1. PowerPoint Presentation prepared by Terri Petkau, Mohawk College

2. CHAPTER ONE Introducing Sociology Robert J. Brym

3. Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd
INTRODUCTION
Will examine:
The sociological perspective
Durkheim’s theory of suicide and suicide in Canada today
Sociological imagination
Origins of sociology, and
Main sociological theories*
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SOCIOLOGY
Sociology:
Systematic study of human behaviour in social context
Emerged during Industrial Revolution:
Era of massive social transformation accompanied by new social problems*
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5. THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
Sociological perspective examines association between social events and social relations
Classic 19th century example  Durkheim’s analysis of suicide:
Examined association between suicide rates and social relations
Demonstrated that suicide rates are strongly influenced by social forces*
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Durkheim’s study is a highly informative example of the sociological perspective at work
At the end of the 19th century, French sociologist Emile Durkheim – one of the pioneers of the discipline – demonstrated that suicide is more than just an individual act of desperation resulting from psychological disorder, as was commonly believed at the time
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6. SUICIDE RATES, SELECTED COUNTRIES
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The world’s highest suicide rates are found in some countries of the former Soviet Union (Belarus, Kazakhstan Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine) and Hungary.
The world’s lowest suicide rates (zero or close to zero) are found in two clusters, one in certain Caribbean island states (Antigua and Barbuda, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis), the other in parts of the Arab world (Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Palestine).
Canada’s suicide rate places us 36th among the 74 countries that publish suicide statistics
When we think about why people commit suicide, we are likely to focus on their individual states of mind rather than the state of society
We usually do not think of patterns of social relations that might encourage such actions in general
Sociology seeks to reveal hidden social causes of what may appear to be antisocial and/or nonsocial phenomena
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DURKHEIM’S FINDINGS
Some categories of people (men, Christians, the unmarried, seniors) had higher rates of suicide than others (women, Jews, the married, the young and middle-aged)
Married adults half as likely as unmarried adults to commit suicide
Jews less likely to commit suicide than Christians*
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8. DURKHEIM’S THEORY OF SUICIDE
Social solidarity: Degree to which group member share beliefs and values, and intensity and frequency of interaction
Demonstrated variation in social solidarity in different groups:
Those weakly integrated into social groups are more likely to commit suicide
As level of social solidarity increases, suicide rate declines
But beyond a certain point, rate begins to rise again*
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9. DURKHEIM’S TYPOLOGY OF SUICIDE
Three types of suicide:
Anomic suicide: Occurs in low social solidarity settings, where norms governing behaviour are vaguely defined
Egoistic suicide: Results from lack of integration of individual into society because of weak social ties to others
Altruistic suicide: Occurs in high social solidarity contexts, where norms tightly govern behaviour*
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10. DURKHEIM’S THEORY OF SUICIDE
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Durkheim argued that as the level of social solidarity increases, the suicide rate declines; then, beyond a certain point, it starts to rise.
Hence the U-shaped curve in this graph. Durkheim called suicides that occur in high-solidarity settings altruistic. Altruism means devotion to the interests of others.
Altruistic suicide occurs when norms tightly govern behaviour, so individual actions are often in the group interest.
For example, when soldiers knowingly give up their lives to protect members of their unit, they commit altruistic suicide out of a deep sense of comradeship. In contrast, suicide that occurs in low-solidarity settings is egoistic or anomic, said Durkheim.
Egoistic suicide results from a lack of integration of the individual into society because of weak social ties to others. Anomie means “without order.”
Anomic suicide occurs when norms governing behaviour are vaguely defined.
For example, in Durkheim’s view, when people live in a society that lacks a widely shared code of morality, the rate of anomic suicide is likely to be high.
