What is Sociology? the scientific study of social structure (human social behavior) Sociological Perspective: a view that looks at behavior of groups, not individuals

Social Structure: the patterned interaction of people in social relationships Sociological Imagination: the ability to see the link between society and self

Origins of Sociology: Europe Auguste Comte ( ) father of sociology positivism: the belief that knowledge should be derived from scientific observation social statics: study of social stability and order social dynamics: study of social change

Harriet Martineau ( ) best known for her translation of Comte’s work contributions in research methods, political economy, and feminist theory wrote – Society in America supporter of the emancipation of women and slaves women’s lack of economic power kept them dependent

Herbert Spencer ( ) higher education was result of his own reading compared society to the human body – parts working together to promote it’s well-being and survival Social Darwinism – evolutionary social change led to progress – provided people did not interfere poor deserve to be poor – rich to be rich

Karl Marx ( ) - believed that the structure of a society is influenced by how its economy is organized - society divided into two classes: 1. bourgeoisie – capitalists 2.proletariat – workers - imbalance of power would lead to conflict -proletariat wins = build a classless society -each citizen would contribute according to 1. his ability 2. his needs

Emile Durkheim ( ) saw society as a set of interdependent parts – in terms of their functions emphasized the primary role that conflict plays in social change advocated revolution to speed up the process of change ideas led to development of the conflict perspective in sociology

Max Weber ( ) interested in separate groups within society rather than society as a whole effect of society on the individual uncover people’s feelings and thoughts Verstehen – understand the meanings individuals attach to their actions – put oneself in the place of others and try to see situations through their eyes ideal type – description comprised of the essential characteristics of a feature of society example – your school

Jane Addams ( ) opened Hull House on Chicago’s west side (1889) welfare, educational and recreational service for poor residents surveyed the poor to help her understand the people and the conditions in which they lived study covered subjects such as wage levels, sweatshops, child labor, the immigrant experience, and living conditions in poverty-stricken neighborhoods discussion on the effects of industrialization and urbanization

W.E.B. Du Bois ( ) first African American to earn a doctorate at Harvard assisted in the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) used community studies to underscore the significance of race in American society believed that sociologists should be involved in social reform as well as academic study

FUNCTIONALISM contributions of each part of a society – family, economy, government parts of society as an integrated whole manifest functions – intended and recognized consequences of an aspect of society

Functionalism (con’t) latent functions – unintended and unrecognized consequences of an aspect of society dysfunction – negative consequences of an aspect of society

CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE approach emphasizing the role of conflict, competition, and constraint within society disagreement among various groups in a society or between societies power – the ability to control the behavior of others balance of power among groups shift – change occurs

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM symbol – anything that stands for something else and has an agreed-upon meaning attached to it we learn the meaning of a symbol from the way we see others reacting to it once we learn the meanings of symbols, we base our behavior (interaction) on them we use the meaning of symbols to imagine how others will respond to our behavior

Symbolic Interactionism (con’t) dramaturgy – approach that depicts human interaction as theatrical performances – presentation through dress, gestures, tone of voice – act in a way to have one we may like notice us – presentation of self or impression management (Goffman)