1. Part One
The Study of Sociology

2. What Is Sociology?
Sociology is the scientific study of human social life, groups, and societies with emphasis on modern, industrialized Systems.

3. Developing a Sociological Perspective
What we believe to be true or “natural” is strongly influenced by historical and social forces
Thinking imaginatively and detaching from preconceived ideas about social relationships
Putting things in a wider context
Seeing daily activity as a reflection of larger social issues

4. Developing a Sociological Perspective
Developing a Global Perspective
American society is influenced everyday by globalization
We are connected to people all over the world
Our actions have consequences for others and vice versa

5. The Development of Social Thinking
Theories and Theoretical Approaches
Sociology not only explores how things happen by also why they happen
We need theories to help us make sense of facts
Sociologists disagree about how to study human behavior and how to interpret results

6. The Development of Social Thinking
Early Theorists
Auguste Comte
Invented the word sociology
Sociology should contribute to the welfare of humanity by using science to understand and predict human behavior

7. The Development of Social Thinking
Early Theorists (cont)
Émile Durkheim
“Study social facts as things!”
The continuation of society depends on cooperation
Organic solidarity—specialized systems must function as integrated whole
Societies exert social constraint over members’ actions
Division of labor expands, people become more dependent on each other

8. The Development of Social Thinking
Early Theorists (cont)
Karl Marx
Social change is mainly prompted by economic influences
Society is not cohesive; it is divided by class differences
Capitalism breeds conflict
Ruling class seeks to exploit workers and working class seeks to overcome exploitation

9. The Development of Social Thinking
Early Theorists (cont)
Max Weber
Ideas and values have as much impact on social change as economic factors
Advance of bureaucracy inevitable
Society becomes more efficient but poses problems for democratic participation

10. Table 1.1

11. The Development of Social Thinking
Neglected Founders
Harriet Martineau
Sociology must include analysis of women’s lives
Focused on ignored issues including marriage, children, religious life, race relations
W. E. B. Du Bois
Established identity through the lens of African Americans
Traced problems facing
African Americans to social and economic history
Connected social analysis to
social reform

12. The Development of Social Thinking
Modern Theoretical Approaches
The main theoretical approaches in sociology are:
symbolic interactionism
functionalism
Marxism
feminism
rational choice approach
postmodernism

13. Fig. 1.1

14. The Development of Social Thinking
Modern Theoretical Approaches
Symbolic Interactionism
Study of language is crucial
Symbolic thought frees us from our limited experience
All interactions involve an exchange of symbols: we look for clues on how to behave and how to interpret others’ behavior

16. The Development of Social Thinking
Modern Theoretical Approaches (cont)
Functionalism
The study of functions of social activity to determine the contribution to society as a whole
Moral consensus helps maintain order and stability in society
Manifest functions are intended by participants; latent functions are consequences participants do not know about

17. functionalism

18. The Development of Social Thinking
Modern Theoretical Approaches (cont)
Feminism
Gender relations and gender inequality are central to study of society
Intersection of gender, race, and class
Rational choice theory
Self-interest is best variable to explain society
Rational approach is useful but cannot explain emotional responses, such as love

19. The Development of Social Thinking
Modern Theoretical Approaches (cont)
Postmodernism
Idea that history leads to progress has collapsed
Dominated by “new media”
Disconnected from the past
Overall narratives of history or society do not make any sense

20. The Development of Social Thinking
Microsociology vs. Macrosociology
Microsociology is the study of everyday behavior during face-to-face interaction
Illuminates broad institutional patterns
Macrosociology is the analysis of large-scale social systems
Essential for understanding institutional background of daily life

21. Is Sociology a Science? Sociology (like Psychology) Is a Science
Employs systematic methods of investigation
Evaluation of theories based on evidence and logical argument
Not modeled on the natural sciences
Studying humans is fundamentally different

22. How Can Sociology Help Us?
Sociology Helps Us:
See the world from many perspectives
Write better, more informed policies
Assess effects of policies
Increased self-understanding

23. Review Questions
1. How is the sociological imagination key to the study of sociology?
It helps us imagine how people in other cultures function in daily life.
It helps us develop hypotheses that we can test with statistical data.
It helps us get beyond our personal beliefs and circumstances in order to examine things from a broader perspective.
It helps us understand the broad array of theoretical approaches that can be used to study sociological phenomena.
Answer: C
Reference: Developing a Sociological Perspective
Type: Conceptual

24. Review Questions
2. How did Emile Durkheim think that the division of labor contributes to organic solidarity in modern societies?
Durkheim claimed that the division of labor creates more isolation in the work place as people’s jobs become more specialized, but that this in turn makes people invest more in remaining connected to one another outside of work, which overall helps strengthen society.
Durkheim claimed that the division of labor teaches people the importance of cooperation and coordination which helps strengthen social cohesion.
Durkheim claimed that the division of labor is a key social structure that helps bring order to a chaotic world by constraining social behavior.
Durkheim claimed that people become more dependent on one another as the division of labor expands and that this interdependence provides social cohesion.
Answer: D
Reference: The Development of Sociological Thinking
Type: Conceptual

25. Review Questions
3. According to Max Weber, _______ ideas and values shape society as much as ______ factors do.
democratic; economic
cultural; economic
economic; religious
capitalist; cultural
Answer: B
Reference: The Development of Sociological Thinking
Type: Factual

26. Review Questions
4. Examining the interactions between people with a focus on how the people talk, dress, and use body language is an example of which theoretical approach to sociology?
symbolic interactionism
postmodernism
feminist theory
functionalism
Answer: A
Reference: The Development of Sociological Thinking
Type: Conceptual

27. Review Questions
5. Which two theoretical approaches share the belief that sociological theory must be linked to political and social action?
postmodernism and Marxism
feminist theory and symbolic interactionism
Marxism and feminist theory
rational choice theory and postmodernism
Answer: C
Reference: The Development of Sociological Thinking
Type: Factual

28. Review Questions
6. According to some postmodern theorists, such as Jean Baudrillard, how has the spread of electronic media affected society?
It has disconnected us from real people and places and led to greater social isolation as we respond to signs and images that often have little to do with our everyday lives.
It has made us more aware of cultural differences as we are exposed to a wider range of ideas and values.
It has led to ever greater levels of consumerism as people are constantly reminded of things they don’t have that they would like to own.
It has provided new ways for people to connect and create community.
Answer: A
Reference: The Development of Sociological Thinking
Type: Factual

29. Review Questions 7. How can sociology have practical implications?
Sociology can suggest new ways of evaluating major social transformations in history.
Sociological studies are often used to assess the success, or failure, of policy initiatives in areas ranging from education to housing to sex discrimination.
Sociology can shed light on the importance of social actors whose roles were previously ignored.
Sociology empowers larger social institutions, not individuals, to alter conditions of inequality and injustice.
Answer: B
Reference: How Can Sociology Help Us?
Type: Conceptual