1. Sociology Chapter 1 The Sociological Point of View
Section 1: Examining Social Life Section 2: Sociology: Then and Now

2. What is
Sociology?
the social science that studies human society & social behavior

3. Social Sciences?
 Study the "humanistic" aspects of the world, while placing an emphasis on experimentation and using the scientific method
 Subjects: anthropology, linguistics and education, political science, archaeology, criminology, economics, history, communication studies, international relations, human geography and psychology
 Other fields, such as law, cross-cultural studies, environmental studies & social work

4. Comparing Sociology to
Other Social Sciences
 SIMILARITIES:
Sociology examines the relations between society & culture -
 the individual economics, politics,
& past events, which are all the focus of one or more of the social sciences
 DIFFERENCES:
Sociology is mainly interested in social interaction
 tend to focus on the group rather than on the individual

5. Sociologists study all aspects and levels of society.
A society is a group of people whose
members
interact,
reside in a definable area
share a culture

6. Help you better understand yourself
& the world around
you
Look at social life in a scientific way rather than rely on “common-sense” explanations

7. Social Interaction  how people relate to & influence each other
 Often looked at through a group perspective, rather than the individual
 While observing these groups, sociologists notice social phenomena - facts & events that involve human society

8. Sociological Perspective
Behavior is learned from others
Behavior is influenced by social factors
Balance is needed between personal desires and the demands of immediate environment

9. helps us understand the hidden meanings behind human actions
Helps us assess the truth of common sense
Helps us assess both opportunities and constraints in our lives
Helps us live in a diverse world
Empowers us to be active participants in our society

10. Sociological Imagination (C. Wright Mills, 1959)
 The ability to see the connection between the larger world and your personal life
 Provides insight into how your social environment shapes you and vice versa
 Transforms personal
problems into public issues

11. Understanding Sociological Imagination
 Consider the following issues in terms of the
sociological imagination:
 Drinking & driving
 Speed limits
 No smoking laws
 Now, think of 1-2 examples of your own

12. The Origins of Sociology
 Rapid social & political changes that took place in Europe due to Industrial Revolution
 Rapid growth of urban populations
produced a multitude of social problems
 Over time, it became more difficult to
ignore the effect of society on the individual
 Sweeping political, economic & social changes caused some scholars to question the traditional explanations of life & they attempted to prove their beliefs using a variety of methods 14

13. Comte Spencer Marx Durkheim Weber Early Sociologists
founder
Social Darwinism
Fathers of Sociology

14. Theory & Perspective
Theory: a statement that attempts to explain how and why facts are related
Explains social behavior in the real world
Theoretical Perspective: a set of fundamental assumptions that guide thinking (a viewpoint)

15. Auguste Comte (France, 1798-1857)
(Functionalist Perspective)
Founder of Sociology as a distinct subject (coined the term sociology)
Theories focused on the social order & social change due to the French Revolution
Social Statics – how a society is held together
Social Dynamics – how a society changes

16. (influenced development of Conflict Theory)
Karl Marx
(Germany, )
(influenced development of Conflict Theory)
Focused on the role of social class in
inequality and social conflict
Theory - Society is separated into two
classes
fortunate, fortunate,
privileges, privileges,
Capitalists (
Workers (
$$$)
Workers will revolt, overthrow & implement a classless society in which all the parts worked for the whole

17. Theory - Society is like the human body
Herbert Spencer
(England, )
(Social Darwinism; Functionalist Perspective)
Strongly influenced by Charles Darwin
Theory - Society is like the human body
Society is a set of interdependent parts that work together to maintain the system over time
Social change & unrest are natural occurrences allowing society to evolve towards stability & perfection
Leave societal ills alone, allowing the “fittest
societies to survive”

18. Emile Durkheim (France, 1858-1917)
(Functionalist Perspective)
Focused on the function of religion in
maintaining order
Theory -shared beliefs & values are the
glue holding a society together
Thought sociologists should only study what can be directly observed (naked eye)
Conducted the first true sociological study - Suicide, 1897

19. Max Weber
(Germany, )
(Interactionist Perspective)
Focused on separate groups within society
Theory - sociologists should attempt to uncover feelings & thoughts of individuals
Verstehen – understand the meanings individuals attach to their actions; “Walk a mile in my shoes”
Led sociologists to focus more on the effect society has on the individual

20. Three Current Sociological Perspectives
Functionalist
Conflict Theory
Interactionist

21. Functionalist Perspective
The Basics
Focused on society in general
Views society as a complex system whose parts function to promote stability
Key Elements:
Most people agree on what is best for society &
work together
Interests include the function family, education,
etc., serve in society

22. Conflict Perspective  The Basics:  Key Elements:
 Focused on groups within society and on the forces that promote competition and change
 View power as the core of all social relationships
 Interested in all types of competition – violent, as well as non-violent
 Social change is inevitable
 Key Elements:
 Competition over scarce resources is the basis of social conflict
 Wealth and power are limited
 Dominant group vs. disadvantaged group relations

23. Interactionist Perspective
The Basics
Focused on how individuals interact with one
another
Views society as the product of everyday
interactions of individuals
Key Elements
Interested in the role symbols play in daily lives
Interested in topics such as child development,
relationships within groups and mate selection

24. Critical Evaluation of Perspectives
Functionalist Perspective
 Too broad, ignores inequalities of social class, race
& gender, focuses on stability at the expense of
conflict
Conflict Theory Perspective
 Too broad, ignores how shared values and mutual interdependence unify society, pursues political goals
Interactionist Perspective
 Too narrow, ignores larger social structures, effects of culture, factors such as class, gender & race

25. Diversity in Early Sociology
Feminism & the Gender-Conflict Approach
 Focuses on inequality & conflict between women
and men
 Closely linked to feminism: the advocacy of social equality for women and men
 Who’s Who:
Harriet Martineau: Theory and Practice of Society in America, 1837; translated Comte’s, Positive Philosophy
 Jane Addams: Hull House, Chicago’s West Side, 1889

26. Harriet Martineau (England, 1802-1876)
(Feminist Perspective)
 social theorist, often cited as the first female sociologist
Prolific writer and social theorist,
Often cited as the first female
sociologist
Theory and Practice of Society in America, 1837; also translated Comte’s, Positive Philosophy

27. Jane Addams
(USA, )
(feminist perspective)
Reformer, co-founder of on the the nation’s first settlement houses - Hull House, Chicago’s West Side, 1889.
1st American woman to receive the
Nobel Peace Prize, 1931.
A page from Jane Addams FBI Case File in 1920.

28. Sociology
Chapter 1
The Sociological Point of View