1. © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.
Chapter 1
The Sociological Perspective
© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.

2. The Sociological Perspective:
Sociology is the systematic study of human society; its point of view is
Seeing the general in the particular
Sociologists identify general social patterns in the behaviour of particular individuals.
Individuals are unique, but
Society acts differently on various categories of people (Cont’d)
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3. The Sociological Perspective (Cont’d)
Seeing the strange in the familiar
Giving up the idea that human behaviour is simply a matter of what people decide to do.
Understanding that society shapes our lives.
(Cont’d)
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4. The Sociological Perspective (Cont’d)
Seeing individuality in social context
Emile Durkheim’s research on suicide showed that some categories are more likely to commit suicide than others. Society affects even our most personal choices.
More likely to commit suicide: males, Protestants, wealthy, and unmarried.
Less likely to commit suicide: females, Jews, Catholics, the poor, and married.
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5. Importance of Global Perspective
The study of the larger world and our society’s place in it, e.g., level of economic development
Societies throughout the world are increasingly interconnected through technology and economics.
Many problems that we face in Canada are more serious elsewhere.
Thinking globally is a good way to learn more about ourselves.
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6. © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.
Map 1-1
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7. Applying the Sociological Perspective
Social marginality: the more marginal people are the more likely they are to embrace this perspective, when others take it for granted.
Social crisis:
With change or crisis the vision is stimulated
Sociological thinking can lead to wanting to change “the system”
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8. Benefits of the Sociological Perspective
Helps us assess the truth of “common sense”
Helps us assess both opportunities and constraints in our lives
Empowers us to be active participants in our society
Helps us to recognize diversity and live in a diverse world
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9. The Origins of Sociology
Science
Comte’s Stages: Theological, Metaphysical, & Scientific
Positivism – a means to understand the world based on science
Social Change
Industrialization, urbanization, and political revolution, promote a new awareness of society.
Marginal Voices
Important contributions were made by those who were pushed to the margins of society.
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10. © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.
Canadian Sociology
Sociology began in the early 20th century
Teaching and research began first in Quebec
Harold A. Innis, an early influence:
Economic development depended on resources
Marshall McLuhan
Influence of electronic media on society
John Porter, the leading sociologist
Inequality and ethnic relations in The Vertical Mosaic
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11. © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.
Sociological Theory
Theory: a statement of how and why facts are related
Theoretical paradigm: a set of fundamental assumptions that guides thinking and research
Structural-functional
Social-conflict
Symbolic-interaction
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12. Structural-Functional Paradigm
Views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability
Our lives are guided by:
Social structure refers to any relatively stable patterns of social behavior found in social institutions
Social functions refer to the consequences for the operation of society as a whole. Manifest functions are intended; latent functions are unintended; and social dysfunctions are undesirable.
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13. Social-Conflict Paradigm
Views society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and social change
Sociologists study
How factors such as ethnicity, race, sex, class, and age are linked to social inequality
Dominant group vs. disadvantaged group relations
Some want to change society
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14. Symbolic-Interaction Paradigm
Unlike the two previous macro-level paradigms this is micro-level
Views society as the product of everyday interactions of individuals
Sociologists view society as
the shared reality that people construct as they interact with one another
a mosaic of subjective meanings and variable responses
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15. Critical Evaluation of Paradigms
Structural-functional
Assumes “natural” order, ignores inequalities of social class, race and gender, focuses on stability at the expense of conflict
Social-conflict
Ignores how shared values and mutual interdependence unify society
If it pursues political goals, it cannot be scientific
Symbolic-interaction
Ignores larger social structures, effects of culture, factors such as class, gender, ethnicity, and race
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16. © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.
Recent Paradigms
Feminist paradigm: The study of women’s lives
Micro: reproduction of gender through language and emotion management
Macro: constraints and forms of resistance in women’s lives
Postmordernist paradigm: Anti-theory and –methods
Deconstructs and demystifies assumptions, hierarchies of knowledge and ideological motivation
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17. © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.
Table 1-2
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18. © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.
Table 1-2 (cont’d)
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19. Applying the Perspectives to Sport
Functions:
Manifest: provides recreation
Latent: fostering social relationships
Dysfunctions (U.S.): schools are more concerned with performance than marks.
Conflict:
Some sports are more accessible than others
Interaction
Fitting in takes time.
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