Transcript Chapter 1, Developing A Sociological Perspective

Chapter 1
Developing A
Sociological
Perspective
Chapter Outline





What is Sociology?
The Sociological Imagination
Significance of Diversity
The Development of Sociology
Theoretical Frameworks in Sociology
What Is Sociology?



Study of human behavior viewed in society.
A scientific way of thinking about society and
its influence on human groups.
Topics include social behavior and social
change.
Disciplines of Sociology





Psychology
Anthropology
Political Science
Economics
Social Work
Debunking



Looking at behind-the-scenes patterns and
processes that shape behavior.
Questioning actions and ideas that are usually
taken for granted.
Acting as “an outsider within.”
Diversity




People are shaped by social context.
The United States is comprised of people from
all nations and races.
In 1900, 1 in 8 Americans was not White.
Today, racial and ethnic minority groups,
including African Americans, Latinos, American
Indians, and Asian Americans, are ¼ of the
U.S. population.
Sociology and the Enlightenment


Characterized by faith in the ability of human
reason to solve society’s problems.
Belief that natural laws and processes in
society could be discovered and used for the
general good.
Influence of the Enlightenment


Positivists believed that society could be
studied using the techniques of the natural
sciences.
Humanitarianism is based on the belief that
human reason can successfully direct social
change for the betterment of society.
Development of
Sociology in Europe



Comte coined the term sociology and
elaborated the positivist basis of sociology.
Tocqueville described the U.S. in the
sociological treatise, Democracy in America.
Martineau wrote one of the first methods books
on participant observation.
Classical Sociological Theory



Durkheim identified social facts as a pattern of
behavior that can be explained external to
individuals.
Marx devoted his work to explaining how
capitalism shaped society.
Weber developed the concept of verstehen,
seeing things from others point of view.
The Development
of American Sociology


American sociologists believed sociology could
be used to solve social problems.
The Chicago School was characterized by
concern with the relationship of individual to
society and the use of society as a human
laboratory.
Theoretical Frameworks in Society



Functionalism - emphasizes order and views
disorganization as the impetus for change.
Conflict theory - emphasizes the role of
coercion and power in producing social order.
Symbolic interaction -considers social
interaction to be the place where “society”
exists.