© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-1 © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. SOCIOLOGY: A Brief Introduction Richard T. Schaefer Seventh Edition

chapter © 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. CHAPTER OUTLINE What is Sociology? What is Sociological Theory The Development of Sociology Major Theoretical Perspectives Applied and Clinical Sociology Developing a Sociological Imagination Careers in Sociology 1 UNDERSTANDING SOCIOLOGY

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-3 –How did sociology develop? –In what ways does it differ from other social sciences? –Does it relate to other social sciences? –Who are the pioneers? –What are the three theoretical perspectives sociologists use? █ Sociology A Look Ahead

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-4 █ Sociology: Scientific study of social behavior in human groups What is Sociology? █ Focus on: –How relationships influence people’s attitudes and behavior –How societies develop and change

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-5 the ability to view one’s society as an outsider would, without one’s limited experiences and cultural biases An awareness of the relationship between an individual and the wider society, and… The Sociological Imagination █ C. Wright Mills describes sociological imagination as

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-6 The Sociological Imagination █ Looks beyond a limited understanding of human behavior –View the world and its people in a new way –See through a broader lens

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-7 Sociology and Science █ Science: body of knowledge obtained by methods based on systematic observation –Natural Science: study of physical features of nature and the ways they interact and change –Social Science: study of social features of humans and the ways they interact and change

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-8 Sociology and Science █ Study the influence that society has on people’s attitudes and behavior █ Seek to understand ways in which people interact and shape society █ Examine social relationships with others scientifically

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1-9 Money is the root of all evil Love knows no reason Sociology and Common Sense █ Sociologists do not accept something as fact because “everyone knows it” –Each piece of information must be tested, recorded, and analyzed Disasters create panic

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Figure 1-1: Poverty Rates in Hurricane Katrina Disaster Area Source : Bureau of the Census 2005g.

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved What Is Sociological Theory? █ Theory –Set of statements that seeks to explain problems, actions, or behavior –Effective theories have explanatory and predictive power –Theories are never a final statement about human behavior

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved █ Philosophers/religious authorities of ancient and medieval societies made observations of human behavior The Development of Sociology –Did not test or verify █ European theorists made pioneering contributions to development of science of human behavior

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Early Thinkers –Believed systematic investigation of behavior was needed to improve society –Coined term “sociology” █ Auguste Comte 1798–1857 █ Harriet Martineau (1802–1876) –Studied social behavior in Britain and U.S. –Emphasized impact economy, law, trade, health, and population could have on social problems

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved █ Herbert Spencer 1820–1903 Early Thinkers –Studied “evolutionary” change in society █ Émile Durkheim (1858–1917) –Developed fundamental thesis to help explain all forms of society Behavior must be understood within larger social context Anomie: loss of direction felt in a society when social control of individual behavior becomes ineffective

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved █ Max Weber (1864–1920) Early Thinkers –To fully comprehend behavior, we must learn the subjective meaning people attach to their actions Employ verstehen (understanding; insight) Ideal Type: construct for evaluating specific cases

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved █ Karl Marx ( ) Early Thinkers –Society fundamentally divided between two classes that clashed in pursuit of interests –Worked with Engels –Emphasized group identification and associations that influence one’s place in society Working class should overthrow existing class system

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved █ Charles Horton Cooley 1864–1929 Early Thinkers –Used sociological perspective to look at face-to-face groups such as families, gangs, and friendship networks █ Jane Addams 1860–1935 –Combined intellectual inquiry, social service work, and political activism

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved █ Robert Merton 1910–2003 Early Thinkers –Combined theory and research –Developed frequently cited explanation of deviant behavior Macrosociology: concentrates on large-scale phenomena or entire civilization Microsociology: stresses study of small groups, often through experimental means