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11. IMPLICATIONS OF DURKHEIM’S ANALYSIS OF SUICIDE
Social forces exist as distinct level of reality that is:
External to individuals
Constrains individual behaviour*
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12. SUICIDE IN CANADA TODAY
Substantial increase in suicide since 1960s among those between ages of 15 and 64
Yet youth suicide negligible in Durkheim’s study
Factors in increase today in youth suicide:
Level of social solidarity lower today for young people than decades ago
Young people less rooted in society, and less likely to share moral standards*
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Suicide rates for men remain considerably higher than those for women
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SUICIDE BY AGE AND SEX, 2004
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Durkheim’s theory is not just an historical curiosity, but rather sheds light on the factors that account for variations in suicide rates today
In this figure, we see that men are about four times more likely than women to commit suicide
However, when looking at differences between age groups, we see a striking difference between Durkheim’s 19th-century France and contemporary Canada:
When Durkheim did his study, youth suicide was extremely rare, and suicide among working-age people was uncommon
In Canada today, suicide among people between the ages of 15 and 64 is much more common, although rates do not increase with age
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14. FROM PERSONAL TROUBLES TO SOCIAL STRUCTURES
Social structures: Relatively stable patterns of social relations
Are social structures at micro-, macro-, and global levels…*
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SOCIAL STRUCTURES
Microstructures: Overarching patterns of intimate social relations formed during face-to-face interaction (e.g., families, friendships, work associations)
Macrostructures: Overarching patterns of social relations outside one’s circle of intimates and acquaintances (e.g., class relations, bureaucratic organizations, power systems)
Global structures: Patterns of social relations outside and above national level (e.g., United Nations, European Union, NAFTA region)*
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16. THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
C. Wright Mills’ concept of sociological imagination:
Ability to see connection between personal troubles and social structures
Reflected departure from views of ancient and medieval times that considered:
Society as controlled by God and nature
Reliance on speculation rather than evidence*
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One of sociologist’s main task: Identify and explain connection between people’s personal troubles and social structures in which people are embedded
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17. ORIGINS OF THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
Scientific Revolution (circa 1550): Encouraged evidence-based conclusions about society
Democratic Revolution (circa 1750): Suggested people were responsible for creating society; thus, human intervention capable of solving social problems
Industrial Revolution (circa 1780): Created host of social problems; attracted attention of social thinkers*
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ORIGINS OF SOCIOLOGY
Comte (1838): Coined term “sociology”
Sought to understand social world using scientific method of research
But also had vision of ideal society
Tension between analysis and ideal reflected in works of important early figures in sociology: Marx, Durkheim, and Weber*
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ORIGINS OF SOCIOLOGY
Values: Ideas about right and wrong, good and bad
Inform what issues are considered important
Help sociologists formulate and favour certain theories
Theories: Tentative explanations of some aspect of social life that state how and why certain facts are related
Research: Process of systematically observing reality in order to “test” theories*
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Distinguishing these three terms (values, theories, research) helps to clarify the tension between analysis and ideal
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20. MAIN THEORETICAL TRADITIONS IN SOCIOLOGY
Functionalism
Conflict theory
Symbolic interactionism
Feminist theory*
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1. FUNCTIONALISM
Stresses human behaviour is governed by relatively stable patterns of interaction
Focuses on how social structures either maintain or undermine social stability
Argues social structures are based mainly on shared values
Suggests re-establishing equilibrium as a solution to most social problems*
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2. CONFLICT THEORY
Focuses on large, macro-level structures (e.g., relations between or among classes)
Shows how major patterns of inequality produce social stability in some circumstances and social change in others
Stresses how members of privileged groups seek to maintain advantages, while subordinate groups struggle to increase theirs
Typically recommends eliminating privilege as means of reducing social conflict and increasing sum of human welfare*
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23. 3. SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
Focuses on face-to-face interaction in micro-level social settings
Emphasizes need for understanding subjective meanings that people attach to social circumstances
Argues that people help create their social circumstances, not merely react to them
Increases understanding and tolerance of difference by validating unpopular and unofficial viewpoints*
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4. FEMINIST THEORY
Focuses on various aspects of patriarchy: System of male domination in society
Suggests male domination and female subordination are determined by structures of power and social convention rather than biology
Examines operation of patriarchy in both micro and macro social settings
Recommends eliminating patterns of gender inequality*
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25. MAIN THEORETICAL TRADITIONS IN SOCIOLOGY
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Sociologists in Canada and elsewhere have applied these theoretical traditions to all branches of the discipline; they also have elaborated and refined these theories
Some sociologists work exclusively within one tradition, while others conduct research that borrows from more than one tradition
But all sociologists are deeply indebted to the founders of the discipline
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26. TODAY’S SOCIAL SETTING
Today’s social setting is characterized by:
Postindustrialism: Technology-driven shift from manufacturing to service industries and attendant consequences of that shift for all of society
Globalization: Process by which formerly separate economies, states, and cultures become tied together; also characterized by people becoming increasingly aware of their growing interdependence*
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Sociological ideas are influenced by social settings in which they emerge
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27. SOCIOLOGICAL ISSUES IN THE POSTINDUSTRIAL ERA
Autonomy versus constraint: Individuals are more free to construct identities but are limited by new technologies (e.g., surveillance technologies)
Prosperity versus inequality: Are new economic, political, and educational opportunities, yet persistence of economic and political inequality
Diversity versus uniformity: Increased tolerance of diversity amidst strong push for conformity in many spheres of life**
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The unresolved social issues that confront us in the era of postindustrialism and globalization fall under three headings; each issue is addressed in later chapters.
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SUPPLEMENTARY SLIDES
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29. JOBS COMMONLY HELD BY CANADIANS WITH DEGREES IN SOCIOLOGY
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30. THE ELIZABETHAN WORLDVIEW (CIRCA 1600)
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The English engraving reproduced in this figure shows how most educated Europeans pictured the universe in Shakespeare’s time
Note the cloud at the top of the circle; the Hebrew name of God is inscribed on it
God’s hand extends from the cloud; it holds a chain, which is attached to a woman representing Nature
Nature also holds a chain in her hand; it is connected to the “ape of Nature,” representing humankind
The symbolism is clear: God and his intermediary, Nature, control human action
Note also that the engraving arranges everything in a linked hierarchy: The hierarchy includes the mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms as well as the elements; heavenly objects, angels, etc.
Each level of the hierarchy corresponds to and controls some aspect of the level below it
For example, people believed Archangels regulated the movements of the planet Mercury and the movements of Mercury affected human commerce
Similarly, in the medical view, God ordained a hierarchy of people; the richest people were seen as those closest to God and therefore deserving of greater privilege
Supposedly, kings and queens ruled because God wanted them to rule
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