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An Invitation to SociologySummary of TopicsThe Sociological Perspective

The Origins of Sociology

Theoretical Perspectives

Click on a hyperlink to view a topic or click on the right arrow to proceed through the chapter

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Objectives

• Define sociology

• Describe sociological perspective

• Distinguish sociology from other social sciences

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• What are norms?

• What does it mean to violate norms?

• Behavior is shaped by custom and culture.

Bell Ringer

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What is sociology?The scientific study social structure (of human

social behavior)

What is unique about sociology?The sociological perspective focuses not on the

individual, but on the social, or group level.

Psychology deals with the individual

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The Sociological PerspectiveSociology is the scientific study of social

structure.

look for the patterns in social relationships.

sociological imagination- the ability to see the link between society and self

You can benefit from this understanding when you look at how and why you make certain choices.

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A perspective is a particular point of view or a particular way of looking at an issue.

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Young man joins a gang

Prove toughness

Taught by society to be masculine

Woman divorces husband

Develops her potential

Social trend of sexual equity

Teen commits suicide

Escape depression

Peer group expectations

Individual vs. Social Perspective

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Someone who can’t find a job

Homelessness is a result of

Immigrants came here because

Individual vs. Social Perspective

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Social structure is the patterned interaction of people in social relationships.

-developed by Emile Durkheim

-people’s behavior within a group setting can’t

be predicted from their personal characteristics

-something new is created

-Denver wins super bowl

-Texas A and M and University of Texas

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Why do people conform?

• All groups encourage conformity– Family and friends

• Occurs because members have been taught to value the group’s ways

• Conform even when their personal preferences are not the same

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What is gained by using our sociological imagination?

an understanding of the effects of events on our daily lives

an improved ability to make decisions, rather than just conform

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The sociological imagination questions common interpretations of human

social behavior and

challenges conventional social wisdom

Definitions:sociological imagination

conventional social wisdom

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Definitions:sociological imagination

conventional social wisdom

sociological imagination: the ability to see the link between society and self

sociological imagination: the ability to see the link between society and self

The sociological imagination questions common interpretations of human

social behavior and

challenges conventional social wisdom

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Definitions:sociological imagination

conventional social wisdom

conventional social wisdom: ideas people

assume are true

conventional social wisdom: ideas people

assume are true

The sociological imagination questions common interpretations of human

social behavior and

challenges conventional social wisdom

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Illiteracy Rates

“Nearly all American adults know how to read and write.” The map shows the percentage of Americans over 20 years old who are illiterate.

Is conventional social wisdom about illiteracy rates really wise or true? Support your answer.

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The Social SciencesSocial science is a branch

of learning that deals with human society.

It includes a number of disciplines, which we generally refer to as the social sciences.

These disciplines differ but they share enough in common to overlap.

Anthropology

HistoryPolitical Science

Social Sciences

Economics

Psychology

Sociology

For more information on a particular branch of social science, select it from the tree.

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AnthropologyAnthropology investigates

culture, the customary beliefs and material traits of groups.

It is the social science most closely related to sociology.

Anthropologists, however, concentrate on the study of preliterate societies (societies that do not use writing).

Sociologists focus on modern, industrial societies.

Anthropologists might study the division of work among family members in ancient Egypt.

Anthropology

HistoryPolitical Science

Social Sciences

Economics

Psychology

Sociology

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EconomicsEconomics is the study

of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

An area of research for an economist might be the annual income levels of American families.

Economics

HistoryPolitical Science

Social Sciences

Psychology

Sociology

Anthropology

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HistoryHistory examines past events

in human societies.

Historians generally rely on newspapers, historical documents, and oral histories as sources of information.

The nature of family life in colonial society is an example of something a historian might study.

Economics

HistoryPolitical Science

Social Sciences

Psychology

Sociology

Anthropology

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Political SciencePolitical science investigates

the organization, administration, history, and theory of government.

Political scientists are concerned, for example, with voting patterns and participation in political parties.

A political scientists might investigate the relationship between a family’s social class and voting behavior.

Anthropology

Economics

HistoryPolitical Science

Social Sciences

Psychology

Sociology

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PsychologyPsychology investigates human

mental and emotional processes.

While sociologists concentrate on the group, psychologists also study the development and functioning of the individual.

A psychologist might study the effects of birth order on emotional development.

Anthropology

Economics

HistoryPolitical Science

Psychology

Social Sciences

Sociology

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SociologySociology investigates human

social behavior from a group rather than an individual perspective.

It concentrates on patterns of modern-day social relationships.

Sociologists might study the relationship between the employment of women and family size.

Anthropology

Economics

HistoryPolitical Science

Psychology

Sociology

Social Sciences

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Compare how someone studying individual behavior would explore alcohol abuse with how someone studying group behavior would approach the problem.

