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Introduction to Sociology Understanding Sociology DEFINITION “Sociology is the study of social behavior and human groups” (Schaeffer, 2011). Sociology is a branch of social science that deals with the study of society, groups, processes, norms (laws, practices, patterns of behavior; a belief of what is acceptable; unwritten or written rules on how to behave), and organizations. NORMS (obvious) in the CLASSROOM No cheating Talk only when you are told to do so No smoking, no PDA No sleeping DEFINITION “A social science involving the study of the social lives of people, groups, and societies.” (American Sociological Society) DEFINITION “Sociology is the study of how society is organized and how we experience life.” (collective experience) (British Sociological Association) Why people group themselves? Why people organize? Are there social forces/phenomenon that move people to organize? How people interact with each other and how these interactions impact on individuals. DEFINITION “Sociology is also the study of social interaction.” FOCUS of Sociology (Schaeffer, 2011) Impacts of relationships on people’s attitude and behavior. Photo courtesy of http://www.openideo.com/open/impact/inspiration/social-network-analysis FOCUS of Sociology (Schaeffer, 2011) How societies develop and change. Sociology and the Social Sciences █ Science: Body of knowledge obtained by methods based on systematic observation – Natural science: Study of physical features of nature and the ways they interact and change Source: Schaeffer, 2011 (McGraw Hill) – Social science: Study of social features of humans and the ways they interact and change Additional Notes on Sociology The discipline is holistic and is related to everything else. Focus of Sociology Actors, Roles, Rules, and Relationships. Let us take for example, our classroom. Sociology in Sayings Birds of the same feathers flock together. Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are. How is SOCIOLOGY DIFFERENT? Psychology- Individual Behavior Sociology-Group Behavior Photo courtesy of: Cardiff University School of Social Sciences LADY K LADY K: The 'American Idol' winner struggled with bulimia for six months until friends discovered her secret and begged her to get help. Possible cause factors Poor self image Low self-esteem History of trauma or abuse Major life changes Appearance oriented professions Source: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/bulimia_signs_symptoms_causes_treatm ent.htm How sociologists examine society? Rely on critical thinking, which C. Wright Mills calls, SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION What is SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION? “An awareness of the relationship between and individual and the wider society, both today and in the past” (Schaeffer, 2011). The connection between history and biography. SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION ABILITY TO VIEW One's OWN WORLD as an OUTSIDER! SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION ABILITY TO VIEW One's OWN WORLD as an OUTSIDER! SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION It allows us to go beyond personal experiences and observation to understand broader public issues. DIVORCE A personal problem between husband and wife. Divorce may influence family (family in transition). Divorce may deconstruct the traditional notion of family. DIVORCE QUESTIONS THE VERY CONCEPT OF MARRIAGE To live happily ever after. Love is the very foundation of marriage. But why divorce happens? “Consider unemployment. When, in a city of one hundred thousand, one man is unemployed, that is his personal trouble, and for its relief, we may properly look to the character of the man and his skills. But when in a nation of fifty million employees, fifteen million men are unemployed, that is an issue, and we may not hope to find its solution within the range of opportunities open to any one individual. The very structure of opportunities has collapsed” C. Wright Mills (1959) OTHER SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES DEBUNKING- “Debunking is a process of questioning actions and ideas that are usually taken for granted.” (Peter Berger) Aha Attitude Healthy skepticism regarding common notions AHA ATTITUDE DIG THE HOLE Sociological Imagination Is also an examination of the effects of social forces on people’s personal and social lives. What are social forces? (racism, gender inequality, population growth or decline, globalization, poverty, change in education, etc) Social forces are processes, realities, and notions/concepts of something that are considered an “in thing”. Sociological Thinking See the strange from the familiar-to detach oneself from what is common. From general to the particular-to seek for general patterns in the behavior of individuals. Example For many years, scholars thought that Japan is a homogenous society. But this is no longer the case. Cultural diversity has existed in Japan even before it opened its door to foreigners. Foreigners are increasing in Japan. Other Examples Women tend to be chattier than men Military marriages more likely to end in separation or divorce Source:http://complexrhetoric.blogspot.com/2008/07/xkcd-on-literary-criticism.html