1. The Sociological Imagination
What is something that most Americans do that you think is strange?
Making the Familiar Strange
The Sociological Imagination
Chapter 1-Introduction to Sociology

2. “A Fish Knows Nothing of the Water”
Sociology:
-makes the familiar strange
-challenges conventional wisdom and questions what most people take for granted
-Applies a cross cultural and historical analysis to understand the social world

3. Discussion Outline I. Thinking like a Sociologist
Defining sociology and the sociological imagination
II. The Sociology of Sociology
III. Modern Sociological Theory

4. What is the concept of free-will?
Do human beings possess complete free will?

5. -Do humans have complete free will?
Ken #1 vs. Ken #2
-What got them to where they are now according to the free will doctrine?
-Are there other factors that could be taken into account to explain the differences in each man’s life?
-Do humans have complete free will?
A long standing philosophical debate at the center of many political and social discussions.

6. I. Thinking like a Sociologist…
Sociology is…
The systematic study of human society and the relationship between individuals and society
Rigorous and systematic=Powerful scientific tool
What do sociologists study?
Why do some people refer to sociology as a “soft science”?

7. Thinking Like a Sociologist…
The Sociological Imagination
-C. Wright Mills
The sociological imagination helps us to understand how the social structure affects our lives and the lives of others
Private troubles  Public issues

8. Using the Sociological Imagination Agency vs. Structure
What determines an individuals behavior/ lot
in life?
Agency-making individual choices based on free-will
Structure-cultural and structural influences operate in the decision making process
Society is organized
Society is patterned & predictable
**How does accounting for structural and cultural
influences confront the American value system?

9. Thinking like a Sociologist…
Social Institutions
Established and enduring
Building blocks of society

10. Levels of Analysis
Macro sociology - Looks at the "big picture" of society and suggests how society is affected at the institutional level.
Micro sociology - Concerned with the social psychological dynamics of individuals interacting in small groups/local level

11. Review: Macro or Micro?
“ I want to study gender dynamics and interactions on my coed indoor soccer team”
“I’m going to write about differential pay for men and women in the world of sports”
“I’m interested in researching what majors men and women are most likely to choose in college and how that impacts the gender wage gap”
“I’m going to interview my classmates about why they want to major in certain fields”

12. Group Exercise/Discussion: Think like Sociologists…
How is each one of these private troubles related to public issues?
An 11 year old girl has low self esteem issues and may have an eating disorder
Your friend’s 19 year old brother is struggling with drug addiction and is in jail for 20 years after a 4th drug conviction
Your friend, who does not have health insurance, was airlifted to a hospital after a car accident, and now owes nearly $175,ooo dollars in medical bills.
A child living in South Central Los Angeles graduates high school to find that his/her math and English skills are not suitable for college?
A 12 year old boy is obese and is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes

13. II. The Sociology of Sociology-Historical Development
18th & 19th century
Political Revolution
-Chaos and disorder
Industrial Revolution
-Urbanization
The Enlightenment
-Rejection of traditional beliefs and authority

14. The Creation of Sociology: Key Figures
Auguste Comte
Positivism/ Empirical study of society
Harriet Martineau
Social methods and feminism

15. The Creation of Sociology: Key Figures
The Big Three…
Karl Marx
Emile Durkheim
Max Weber
Other voices were silenced, excluded and marginalized

16. Karl Marx ( )
Society fundamentally divided between two classes that clash in pursuit of their own interests
Class Conflict
**What did Marx see as the solution
to the evils of capitalism?

17. Conflict Theory-Karl Marx
Industrialization leads to two classes: the bourgeoisie, or the owners of the means of production; and the proletariat, or the workers who earn wages.
The bourgeoisie use their power to control the institutions of society to their advantage.
What other institutions might those at the very top of the class structure be able to control? How?
I.e.: The political landscape and massive donations

18. Émile Durkheim (1858 – 1916) Division of labor Social Solidarity
…What maintains social order?
Division of labor
Social Solidarity
Cohesion and harmony
Suicide (1897/1951)

19. Verstehen: study of human subjectivity
Max Weber (1864 – 1920)
Verstehen: study of human subjectivity
“Understanding”; “Insight”
Importance of a “value-free sociology”?

20. Weber Max Weber and Life Chances
The practical opportunity to achieve desired material conditions and personal experiences.
Parents level of income/occupation/place of residence
Child’s life chances/opportunities to succeed
I.e.: Educational opportunity/inequality

21. III. Modern Sociological Theory
What is a theory?

22. Social Theory
A theory is a set of statements that explains why a particular phenomena happens
Theories can be viewed as tools or lenses through which individuals view society.
Theories differ

23. The Primary Theoretical Perspectives
The Big Four: Functionalism, Conflict, Symbolic Interactionism, Feminist
Ask and answer the “big” questions in sociology
Provide a lens through which to view and understand aspects of the social world

24. Functionalism
Society is a complex social system of interdependent parts that work together to ensure a society’s survival.
Based off work of Durkheim
If something exists, it has a function for society in providing cohesion and stability
Crime?
Manifest Functions
Latent Functions
Wedding Rings? Schools?

25. Conflict Theory
Conflict theory examines the ways in which groups disagree, struggle over power, and compete for scarce resources.
Based off of work of Karl Marx
Conflict, tension, and competition between groups results from widespread economic inequality
What groups? What resources?
I.e.: Social classes, Families, Gangs, etc.

26. Are you a feminist? Can men be feminists?
Are men and women equal in American society?
How are the institutions of American society patriarchal/male dominated? What institutions?

27. Feminist Theories
Feminist theories explain the social, economic, and political position of women and men in society. Focus is on gender issues.
Maintain that (primarily) women suffer injustice because of their sex/gender.
Seeks to free women (and men) from traditionally oppressive expectations and constraints.

28. Symbolic Interactionism
Symbolic interactionism looks at individuals’ everyday behavior and communication through symbols and shared meanings.
It is a micro-level perspective.
Interactionists see society as socially constructed through everyday interaction

29. Applying Theory (Func, Fem, Con, or Sym)
Identify which theory each of the following statements most likely corresponds to:
1. Men and women take on different roles and behaviors in society because it makes sense for most families
2. The importance of education is defined by individuals and their families
3. The education system benefits those who live in affluent/wealthy areas
4. Who you consider a family member is up to you
5. The criminal justice system is necessary to the safety of American citizens
6. The criminal justice system treats people differently based upon the social class that they come from
7. Religious expression in many forms helps people to answer difficult questions about their existence
8. Men are most often leaders of religious institutions
9. Ethnocentrism, the belief in cultural superiority, actually binds people of a society together in social solidarity

30. The Primary Sociological Theories
Functionalism
How does structure help society work? How does structure help maintain stability and order?
Conflict
How are resources distributed? Who is benefitting from structure of society? Who is losing?
Symbolic Interactionism
How do we construct meaning through symbols? How are people constructing reality and creating reality? How are people interpreting and experiencing their environments
Feminist
How does life reflect gender? How is power being distributed on the basis of gender/sex?