Transcript Chapter 1x - Northside Middle School

Chapter 1:
An Invitation to
Sociology
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The Sociological Perspective
• Perspective – a particular point of View.
Ex. Babies are usually brighter and better looking to their
parents than they are to others.
• SOCIOLOGY – the study of human social behavior or the
scientific study of Social Structure(Human Social Behavior).
• Sociology never focuses on the individual. Its focus is on the
social or group level.
• Sociologist look at the behavior of groups, not individuals.
• Sociology is considered to be a Social Science. We will look at
6 Social Sciences
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Social Sciences
Sociology
Investigate human social
behavior or patterns of
social relationships,
primarily in modern
societies.
Ex. Relationship
between the
employment of women
and family size.
Anthropology
Investigates Culture,
Customary Belief, and
Traits of Preliterate
Societies(no writing)
Ex. Nature of the family
in preliterate societies.
Psychology
Investigates human
mental & Emotional
processes and
development and
functioning of the
individual.
Ex. Effects of Birth Order
on Emotional
Development
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Social Sciences
Economics
Study of Production,
Distribution, &
Consumption of Goods
and Services. How we
use our resources.
Ex. Annual Income of
American Families.
Political Science
Study of the
organization,
Administration, History,
Theory of Government,
Voting Patterns, &
participation in Political
Parties.
Ex. Relationship
between a families social
class and voting
behavior.
History
Study of the past events
in Human Society.
Ex. Nature of family life
in a Colonial Society.
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How do Group Behavior and
Individual Behavior differ?
• It relates to Patterned relationships or what Sociologist call
Social Structure.
• Emile Durkheim 19th century Sociologist used the example of
Bronze to illustrate this. Bronze is made of Lead, Copper, and
Tin. Three malleable metals that when melted together form
a hard metal.
• Peoples behavior within a group cannot be predicted from
their personal characteristics. Something new is created when
individuals come together.
• Ex. 1999 Denver Broncos when the Super Bowl.
• Ex. 1999 Texas Bonfire Tragedy – A Pep Rally at Texas A&M
• A Burning Desire to beat Texas
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Sociology
• Sociological Imagination the ability to see the link between
society and self.
• ORIGINS OF SOCIOLOGY
• Sociology began in the late 19th Century in Europe. Social &
Econo0mic effects of the Industrial Revolution and The
French Revolution were touching all aspects of Life.
• People were moving from Farms to Factory life, losing a
sense of Community.
• The Intellectuals were fascinated and troubled by the sudden
change. They wanted to bring back a sense of community &
restore order.
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Sociologist
• Auguste Comte – (1798-1857) a French scholar recognized as
the “Father of Sociology”
• Comte did not originate the concept of Sociology, but he
greatly extended and elaborated the field. He divided
Sociology into two main branches:
• Social Statics – or the study of forces that hold Society
together, and
• Social Dynamics – or the study of forces (causes) that promote
Social Change.
• These two branches remain the center of Sociology today.
• Comte is credited with coining the term Sociology. He wanted
to use Scientific Observation in the study of Social Behavior;
he called this Positivism – or the belief that knowledge should
be derived from scientific observation.
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Sociologist
• Harriet Martineau – (1802-1876) An English woman.
• She was born into a solid middle-class family; and before she
reached adulthood she lost her sense of smell, taste, and
hearing. Her Gift was the ability to take complicated subjects
and put them in terms that people could understand. She was
probably the most educated woman of her time. Before her
death she had written 100’s of articles on Justice, Abolition,
and Women’s Rights. She also translated Comte’s works from
French to English and made them much easier to understand.
• Comte took her English translation and translated it back to
French and taught from her translation. This is why she is
recognized as a Pioneer of Sociology.
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Sociologist
• Herbert Spencer –(1820-1903) an Englishman.
• Spencer compared Society to the Human Body. He explained
that like a body, a Society is composed of parts working
together to promote its well-being and survival.
• Spencer introduced the Theory of Social Change, that became
known as Social Darwinism, based on Darwin’s Theory of
Evolution. Spencer thought that Evolutionary Social Change
led to progress. If left alone, Natural Social Selection would
ensure survival of the fittest society.
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Sociologist
• Karl Marx (1818-1883) a German scholar who did not consider
himself a sociologist, but his ideas had a major effect on the
field. He was concerned with poverty and inequality suffered
by the working class. He felt that Social Scientist should try to
change the world, not just observe it.
