half of your brain may be more well developed than most.

And here is another type of illusion And here is another type of illusion. Count the people in the picture below. After they shift, count them again!

Can you count the black dots?

How many legs does this elephant have?

Faces or places?

Two elderly faces, or a larger scene?