INTRODUCTION TO INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGYSOCIOLOGY

Defined & the three Defined & the three perspectivesperspectives

WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?

The science that studies The science that studies human social behavior & human social behavior & group interaction.group interaction.

AND...AND...

Behavior within a group is Behavior within a group is learned or socializedlearned or socialized

Group membership determines Group membership determines viewpoint or perspectiveviewpoint or perspective

We are all “ social animals” or We are all “ social animals” or social beingssocial beings

Our actions need to be viewed Our actions need to be viewed within the societal contextwithin the societal context

Activity- Who will survive…Activity- Who will survive…

Related to perspectives in Sociology Related to perspectives in Sociology on Fridayon Friday

Theoretical Perspectives & Theoretical Perspectives & SuicideSuicide

Why do people commit suicide?Why do people commit suicide?List 5 reasons/DiscussList 5 reasons/DiscussWhy is suicide rate higher in in teens Why is suicide rate higher in in teens

in Japan vs the United States?in Japan vs the United States?

StructuralismStructuralism Structuralism Structuralism

TheoriesTheories Structuralist theories are Structuralist theories are

based on the idea that based on the idea that individuals are individuals are molded and shaped by molded and shaped by societysociety

We are limited by the We are limited by the norms and values of our norms and values of our society that we have society that we have been socialized into.been socialized into.

Ex: Man is a caged birdEx: Man is a caged bird Society therefore Society therefore

controls the individual.controls the individual.

The Consensus PerspectiveThe Consensus Perspective

Society is a set of interrelated Society is a set of interrelated systems that work to produce a systems that work to produce a stable social system.stable social system.

Society works through Society works through consensus.consensus.

Most People agree on what is Most People agree on what is best for society and work best for society and work together to better society.together to better society.

Functionalist PerspectiveFunctionalist Perspective

Emile Durkheim ,Max Weber, Emile Durkheim ,Max Weber, Auguste ComteAuguste Comte

All Parts of societies are institutionsAll Parts of societies are institutions - Institutions ( family , school) are - Institutions ( family , school) are

interrelated and work together to interrelated and work together to form a society.form a society.

-Society may not operate effectively- -Society may not operate effectively- dysfunction may occur.dysfunction may occur.

Ex- divorce, failures, crimeEx- divorce, failures, crime

FUNCTIONALISTFUNCTIONALIST

EX: HousingEX: HousingManifest- Manifest- ShelterShelterLatent-Latent-Status, Status,

Wealth, Social Wealth, Social StandingStanding

THE CONFLICT PERSPECTIVETHE CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE

Focus on forces in society that Focus on forces in society that promote competition and change.promote competition and change.

Conflict arises over competition for Conflict arises over competition for scare resources.scare resources.

Groups are Groups are oppressed oppressed (kept without (kept without power and controlled). power and controlled).

Examples:Examples:

CONFLICTCONFLICT

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE: Powerful Powerful

establish rulesestablish rulesControl Control

resourcesresourcesRich vs. PoorRich vs. Poor

Marxism & Feminism Marxism & Feminism

Karl Marx Karl Marx Ideas were political and economicIdeas were political and economicMarxist viewpoints: Marxist viewpoints: One group in society – the bourgeoisie One group in society – the bourgeoisie

(upper/middle class) – are more (upper/middle class) – are more powerful. powerful.

This power is economic (based on This power is economic (based on wealth) – ie they are richer and own the wealth) – ie they are richer and own the businesses in society and therefore get businesses in society and therefore get the profits that businesses make. the profits that businesses make.

Marx continued…Marx continued…

To stay in power the bourgeoisie need To stay in power the bourgeoisie need to control and exploit the to control and exploit the proletariat proletariat (working class) (working class) Marxists argue that they do this by Marxists argue that they do this by keeping the proletariat poor but also keeping the proletariat poor but also by socializing them into the false by socializing them into the false belief that society is meritocraticbelief that society is meritocratic..

FeminismFeminism

Society is Society is patriarchal patriarchal (controlled by (controlled by men) and that women have been and men) and that women have been and are oppressed by men. are oppressed by men.

Women have in the past been Women have in the past been confined to the private sphere of the confined to the private sphere of the home and family, carrying out unpaid home and family, carrying out unpaid work in the form of childcare and work in the form of childcare and housework.housework.

..

Feminism….Feminism….

Sociology itself is Sociology itself is malestream malestream – – studying society from a male studying society from a male perspective, looking at male issues perspective, looking at male issues and directing social policy in the and directing social policy in the interests of men.interests of men.

THE INTERACTIONST THE INTERACTIONST PERSPECTIVEPERSPECTIVE

Instead of seeing society as molding Instead of seeing society as molding and controlling the individual, they and controlling the individual, they see the individual as being in control see the individual as being in control

Agency=Agency= this is the idea that you this is the idea that you have control over what you do – you have control over what you do – you are socialized into society’s norms are socialized into society’s norms and values but you can decide and values but you can decide whether you follow them or not whether you follow them or not

Cont…Cont…

We learn We learn shared meanings and shared meanings and interpretationsinterpretations of what goes on of what goes on around us and this is what helps us around us and this is what helps us to get on. to get on.

They believe that these meanings They believe that these meanings change from society to society change from society to society

INTERACTIONIST:INTERACTIONIST:

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE:Symbolic Symbolic

Interaction= Interaction= Shared Shared meaningmeaning

CULTURAL EXAMPLES:CULTURAL EXAMPLES:

Symbolic Interaction:Symbolic Interaction:Bottom of left shoe in Bottom of left shoe in

Southeast AsiaSoutheast AsiaNecks in BurmaNecks in Burma