• Marx predicted that at some point all Industrial Societies
would only have 2 Social Classes: the Proletariat and the
Bourgeoisie. The Bourgeoisie were the wealthy, who owned
the factories and large businesses. The Proletariat were the
workers, who were paid just enough to stay alive.
• Marx predicted Class Conflict between these two Social
Classes; where the Proletariat would eventually rebel and
overthrow the Bourgeoisie.
• The result would be a Classless (Communist) Society in which
there would be NO POWERLESS PROLETARIAT.
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Sociologist
• Marx was convinced that Planned Revolution would speed up
the change from Capitalism to Communism.
• Political Objective was to explain the workings of Capitalism in
order to hasten it fall through revolution. He believed that
Capitalism would eventually self-destruct anyway.
Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) son of a French Rabbi. Durkheim
believed Society exists because of a Broad Agreement among
the members of Society.
• In Preindustrial Times, Society was based on MECHANICAL
SOLIDARITY. In these Societies there was wide spread
consensus of values, beliefs, strong social pressure for
conformity and dependence on traditions and family.
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Sociologist
• Industrial Societies were based on Organic Solidarity, a Social
Interdependency based on a web of highly specialized roles.
• Ex. Instead of being self-sufficient, People need Bankers and
Bankers need People.
• Max Weber (1864-1920) German son o0f a well-to-do lawyer,
Mother was a strongly, devout Calvinist, who rejected the worldly
lifestyle of her husband. Weber was psychologically affected by his
parents conflicting values. He suffered a mental breakdown and
recovered fully to do some of his best work. Weber believed that
Human beings act on the basis of their understanding of a situation.
Sociologist must discover the personal meanings, values, beliefs, and
attitudes underlying human social behavior. This can best be done
by
• VERSTEHEN- understanding the Social behavior by putting yourself
mentally in their place. Temporarily shedding your values and seeing
thing from another POV.
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Sociologist
• Weber identified RATIONALIZATION as a key influence in the
change from Preindustrial to Industrial Society.
• Rationalization – the mind-set emphasizing knowledge,
reason, and planning in the change from Preindustrial to
Industrial Societies.
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Sociologist
• Karl Marx (1818-1893) A German Scholar who
did not consider himself a Sociologist, but his
ideas had a major effect of the field. He was
concerned with poverty and inequality suffered
by the working class. He felt that Sociologist
should try to change the world, not just study it.
• Marx predicted a Class Conflict between these
two Social Classes; where the Proletariat would
eventually rebel and overthrow the Bourgeoisie
and the result would be a Classless
(Communistic) Society. One in which there
would be no powerless Proletariat.
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Sociologist
• Marx was convinced that Planned Revolution would speed up
the change from Capitalism to Communism.
• His Political Objective was to explain the workings of
Capitalism in order to hasten its fall through Revolution. He
believed that Capitalism would eventually self-destruct
anyway.
• Emile Durkheim – (1858-1917) – son of a French Rabbi.
• Durkheim believed Society exists because of broad
consensus(agreement) among the members of Society.
• In Pre-Industrial Times, Society was based on Mechanical
Solidarity. In these Societies there was a widespread
consensus of Values, Beliefs, Strong Social pressure to
Conform, and dependency on Traditions and Family.
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Sociologist
• Durkheim believed that Industrial Societies were based on
Organic Solidarity or Social Interdependency based on a web
of highly specialized roles. Ex. People needed bankers and
bankers needed people.
• Max Weber (1864-1920) German, Son of a well-to-do Lawyer.
Mother was a strongly, devout Calvinist, who rejected the
worldly lifestyle of her husband. Weber was psychologically
affected by his parents conflicting values. He suffered a
mental breakdown and after recovering fully went on to do
some of his best work.
• Weber stated that Human Beings act on the basis of their
understanding of a situation. Sociologist must discover the
personal meanings, values, beliefs, and attitudes underlying
Human Social Behavior.
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Sociologist
• Weber believed that an understanding of the personal
intentions of people in groups can be best accomplished
through the method of Verstehen. Understanding the Social
Behavior of others by putting yourself mentally in their places.
• By putting yourself in someone else’s “shoes” allows you to
temporarily shed your values and see things from a different
point of view.
• Weber also identified rationalization as a key influence in the
change from a Preindustrial to Industrial Society.
• Rationalization is the mind-set that emphasizes the use of
knowledge, reason, and planning. Which was a change from
the tradition, emotion, and superstition of Preindustrial
Society.
