Schaefer10e ppt ch01

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SOCIOLOGYRichard T. Schaefer

Understanding Sociology

1

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1. Understanding Sociology

• What is Sociology? • What Is Sociological Theory? • The Development of Sociology• Major Theoretical Perspectives• Developing a Sociological Imagination• Sociology in the Global Economy• Applied and Clinical Sociology

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What is Sociology?

• Sociology– Systematic study of social behavior in

human groups

• How those relationships influence behavior

• How societies develop and change

• Influence of social relationships

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What is Sociology?

• The Sociological Imagination– Awareness of relationship between an

individual and the wider society (C. Wright Mills)• Ability to view one’s society as an

outsider, rather than from perspective of our limited experiences and cultural biases

• Goes beyond personal experiences and observations

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What is Sociology?

• Sociology and the Social Sciences– Science: body of knowledge

obtained by methods based on systematic observation

– Natural Science: study of physical features of nature and ways they interact and change

– Social Science: study of social features of humans and ways they interact and change

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What is Sociology?

• Sociology and the Social Sciences– Emphasizes the influence that society

has on people's attitudes and behavior and the ways in which people interact and thereby shape society• Sociology and Common Sense

– Sociologists test and analyze information they use

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What is Sociology?

Figure 1-1. Race of Murder Victims

Sources: Department of Justice 2005:table 2.3; Death Penalty Information Center 2003

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What Is Sociological Theory?

• Theory

– Set of statements that seeks to explain problems, actions, or behavior• Effective theories have explanatory

and predictive power• Theories never a final statement about

human behavior

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The Development of Sociology

• Early Thinkers– Auguste Comte (1798–1857)

• Coined sociology to apply to the science of human behavior

– Harriet Martineau (1802–1876)• Studied social behavior in Britain and U. S• Emphasized impact economy, law, trade,

health, and population could have on social problems

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The Development of Sociology

• Early Thinkers– Herbert Spencer (1820–1903)

• Studied “evolutionary” change in society

• Émile Durkheim (1858–1917)– Developed fundamental thesis to help

explain all societyAnomie: loss of direction felt in a society when social control of individual behavior has become ineffective

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The Development of Sociology

• Max Weber (1864–1920)– To fully comprehend behavior, we

must learn subjective meanings people attach to their actions, called Vertehen

Ideal Type: construct or model for evaluating specific cases

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The Development of Sociology

• Karl Marx (1818-1883)– Society fundamentally divided

between two classes that clash in pursuit of their own interests• Worked with Engles• Emphasized group identification and

associations that influence one’s place in society

• Argued working class should overthrow the existing class system

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The Development of Sociology

• Modern Developments– Charles Horton Cooley (1864—1929)

• Increased understanding of groups of relatively small size

– Jane Addams (1860–1935)• Combined intellectual inquiry, social

service work, and political activism

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The Development of Sociology

• Modern Developments– Robert Merton (1940–2003)

• Created theory of deviant behavior• Emphasized sociology should use “macro-

level” and “micro-level” approaches

Macrosociology: concentrates on large-scale phenomena or entire civilizationsMicrosociology: stresses study of small groups, often through experimental means

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Latent Functions: unconscious or unintended functions that may reflect hidden purposes of an institution

Dysfunctions: element or process of a society that may actually disrupt the social system or disrupt it stability

Major Theoretical Perspectives

– Emphasizes ways parts of a society are structured to maintain its stability

• Functionalist Perspective

Manifest Functions: institutions are open, stated, conscious functions that involve intended, recognized, consequences of an aspect of society

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Major Theoretical Perspectives

• Conflict Perspective

– The Marxist View: conflict not merely a class phenomenon, but part of everyday life in all societies

– Assumes social behavior is best understood in terms of conflict or tension between competing groups

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Major Theoretical Perspectives

• Conflict Perspective

• Conducted research to assist the struggle for a racially egalitarian society

• Believed knowledge essential to combating prejudice and achieving tolerance and justice

• In-depth studies of urban life

– An African American View: W. E. B. DuBois

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Major Theoretical Perspectives

• Feminist Perspective– Views inequity in gender as central to

all behavior and organization– Sometimes allied with conflict theory

• Also focuses on micro-level relationships, just as interactionists do

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Major Theoretical Perspectives

• Interactionist Perspective– Generalizes about everyday forms of

social interaction to understand society as a whole

– Sociological framework for viewing humans as living in a world of meaningful objectsNonverbal communication: can include many gestures, facial expressions, and postures

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Major Theoretical Perspectives

• Interactionist Perspective– George Herbert Mead (1863—1931)

– Erving Goffman (1922—1982)

Dramaturgical approach: people seen as theatrical performers

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Major Theoretical Perspectives

Table 1-1 Comparing Major Theoretical Perspectives

Table to be continued on next slide

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Major Theoretical Perspectives

Table 1-1 Comparing Major Theoretical Perspectives

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Major Theoretical Perspectives

• The Sociological Approach– Gain broadest understanding of

society by drawing on all major perspectives, noting where they overlap or where they diverge

– Each perspective offers unique insights into the same issue

– A researcher’s work always will be guided by his or her theoretical viewpoint

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• Research in Action• Thinking Globally

– Globalization: worldwide integration of government policies, cultures, social movements, and financial markets through trade and the exchange of ideas

Developing a Sociological Imagination

• Theory in Practice

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• The Significance of Social Inequality– Social inequality: condition in which

members of society have differing amounts of wealth, prestige, or power

• Speaking Across Race, Gender, and Religious Boundaries

• Social Policy Throughout the World

Developing a Sociological Imagination

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Sociology in the Global Economy

• The Global Response to the 2004 Tsunami– International relief effort obvious sign

of globalization– Most devastation hit relatively poor

areas of the world

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Applied and Clinical Sociology

Applied Sociology: discipline of sociology with specific intent of yielding practical applications for human behavior and organizations

Clinical Sociology: dedicated to altering social relationships or to restructuring social institutions

Basic Sociology: seeks more profound knowledge of the fundamental aspects of social phenomenon