1. SOCIOLOGY Richard T. Schaefer1
Understanding Sociology

2. 1. Understanding Sociology
What is Sociology?
What Is Sociological Theory?
The Development of Sociology
Major Theoretical Perspectives
Developing a Sociological Imagination
Sociology in the Global Economy
Applied and Clinical Sociology

3. What is Sociology? Sociology
Systematic study of social behavior in human groups
Influence of social relationships
How those relationships influence behavior
How societies develop and change

4. What is Sociology? The Sociological Imagination
Awareness of relationship between an individual and the wider society (C. Wright Mills)
Ability to view one’s society as an outsider, rather than from perspective of our limited experiences and cultural biases
Goes beyond personal experiences and observations

5. What is Sociology? Sociology and the Social Sciences
Science: body of knowledge obtained by methods 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

6. What is Sociology? Sociology and the Social Sciences
Emphasizes the influence that society has on people's attitudes and behavior and the ways in which people interact and thereby shape society
Sociology and Common Sense
Sociologists test and analyze information they use

7. What is Sociology? Figure 1-1. Race of Murder Victims
Sources: Department of Justice 2005:table 2.3; Death Penalty Information Center 2003

8. What Is Sociological Theory?
Set of statements that seeks to explain problems, actions, or behavior
Effective theories have explanatory and predictive power
Theories never a final statement about human behavior

9. The Development of Sociology
Early Thinkers
Auguste Comte (1798–1857)
Coined sociology to apply to the science of human behavior
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

10. The Development of Sociology
Early Thinkers
Herbert Spencer (1820–1903)
Studied “evolutionary” change in society
Émile Durkheim (1858–1917)
Developed fundamental thesis to help explain all society
Anomie: loss of direction felt in a society when social control of individual behavior has become ineffective

11. The Development of Sociology
Max Weber (1864–1920)
To fully comprehend behavior, we must learn subjective meanings people attach to their actions, called Vertehen
Ideal Type: construct or model for evaluating specific cases

12. The Development of Sociology
Karl Marx ( )
Society fundamentally divided between two classes that clash in pursuit of their own interests
Worked with Engles
Emphasized group identification and associations that influence one’s place in society
Argued working class should overthrow the existing class system

13. The Development of Sociology
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

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

15. Major Theoretical Perspectives
Functionalist Perspective
Emphasizes ways parts of a society are structured to maintain its stability
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 stability

16. Major Theoretical Perspectives
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

17. Major Theoretical Perspectives
Conflict Perspective
An African American View: W. E. B. DuBois
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

18. Major Theoretical Perspectives
Feminist Perspective
Views inequity in gender as central to all behavior and organization
Sometimes allied with conflict theory
Also focuses on micro-level relationships, just as interactionists do

19. Major Theoretical Perspectives
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

20. Major Theoretical Perspectives
Interactionist Perspective
George Herbert Mead (1863—1931)
Erving Goffman (1922—1982)
Dramaturgical approach: people seen as theatrical performers

21. Major Theoretical Perspectives
Table 1-1 Comparing Major Theoretical Perspectives
Table to be continued on next slide

22. Major Theoretical Perspectives
Table 1-1 Comparing Major Theoretical Perspectives

23. Major Theoretical Perspectives
The Sociological Approach
Gain broadest understanding of society by drawing on all major perspectives, noting where they overlap or where they diverge
Each perspective offers unique insights into the same issue
A researcher’s work always will be guided by his or her theoretical viewpoint

24. Developing a Sociological Imagination
Theory in Practice
Research in Action
Thinking Globally
Globalization: worldwide integration of government policies, cultures, social movements, and financial markets through trade and the exchange of ideas

25. Developing a Sociological Imagination
The Significance of Social Inequality
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

26. Sociology in the Global Economy
The Global Response to the 2004 Tsunami
International relief effort obvious sign of globalization
Most devastation hit relatively poor areas of the world

27. 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