2. SOCIOLOGY  Sociology is the study of social behavior and human groups such as society  A society is a large group of people who live in the same area and who share a distinctive culture and institutions  This group provides protection, stability, security, and identity to its members

3. THE ROLE OF SOCIOLOGISTS  Sociologists examine why certain social behaviours exist and how different societies function  They study individual behavior with in the context of groups  The behavior of groups and society as a whole  There work helps us understand the world around us and the complex problems that exist

4. SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT  We will focus on four schools of thought:  Structural functionalism  Conflict theory  Feminist sociology  Symbolic interactionism

5. Crash  Conflict between individuals/Groups within the city of Los Angeles, California  This conflict is present in:  Government/Politics  Business  Crime  Personal Relationships  Social Issues:  Racism  Sexism  Classism  Crime  Power  Authority  Stereotypes  Immigration  Assimilation