1. Introduction to Sociology
Lecture:01
Prepared by Fouzia Hassan

2. Introduction to Sociology and the Sociological Perspective
Chapter 1:
Introduction to Sociology and the Sociological Perspective

3. What Is Sociology?
A dictionary defines sociology as the systematic study of society and social interaction. The word “sociology” is derived from the Latin word socius (companion) and the Greek word logos (study of), meaning “the study of companionship.” While this is a starting point for the discipline, sociology is actually much more complex. It uses many different methods to study a wide range of subject matter and to apply these studies to the real world.

4. Distinguishing between society and culture
Society: a group of people who live within some type of bounded territory and who share a common way of life
Culture: is common way of life shared by a society or a group.

5. Auguste Comte, French Social Philosopher (1798- 1857)
Comte was the first social philosopher to coin and use the term sociology .He was also the first to regard himself as a sociologist. Comte believed that a theoretical science of society and the systematic investigation of human behavior were needed to improve society. He argued that the new science of society could and should make a critical contribution towards a new and improved human society.

6. Auguste Comte The founding father of sociology.
He believed that society could be studied scientifically.
This approach is known as positivism.
1798–1857

7. Karl Marx ( )
Marx was a world-renowned social philosopher, sociologist and economic historian. He made remarkable contributions to the development of various social sciences including sociology. He contributed greatly to sociological ideas.

8. Karl Marx (German, )
He introduced key concepts in sociology like social class, social class conflict, social oppression, alienation, etc. Marx, like Comte, argued that people should make active efforts to bring about societal reforms. According to Marx, economic forces are the keys to underestimating society and social change. He believed that the history of human society has been that of class conflict.

9. Herbert Spencer, British Social Philosopher, (1820-1903)
Spencer was a prominent social philosopher of the 19th century. He was famous for the organic analogy of human society. He viewed society as an organic system,having its own structure and functioning in ways analogous to the biological system. Spencer's ideas of the evolution of human society from the lowest ("barbarism") to highest form ("civilized") according to fixed laws were famous.

10. Herbert Spencer, British Social Philosopher, (1820-1903)
It was called "Social Darwinism", which is analogous to the biological evolutionary model. Social Darwinism is the attempt toapply by analogy the evolutionary theories of plant and animal development to the explanation of human society and social phenomen.

11. Herbert Spencer, British Social Philosopher, (1820-1903)
It was called "Social Darwinism", which is analogous to the biological evolutionary model. Social Darwinism is the attempt toapply by analogy the evolutionary theories of plant and animal development to the explanation of human society and social phenomen

12. Max Weber ( )
Max Weber was a German. He used cross-cultural and historical materials in order to determine how
extensively social groups affect people’s orientations to life.

13. The scope of sociology
The scope of sociology is extremely wide ranging, from the analysis of passing encounter between individuals on the street up to the investigation of global social processes The discipline covers an extremely broad range that includes every aspect of human socialconditions; all types of human relationships and forms of social behavior (Indrani, 1998

14. The scope of sociology
Sociologists are primarily interested in human beings as they appear in social interaction and the effects of this interaction on human behavior. Such interaction can range from the first physical contacts of the new born baby with its mother to a philosophical discussion at an international conference.

15. The scope of sociology
Sociologists are keen to understand, explain, and analyze the effect of social world, social environment and social interaction on our behavior, worldviews, lifestyle, personality, attitudes, decisions, etc., as creative, rational, intelligent members of society; and how we as such create the social reality.

16. The scope of sociology
Currently, sociology has got quite several specific subdivisions or fields of specialization in it: some of these include the following: criminology; demography; human ecology; political sociology; medical sociology; sociology of the family; sociology of sports; sociology of development; social psychology; socio- linguistics; sociology of education; sociology of religion; sociology of knowledge; sociology of art; sociology of science and technology; sociology of law; urban sociology; rural sociology; economic sociology; and industrial sociology.

17. Major theoretical perspectives in sociology
There are three major theoretical perspectives in sociology that have provided an overall framework for sociological studies. These are structural functionalism, social conflict theory and symbolic interactionalism.

18. THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
Sociology is a reasoned and rigorous study of human social life, social groups, and societies. At the heart of sociology is a distinctive point of view called “the sociological perspective”. Thus sociology offers a perspective, a view of the world. For example: why do human lives seem to follow certain predictable pattern? The truth is that:
• Our lives do not unfold according to sheer chance,
• Nor do we decide for ourselves how to live, acting on what is called ‘free will’.
We make many important decisions everyday, of course, but always within the larger arena called “society”.The essential wisdom of sociology is that:

19. THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
Our social world guides our actions and life choices just as the seasons influence our activities and clothing.
This is sociological perspective. Perspective means a view or an outlook or an approach or an imagination (of the world). Hence sociological perspective means an approach to understanding human behavior by placing it withinits broader social context.

20. Applying the sociological perspective
Applying the sociological perspectives to our daily lives benefits us in four ways:
1. The sociological perspective helps us to assess the truth of community held assumptions(call it “common sense”).
2. The sociological perspective prompts us to assess both the opportunities and the
constraints that characterize our lives.

21. Applying the sociological perspective
3. The sociological perspective empowers us to participate actively in our society.
4. The sociological perspective helps us recognize human variety and confront the challenges of living in a diverse world.

22. Theoretical Perspectives: Functionalism
Functionalism sees society as a system of highly interrelated parts that work together harmoniously. The image that functionalists use to understand society is a living organism. Each part of society works together for the benefit of the whole much like a living organism

23. Functionalism
The structural-functionalist theory sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability; it states that our social lives are guided by social structure, which are relatively stable patterns of social behavior (Macionis, 1997). Social structure is understood in terms of social function,which are consequences for the operations of society.

24. Theoretical Perspectives: Conflict Theory
Conflict theory is grounded in the work of Karl Marx Society is understood to be made up of conflicting interest groups who vie for power and privilege This dynamic results in continuous social change, which is the normal state of affairs Conflict theory focuses heavily on inequality and differential distribution of power and wealth

25. Theoretical Perspectives: The Interactionist Perspective
Focuses on how individuals make sense of and interpret the world
This perspective tends to focus on the “micro- order” of small groups
Has given rise to several specific approaches:
Symbolic Interactionism developed by George Herbert Mead
Ethnomethodology developed by Harold Garfinkel
Dramaturgy developed by Erving Goffman

26. Comparing Theoretical Perspectives
Scope of Analysis
Point of View
Focus of Analysis
Structural-Functionalism
Macro Level
Various parts of society are interdependent
Social systems are highly stable
Social life governed by consensus & cooperation
Functional and dysfunctional aspects of society
Conflict Theory
Society accommodates between competing interest groups
Society unstable and prone to change
Social life conflict-laden
1. How social inequalities produce conflict
2. Who benefits from social arrangements
Interactionist
Micro-Level
Actions have symbolic meanings
Meanings can vary
How people make sense of their world