Exploring why a person reacts in a particular way to alcohol abuse illustrates the study of individual behavior. Looking at socioeconomic factors that favor or discourage alcoholism is an example of the study of group behavior.

Click the mouse button or press the space bar to display the answer.

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The Origins of SociologySociology is a young science.

It grew out of the writings of European scholars who were interested in bringing back a sense of community to society in the late 1800s.

After World War II, America took the lead in developing the field of sociology.

The majority of all sociologists are from the United States.

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1837 Harriet Martineau publishes Society in America

1848 Karl Marx publishes The Communist Manifesto, promoting a classless society

1897 Emile Durkheim publishes Suicide

1904 Max Weber publishes The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

1959C. Wright Mills publishes Sociological Imagination

1838 Auguste Comte’s book, Positive Philosophy, identifies science of sociology

1931Jane Addams awarded Nobel Peace Prize

W.E.B. DuBois publishes The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study

1850

1899

Herbert Spencer

publishes Social Statics

Time Line of Early Sociologists

Select a sociologist, by clicking on their name, and view their contributions..

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Jane Addams – early American sociologist1860–1935

social reformer

co-founded Hull House in Chicago slums

awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, 1931

focused on problems caused by imbalance of power among social classes

active in women’s suffrage and peace movements

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Auguste Comte–early French sociologist1798–1857

father of sociology

first to advocate the scientific study of society

positivism– science based on knowledge of which we can be “positive”

distinguished between social stability (statics) and social change (dynamics)

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W.E.B. DuBois–early American sociologist1868–1963

African American educator and social activist

focused on the question of race inside and outside the United States

analyzed social structure of African American communities

active in Pan African movement, concerned with rights of all African descendents

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Emile Durkheim–early French sociologist1858–1917

first used statistical methods in study of human groups

first to teach university sociology course

showed human behavior to be explained by social factors rather than psychological ones

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Harriet Martineau–early English sociologist1802–1876

emphasized sociology as a science

translated Comte’s Positive Philosophy

introduced feminism into sociology

strong and outspoken supporter of both women and slaves

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Karl Marx–early German sociologist1818–1883

guided by principle that social scientists should try to change the world rather than merely study it

emphasized the role of class conflict in social change

writings were later used as a basis for communism

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C. Wright Mills–early American sociologist1917–1962

called the personal use of sociology “the sociological imagination”

first described emergence of strong middle class (White Collar, 1951)

published Power Elite, (1956)

father of student movement of 1960s

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Herbert Spencer–early English sociologist1820–1903

early proponent of Social Darwinism

opposed social reform; it interfered with process of natural selection

compared society to human body; composed of parts working together to promote its well-being

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Max Weber–early German sociolgist1864–1920

developed the concept of verstehen– understanding social behavior by putting yourself in the place of others

identified rationalization as key to change from preindustrial to industrial society

pioneered techniques to prevent personal biases in research

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Name the “giants” who helped to lay the foundation for the discipline of sociology and identify their contribution.

Durkheim MartineauSpencer

Addams ComteWeber

Marx Mills

Click the mouse button or press the space bar to display the answer.

Click on the names to view their contributions.

DuBois

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Jane Addams – early American sociologist1860–1935

social reformer

co-founded Hull House in Chicago slums

awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, 1931

focused on problems caused by imbalance of power among social classes

active in women’s suffrage and peace movements

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Auguste Comte–early French sociologist1798–1857

father of sociology

first to advocate the scientific study of society

positivism– science based on knowledge of which we can be “positive”

distinguished between social stability (statics) and social change (dynamics)

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W.E.B. DuBois–early American sociologist1868–1963

African American educator and social activist

focused on the question of race inside and outside the United States

analyzed social structure of African American communities

active in Pan African movement, concerned with rights of all African descendents

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Emile Durkheim–early French sociologist1858–1917

first used statistical methods in study of human groups

first to teach university sociology course

showed human behavior to be explained by social factors rather than psychological ones

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Harriet Martineau–early English sociologist1802–1876

emphasized sociology as a science

translated Comte’s Positive Philosophy

introduced feminism into sociology

strong and outspoken supporter of both women and slaves

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Karl Marx–early German sociologist1818–1883

guided by principle that social scientists should try to change the world rather than merely study it

emphasized the role of class conflict in social change

writings were later used as a basis for communism

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C. Wright Mills–early American sociologist1917–1962

called the personal use of sociology “the sociological imagination”

first described emergence of strong middle class (White Collar, 1951)

published Power Elite, (1956)

father of student movement of 1960s

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Herbert Spencer–early English sociologist1820–1903

early proponent of Social Darwinism

opposed social reform; it interfered with process of natural selection

compared society to human body; composed of parts working together to promote its well-being

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Max Weber–early German sociolgist1864–1920

developed the concept of verstehen– understanding social behavior by putting yourself in the place of others

identified rationalization as key to change from preindustrial to industrial society

pioneered techniques to prevent personal biases in research

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Sociology includes three major theoretical perspectives:

FUNCTIONALISMCONFLICT

PERSPECTIVESYMBOLIC

INTERACTIONISM

Click the hyperlink to learn more about theoretical perspectives or click on a graphic to learn more about a particular type of theoretical perspective.

