Chapter 1: Understanding Sociology

Understanding Sociology What is Sociology? What Is Sociological Theory? The Development of Sociology Major Theoretical Perspectives Applied and Clinical Sociology Developing a Sociological Imagination Sociology in the Global Economy: The Global Response to the 2004 Tsunami

What is Sociology? Sociology: systematic study of social behavior in human groups Study influence of social relationships Determine how those relationships influence behavior Understand how societies develop and change

The Sociological Imagination Sociological imagination: awareness of relationship between an individual and the wider society, today and in the past (C. Wright Mills) Ability to view one’s society as an outsider, rather than from perspective of one’s limited experiences and cultural biases Goes beyond personal experiences and observations

Sociology and the Social Sciences Science: body of knowledge obtained by methods that are based on systematic observation Natural Science: study of physical features of nature and ways they interact and change Social Science: study of social features of humans and ways they interact and change Sociologists study influence society has on people's attitudes and behavior and ways people interact and shape society

Sociology and the Social Sciences Investigate vast range of relationships Aging Family Human ecology Religion Sociologists test and analyze information they use Rely on scientific studies to describe and understand a social environment

Table 1-1: Sections of the American Sociological Association Source: American Sociological Association 2008.

Figure 1-1: Poverty Rates in Hurricane Katrina Disaster Area Note: Poverty data for 2000, reported in 2001. Disaster area defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as of September 14, 2005. Source: Bureau of the Census 2005g.

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

Early Thinkers Auguste Comte (1798–1857) Harriet Martineau (1802–1876) Coined term sociology to apply to the science of human behavior Harriet Martineau (1802–1876) Studied social behavior in Britain and U.S. Emphasized impact that economy, law, trade, health, and population can have on social problems

Early Thinkers Herbert Spencer (1820–1903) Studied “evolutionary” change in society Suggested societies are bound to change eventually, so one need not be highly critical of social arrangements or work actively for social change

Émile Durkheim (1858–1917) Developed fundamental thesis to help explain all society Behavior must be understood within a larger social context Interested in the growing division of labor in industrial societies Anomie: loss of direction felt in a society when social control of individual behavior has become ineffective

Max Weber (1864–1920) To fully comprehend behavior, we must learn subjective meanings people attach to their actions, called verstehen Ideal type: construct or model for evaluating specific cases

Karl Marx (1818-1883) Society fundamentally divided between two classes that clash in pursuit of their own interests Worked with Friedrich Engels Emphasized group identification and associations that influence one’s place in society Argued working class should overthrow the existing class system

Figure 1-2: Early Social Thinkers Insert Figure 1-3

Modern Developments Charles Horton Cooley (1864—1929) Increased understanding of groups of relatively small size Jane Addams (1860–1935) Combined intellectual inquiry, social service work, and political activism

Modern Developments Robert Merton (1940–2003) Created theory of deviant behavior Emphasized sociology should use “macro-level” and “micro-level” approaches Microsociology: stresses study of small groups, often through experimental means Macrosociology: concentrates on large-scale phenomena or entire civilizations

Functionalist Perspective Focuses on ways parts of a society are structured to maintain stability Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) key figure in development Influenced by Durkheim and Weber

Functionalist Perspective Manifest Functions: institutions are open, stated, conscious functions that involve intended, recognized consequences of an aspect of society 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 it’s stability

Conflict Perspective Assumes social behavior is best understood in terms of conflict or tension between competing groups The Marxist View Conflict not merely a class phenomenon, but part of everyday life in all societies

Conflict Perspective An African American View: W. E. B. Du Bois Conducted research to assist the struggle for a racially egalitarian society Believed knowledge essential to combating prejudice and achieving tolerance and justice Performed in-depth studies of urban life

Conflict Perspective The Feminist View Sees inequity in gender as central to all behavior and organization Focuses on one aspect of inequality Often allied with conflict perspective

Interactionist Perspective Generalizes about everyday forms of social interaction to understand society as a whole Sociological framework for viewing humans as living in a world of meaningful objects Nonverbal communication: can include many gestures, facial expressions, and postures

Interactionist Perspective George Herbert Mead (1863—1931) Widely regarded as founder of interactionist perspective Erving Goffman (1922—1982) Dramaturgical approach: people seen as theatrical performers

Figure 1-3: Enforcing Symbols: The NBA Dress Code Source: Crowe and Herman 2005:A23.

The Sociological Approach We gain broadest understanding of society by drawing on all major perspectives, noting where they overlap and where they diverge Each perspective offers unique insights into the same issue A researcher’s work always is guided by a theoretical viewpoint

Table 1-2: Major Sociological Perspectives

Applied and Clinical Sociology Applied sociology: discipline of sociology with specific intent of yielding practical applications for human behavior and organizations Clinical sociology: dedicated to altering social relationships or to restructuring social institutions Basic sociology: seeks more profound knowledge of the fundamental aspects of social phenomenon

Research in Action 1-1: Looking at Sports from Four Theoretical Perspectives Have you experienced or witnessed discrimination in sports based on gender or race? Has the representation of Blacks or women on teams been controversial on your campus? Which perspective do you think is most useful in looking at the sociology of sports?

Developing a Sociological Imagination Theory in Practice Illustrate how major sociological perspectives can help us understand today’s issues Research in Action Often improves people’s lives Thinking Globally Globalization: worldwide integration of government policies, cultures, social movements, and financial markets through trade and exchange of ideas

Sociology in the Global Economy 1-2: The Global Response to the 2004 Tsunami Have you ever lived in or traveled to a place where the very wealthy lived side by side with the desperately poor? Explain the economic relationship between the two groups. Which of the three major theoretical perspectives would be most useful in analyzing the social effects of the 2004 tsunami?

The Significance of Social Inequality Social inequality: condition in which members of society have differing amounts of wealth, prestige, or power W. E. B. Du Bois noted the greatest power in the land is not “thought or ethics, but wealth”

Speaking Across Race, Gender, and Religious Boundaries Seek to draw conclusions that speak to all people – not just the affluent and powerful Sociology continues to better understand the experiences of all people

Social Policy Throughout the World Fundamental sociological concepts can enhance critical thinking skills and help improve our understanding of public policy debates around the world Used to evaluate success of programs Sociologists expect the next 25 years to be perhaps the most exciting and critical period in the history of the discipline