What are the factors that keep society together?

• What are the factors that keep teams together?

Emile Durkheim

•French philosopher and sociologist

•Believed humans are social. Society gives us meaning and purpose

•Emphasized cooperation rather than conflict

•Interested in the shared norms and values that make social life possible

•Applied scientific methods to study society

•Studied things we can observe and measure (ex. “Suicide”, 1st true sociological study)

(1858-1917)

What is the function (purpose) of sport in society?

• What is the purpose of sports in an individual’s life?

Durkheim

• Each part of society has its own function (like parts of a body)

• Ex. Religion’s function is to maintains social order by creating shared beliefs and values.

Society as an Organism – Bill Clinton Interview

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiNjU8DwJMo

What’s the role of Sociologists?

• Study social facts: facts that are true of groups of people rather than individuals

• Social facts include values, norms, and social structures external to the individual

Examples of Social Facts

• The idea of a husband or wife• Divorce• Marriage• Religion• Crime• A particular piece of paper is a one dollar bill

and has value

Studying Social Facts

• Social facts can be studied through research• Social facts allow us to compare groups of

people• Durkheim studied suicide

Ex. Social fact: Single people committed suicide more than did married people.

Ex. Social fact: Married people with children committed suicide less often than married people without children

Marx vs. Durkheim

• Marx– All about conflict– Concerned with the

material world– Grand views on history– Class conflicts led to

capitalism and would lead to communism

• Durkheim– All about cooperation– Concerned with ideas

and values– Grand views on history– Developing technology

would lead to functional differentiation

Max Weber•German political economist and sociologist

•Both conflict (Marx) and cooperation (Durkheim) are essential to social life.

•Both material resources (Marx) and cultural values (Durkheim) are important

•Interested in separate groups of society instead of the whole.

•We must consider people’s interpretations of events (feelings and thoughts)

•Cared more about the individual

1864-1920

Max Weber and his thoughts on Sociology•Verstehen (to understand): Understanding the meaning of actions from the individual’s point of view. Put yourself in the place of others.

1864-1920

Practicing Verstehen

Max Weber’s Ideas

• Rationalization: Logic and reason were coming to dominate faith and emotion in most areas of social life– Standards rules and systems are meant to apply to

everyone.– Society runs like a machine– Faster and more predictable

Weber’s Iron Cage

• Iron Cage– Industrial, mechanistic

world of rational calculation

– Lacking spirit, ideas– Negative sign of

rationalization– Social life increasingly

dominated by rational institutions and practices

I Love Lucy and the Iron Cage

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YGF5R9i53A&feature=fvwrel

Macrosociology vs Microsociology

Macrosociology• Analysis on a large scale• Grand views of society and

history• Comte, Marx, Durkheim• What is the role of sports in

society?

Microsociology • Everyday human social

interactions on a small scale.

• Face to face• Weber• What is the role of sports in

an individual’s life?

Understanding Sociological Perspectives

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EttgY4nzst0

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UJIPs2eG20

Analyze and apply sociological theories to an explanation of human behavior

and social organization

• Use your sociological imagination to analyze a social problem or situation in social life that you find interesting and/or problematic. Vividly recount a situation/experience that you’d like to analyze. Spend no more than a page outlining your notes. Explain how different sociological perspectives (functionalist, conflict, symbolic interactionist, feminist) would explain the issue. Cite at least two sociologists (Marx, Durkheim, Weber) and explain how they

would see the issue.

Theories about Society

• 1. Functionalist Theory• 2. Conflict Theory• 4. Symbolic Interactionist Theory• 5. Feminist Theory

Functionalist Theory

• Assumption that all driving force behind social life is to continue to operate and function effectively

• Elements of society have a function

Conflict Theory

• Focus is on inequalities in society rather than what is required to keep a society running

• Based on Karl Marx’ theory• Assumption that sport is a reflection of the

exploitative and unequal practices of capitalist society

Symbolic Interactionist Theory

• Sport is seen as a meaningful interaction between people

• Belief that our identities are formed through interactions with people

• Research what meaning sport/physical activity provides for people

Feminist Theories

• Feminist Theories are critical theories based on experiences of women that have been devalued, exploited and oppressed in many societies

• Organized popularized sports reflect male traits; typical female traits don’t count much

• Feminist theories are committed to gender equality

Day 4 – The End