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FunctionalismEmphasizes the contributions made by each part of societyFamily, economy, religion- all parts

A change in one may lead to a change in another.

Most aspects of a society contribute to the society’s well-being and survival.

Society rests on the voluntary participation of its members.FUNCTIONALISM

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Functions

• Function- contribution made by some part of society– Manifest function- intended and recognized– Latent function- unintended, happens as a result

• In functionalism, there is consensus on values– Accounts for high degree of cooperation in a

society

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Conflict perspectiveEmphasizes the role of conflict, competition, change, and constraint within a societySociety experiences inconsistency and conflict

everywhere.

Society is continually subjected to change.

Society involvesthe constraint and coercion of somemembers by others.

CONFLICTPERSPECTIVE

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Conflict Theory

• Central theme is power, who gets what– Those with power control those without

power

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Symbolic interactionismFocuses on the interactions among people based on mutually understood symbols.People learn to interpret the meanings of symbols

from others.

People base their interaction on their interpretations of symbols.

Symbols permit people to predict the behavior expected of them.

SYMBOLICINTERACTIONISM

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Symbolic Interaction

• Dramaturgy-approach that depicts human interaction as theatrical performances– People present themselves by the way

they dress, gestures, tone of voice.

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A theoretical perspective is:a set of assumptions about an area of study, in

this case about the workings of society

viewed as true by its supporters and it helps them organize their research

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Which perspective is the best?There is no “better” theoretical perspective. Each perspective highlights certain areas of social

life.

The advantages of one perspective are the disadvantages of another.

Certain issues and problems are best understood from a particular perspective.

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Click on each theoretical perspective to learn more.

Society Looks at the InternetWe can use technology to help us understand the role of “perspective taking.”The Internet began as a way for military and scientific

personnel to share information after a nuclear war.

ARPAnet (the Internet’s forerunner) was formed in 1969 with only four connected computers.

According to some estimates, there will be more than 500 million users worldwide by the year 2003.

Cyberspace technology showcases the usefulness of the three theoretical perspectives.

FUNCTIONALISMCONFLICT

PERSPECTIVESYMBOLIC

INTERACTIONISM

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FunctionalismCyberspace has both positive and negative

consequences.

Advantages: parents can work at home and spend more time with children; individuals with disabilities can do jobs at home that would otherwise be denied, becoming more fully integrated into society.

Dysfunctions: young people may have easy access to pornography, which can distort views of human sexuality; hate groups can be formed by strangers living many miles apart; anonymity may encourage antisocial or violent behavior.

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Conflict perspectiveThe Internet is changing American society by

contributing to the increasing speed of technological change.

Social instability created by rapid change might be investigated; workers may be let go as more tasks are performed by computers.

Could guide investigation comparing numbers of computers used in school districts of varying socioeconomic levels. Because computer literacy is becoming essential for obtaining a well-paying job, students at wealthy schools with access to computers may have an advantage over students in poorer districts.

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Symbolic interactionismCan the Internet affect a child’s social development?

Popularity of TV cartoon characters reinforced by Web pages where children join fan clubs, interact with other fans, and view video clips whenever they want.

Some TV shows feature children behaving in ways unacceptable in many American homes. TV provides limited exposure, but the Internet allows them to become part of daily life.

Might conclude that what children come to accept as desirable behavior is based increasingly on interpretations of symbols and behaviors represented by these characters, thus the Internet lessens adult influence on children.

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Think about it...Which perspective would you choose to conduct an in-depth study of the Internet’s effect on society? Why?

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Indicate whether the following statements represent functionalism (F), the conflict perspective (C), or symbolic interactionism (S).

a. Societies are in relative balance.

b. Power is one of the most important elements in social life.

c. Symbols are crucial to social life.

d. Social life should be understood from the viewpoint of individuals involved.

e. Social change is constantly occurring.

f. Conflict is harmful and disruptive to society.

F

C

S

S

C

F

Click the mouse button or press the space bar to display the answers.

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Chapter SummarySociology studies patterns in human social

behavior. It assumes a group, rather than an individual perspective.

Sociology is a young science that started in Europe. After World War II, Americans took the lead in developing the field.

The three major theoretical perspectives are: functionalism (society as an integrated whole), conflict theory (class, race, and gender struggles), and symbolic interactionism (how group members use shared symbols as they interact).