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Sociologist
• Sociology in America It is through the efforts of American
Sociologist that Sociology became a social Science.
• 1892 - First Department of Sociology was established at the
University of Chicago. This Department was the leader in
Sociology in America until after WW2.
• After WW2, (1945-1960) Sociology Departments were
established at Harvard, Columbia University, University of
Wisconsin, Michigan, Stanford and the University of California
at Berkeley.
• Two early American Sociologist who are often left out of
Sociology History are Jane Addams and W.E.B. DuBois.
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Sociologist
• Jane Addams (1860-1935) Her mother died when she was
two, but her wealthy father provided a loving and Comfortable
home for her and her eight siblings. She was an excellent
student and her early education emphasized practical
knowledge and the improvement of “The Organization of
Human Society”.
• Addams saw many examples of Government Corruption and
Business Practices that harmed workers. She never forgot
their suffering, On a trip to Europe, she saw work being done
to help the poor of London. She was inspired by this action
and upon returning to America, she co-founded the HULL
HOUSE in Chicago’s slums. People who needed refuge –
immigrants, the sick, the poor, the aged – could find help.
• She focused on the problems caused by the imbalance of
power among the Social Classes. She invited Sociologist from
the University of Chicago to come and see first hand effects of
Industrialization on the lower classes.
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Sociologist
• Addams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. The only
Sociologist to receive this honor!
• Addams was not considered a Sociologist during her lifetime
because 1. she was a woman and 2. she did not teach at a
University. She was considered a social worker, because she
was a woman and worked directly with the poor.
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Section 3: Theoretical Perspective
• Perspective – the way you interpret the meanings of an image
or event. Your Perspective is influenced by Beliefs or Values
you hold. It draws your attention to some things and blinds
you to others. Ex.
• Your Perspective influences what you see
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Theoretical Perspective
• Theoretical Perspective – a set of assumptions about an area
of study – in this case, about the workings of society.
• A Theoretical Perspective is viewed as true by its supporters
and it helps them organize their research.
• Sociology has three overarching Theoretical Perspectives;
Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic Interactionism.
• Each provides a different perspective on human Social
behavior. The exclusive use of any one of them prevents our
seeing other aspects of social behavior. Ex. Can’t see old
woman and young woman at the same time.
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Theoretical Perspective
• All three perspectives, together, however, allow us to see most
of the important dimensions.
• FUNCTIONALISM – EMPHASIZES THE CONTRIBUTIONS
(FUNCTIONS) OF EACH PART OF SOCIETY.
• EX. FAMILY – CONTRIBUTES TO SOCIETY BY PROVIDING FOR
REPRODUCTION AND THE CARE OF ITS NEW MEMBERS.
• ECONOMY – CONTRIBUTES TO SOCIETY BY DEALING WITH
PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND CONSUMPTION OF
GOODS & SERVICES.
• RELIGION – CONTRIBUTES TO SOCIETTY BY EMPHASIZING
BELIEFS AND PRACTICES RELATED TO SACRED THINGS
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Theoretical Perspective
• Functionalism VS. Social Change
• Functionalism assumes that Societies tend to return to a state
of stability after some upheaval has occurred. Society will do
this by changing in such a way that it will be similar to what it
was before.
• Student unrest and Protest of the 1960’s illustrate this. The
activities of the Protesters help bring about some change.
• Many Americans become suspicious of American Foreign
Policy.
• Schools and Universities become more responsive to students’
needs and goals.
• Environmental Protection became an important Political Issue
to many Americans.
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Theoretical Perspective
• These changes did not revolutionize American Society. They
have been absorbed into it. Our Society is only somewhat
different from the way it was before the student unrest.
• Do all Functions have a Positive Effect?
• Most aspects of a Society exist to promote a Societies
survival and welfare. This is why all complex Societies have
economics, families, government, and religions. If these
elements did not contribute to a Societies well-being and
survival, they would disappear.
• A Function is a contribution made by some part of a Society.
There are two types of Positive Functions:
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Theoretical Perspective
• 1. Manifest Functions – intended and recognized
consequences of an aspect of Society. Ex. school
• 2. Latent Functions – unintended and unrecognized
consequences of an aspect of Society. Ex. school
• Dysfunction – a negative aspect of an aspect of Society. Ex.
DMV
• How do Functionalist view Values?
• According to Functionalism, there is a consensus on Values.
