Sociological Perspective

Sociological Perspective A view that looks at behavior of groups NOT individuals Seeing the general in the particular Activity: Map to the Gym from room 202 ?What is your perspective or point of view?

Social Structure The patterned interaction of people in social relationships Activity: High school schedule Write down what you did starting from the time you woke up yesterday to the time you went to bed

High School Schedule Activity On the white board list the following: 1. What time you woke up 2. What time you got to school 3. What you did at 4:00 4. What time and where you ate dinner 5. What you did after 9:00 6. What time you went to bed ?What patterns do we see?

Sociological Imagination The ability to see the link between society and self Activity: Name an object. What meaning does this object have personally and what meaning does it have to society?

Sociological Imagination Private and the Public Sociological imagination seeks to relate personal troubles to those wider public issues involving changing social structures. Name whether the following are private or public issues…

Private or Public? Coughing Blowing one’s nose Bathing Sleeping Breast-feeding Showing Affection

Private and Public Group Activity Name a Social Problem Answer the following: For whom is it a problem? Who says it is a problem? Why is it a social problem? When does a private concern become a social problem? Are there solutions to this problem?

Recap…Sociological Imagination Allows us to understand the individual’s relationship with society Our view of the world changes once we begin to explore the ways in which our lives are influenced by social forces that surround us all Significant events in a person’s life often leads to changes in the way that person sees the world.

Sociological Imagination Think of a personal experience that made you see the world differently. Explain using the concept of sociological imagination.

Skill Builder Worksheet: An Invitation to Sociology Read the article and answer the 6 questions C A D B

The Theoretical Perspectives 1. The Structural/Functional Perspective 2. The Conflict Perspective 3. Symbolic/Interactionist Perspective

Theoretical Perspectives A set of assumptions accepted as true – in this case, about the workings of society. A theoretical perspective is viewed as true by its supporters and it helps to organize their research. Sociology has 3 theoretical perspectives: functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interactionism. Each of these perspectives provides a different slant on human social behaviour.

Exs: Theoretical Perspective Competing scientific theories at the same time Images such as:

1. Functionalism Society is viewed as an integrated whole (family, economy, religion all work together and may disrupt each other) Shared values, norms, attitudes and beliefs (consensus theory) Change is generally viewed as disruptive and gradual Macro approach

EX: A major change in the economy may change the family (IND REV) Families farmed (had large numbers) until industrialization (numbers not needed anymore…family #’s dropped)

2. Conflict Theory Views society as a struggle for resources and power (competition) It looks at social class, race, and gender struggles Change is inevitable, often beneficial and can be violent Conflict is universal Macro approach

Ex: The women’s movement changing balance of power between men and women. (jobs, remain single, choose to have less children, marry later…) According to conflict perspective, change is a result of increasing power among women

3. Symbolic Interactionism Studies society through interactions within individual and small groups instead of “society” Interaction between individuals is negotiated through shared symbols, gestures and nonverbal communications (must be learned and can be interpreted differently) ex: flag meaning Must learn symbol and base our behavior on them Asks the questions: “How do individuals experience one another?” “How do people construct a sense of self and the society as a whole?” Microsociology

Functionalism, Conflict Perspective, or Symbolic Interactionism? Societies are in relative balance Power is one of the most important elements in social life Religion helps hold a society together morally Symbols are crucial to social life Social life should be understood from the viewpoint of the individuals involved Conflict is harmful and disruptive to society

Sociological Perspectives Activity Pick a topic. Apply the following theoretical perspectives to your topic. The Structural/Functional Perspective The Conflict Perspective Symbolic/Interactionist Perspective

Sociologists Doing Research Steps for Doing Research read article and answer the questions write down the steps in the Scientific Method Emile Durkheim read pages 56 and 57 in the green text book answer questions 1 and 3. Skill Builder Worksheet Chapter 2

Émile Durkheim (French) (1858-1917) • Founded sociology as an academic discipline • Famous for his study on suicides (1897) • Use of statistics in sociology • Structural/functionalist theorist

Unit 1 Sociology Test Sociology Perspective Sociological perspective Social Structure Sociological Imagination Macro Sociology Micro Sociology Theoretical Perspectives Functionalism Conflict Perspective Symbolic Interactionism Scientific Method Emile Durkheim