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Aging and the Life CourseMarxist Sociology Alcohol, Drugs, and TobaccoMathematical Sociology Animals and SocietyMedical Sociology Asia and Asian AmericaMental Health Children and YouthMethodology Collective Behavior and Social MovementsOrganizations, Occupations, and Work Communications and Information TechnologiesPeace, War, and Social Conflict Community and Urban SociologyPolitical Economy of the World-System Comparative and Historical SociologyPolitical Sociology Crime, Law, and DeviancePopulation CultureRace, Gender, and Class Economic SociologyRacial and Ethnic Minorities EducationRationality and Society EmotionsReligion Environment and TechnologyScience, Knowledge, and Technology Ethnomethodology and Conversational AnalysisSex and Gender FamilySexualities History of SociologySocial Psychology International MovementsSociological Practice Labor and Labor MovementsTeaching and Learning Latino/a SociologyTheory Law Table 1-1: Sections of the American Sociological Association Source : American Sociological Association 2005a.

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved █ Three general views of society Major Theoretical Perspectives –Functionalist perspective –Conflict perspective –Interactionist perspective

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved █ Emphasizes that parts of a society are structured to maintain its stability Functionalist Perspective –Talcott Parsons (1902 – 1972) key contributor –Viewed society as vast network of connected parts, each of which helps to maintain the system as a whole

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved –Manifest Functions: institutions are open, stated, conscious functions that involve intended, recognized, consequences of an aspect of society Functionalist Perspective –Latent Functions: unconscious or unintended functions that may reflect hidden purposes of an institution –Dysfunctions: element or process of a society that may actually disrupt the social system or disrupt its stability

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved █ Assumes social behavior is best understood in terms of conflict or tension between competing groups Conflict Perspective █ The Marxist View: conflict is part of everyday life in all societies –Conflict theorists are more “radical” and “activist” than functionalists

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved █ An African American View: W. E. B. DuBois Conflict Perspective –Conducted research to assist the struggle for a racially egalitarian society –Believed knowledge essential to combating prejudice and achieving tolerance and justice –In-depth studies of urban life

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved █ Views inequity in gender as central to all behavior and organization Feminist Perspective █ Sometimes allied with conflict theory █ Also focuses on micro-level relationships, just as interactionists do

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved █ Generalizes about everyday forms of social interaction to understand society as a whole Interactionist Perspective █ Sociological framework for viewing humans as living in a world of meaningful objects Nonverbal communication: can include many gestures, facial expressions, and postures

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved █ George Herbert Mead (1863—1931) Interactionist Perspective █ Erving Goffman (1922—1982) –Dramaturgical approach: people seen as theatrical performers

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Figure 1-3: Enforcing symbols: The NBA Dress Code Source : Crowe and Herman 2005:a23.

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved █ Gain broadest understanding of society by drawing on all major perspectives, noting where they overlap or where they diverge The Sociological Approach █ Each perspective offers unique insights into the same issue █ A researcher’s work always will be guided by his or her theoretical viewpoint

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Table 1-2: Sociological Major Perspectives

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved █ Applied Sociology: use of the discipline of sociology with the intent of yielding practical applications for human behavior and organizations Applied and Clinical Sociology █ Clinical Sociology: facilitating change by altering social relationships or restructuring social institutions

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved █ Theory in Practice Developing a Sociological Imagination █ Research in Action █ Thinking Globally –Globalization: worldwide integration of government policies, cultures, social movements, and financial markets through trade and the exchange of ideas

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved █ The Significance of Social Inequality Developing a Sociological Imagination –Social inequality: condition in which members of society have differing amounts of wealth, prestige, or power █ Speaking Across Race, Gender, and Religious Boundaries █ Social Policy Throughout the World

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved █ Number of students graduating with a degree in sociology has risen steadily Careers in Sociology –Provides strong liberal arts background for entry-level positions Business Social services Foundations Community organizations Law enforcement Government

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Figure 1-4: Sociology Degrees Conferred in the United States by Gender Source : American Sociological Association 2005c.

© 2008 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Figure 1-5: Occupational Fields of Sociology BA/MA Graduates Source : Schaefer 1998b.