• Ex. Most Americans agree on Democracy, Success, and Equal
Opportunity. This consensus of Values account for the high
degree of cooperation found in any Society.
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Theoretical Perspective
• CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE
• Conflict perspective emphasizes Conflict, Competition,
Change, and Constraint within a Society.
• Functionalist see a basic agreement on values within a
society. This leads them to emphasize the ways people
cooperate to reach common goals.
• The Conflict Perspective focuses of disagreement among
various groups in a Society or between Societies. Groups
and Societies compete as they attempt to preserve and
promote their own special values and interest.
• Conflict Perspective supporters see Social Living as a Contest.
Their Question is “Who gets what?”
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Theoretical Perspective
• It is those with the most Power – the ability to control the
behavior of others – who get the largest share of whatever is
considered valuable in a Society.
• Those with the most Power have the most Wealth, Prestige,
and Privileges. Because some groups have more than others,
they are able to constrain, or limit, the less Powerful.
• CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE vs. SOCIAL CHANGE
• Many conflicting groups exist in a Society. As the balance of
Power shifts among these groups, change occurs. Ex. The
Women’s Movement – We see larger numbers of women in
occupations once limited to men. More women are either
making or influencing decisions in business, politics,
medicine, and law.
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Theoretical Perspective
• Gender Relations are changing in other ways, too.
• More women are choosing:
•
•
•
•
to remain single
To marry later in life
To have fewer children
To divide household task with their husbands.
• According to the Conflict Perspective, These changes are the
result of increasing Power among women.
• Symbolic Interactionism
• Two Sociologist – Cooley and Mead, developed the insight that
groups exist only because their members influence each other’s
behavior.
• To understand Symbolic Interactionism, we need to understand
symbols.
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Theoretical Perspective
• SYMBOLS – Anything that stands for something else and has
an agreed upon meaning attached to it. The symbol may be
an object, a word, a gesture, a facial expression, or a sound.
A Symbol is something observable that often represents
something that is abstract. Ex. School Mascot – School
Loyalty or American Flag – Symbol of the U.S. and all that it
stand for.
• SYMBOLS HAVE TO BE AGREED UPON WITHIN THE GROUP
OR SOCIETY! Ex. Red lights
• Therefore Symbolic Interactionism (SI) The Theoretical
Perspective that focuses on interactions among people,
Interactions based on mutually understood Symbols.
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Theoretical Perspective
• BASIC ASSUMPTIONS OF SYMBOLS IN S.I.
• Herbert Blumer (1969) coined the term Symbolic
Interactionism.
• Assumptions:
• 1. We learn the meaning of Symbols from the way we see
others reacting to them. Ex. Latin American audience whistling
at the end of a performance in Latin America = Booing by an
American audience.
• 2. Once we learn the meaning of Symbols, we base our
behavior (interactions) on them. Ex. If the audience in Latin
America is whistling, we do not perform an encore. In the US
we would.
• 3. We use the meaning of symbols to imagine how others will
respond to our behavior.
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Theoretical Perspective
• Through this capability, we have internal conversations with
ourselves. These conversations allow us to respond to ourselves
before we act. This is crucial, because we guide our interactions
with people according to the behavior we think others expect of us
and we expect of others. Meanwhile these others are also having
internal conversations. The Interaction (acting on each other) that
follows is Symbolic Interaction.
• Erving Goffman (1974) introduced Dramaturgy – the approach that
depicts Human Interaction as Theatrical Performances.
• Like actors on a stage, people present themselves through dress,
gestures, and tone of voice. Ex. Sometimes teenagers act in a
particular way in order to attract attention of someone they want
to like them. Goffman calls this Presentation of Self or Impression
Management.
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Theoretical Perspective
Functionalism
Conflict Perspective
Symbolic Interactionism
1. A Society is a
relatively integrated
whole.
1. A Society experiences 1. Peoples
inconsistency and
interpretations of
conflict everywhere
Symbols are based on
the meanings they learn
from others.
2. A Society tends to
seek relative stability.
2. A Society is
continually subjected to
change.
2. People base their
interaction on their
interpretations of
Symbols.
3. Most aspects of a
Society contribute to
the Society's wellbeing and survival.
4. A Society rests on the
Consensus of its
members.
3. A Society involves the
constraint and coercion
of some members by
others.
3. Symbols permit
people to have internal
conversations. Thus,
they can gear their
interaction to the
behavior that they think
others expect of them
and the behavior they
expect of others.
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