Transcript Theories of Sociology - Findlay City Schools Web Portal

Theories of
Sociology
“the brain of it all”
Objectives: At the end of this
unit students will be able to:
O Identify and explain the three major sociological
theories as well as all important vocabulary
associated with those theories. (social
darwinism, function, dysfunctional, manifest
function, latent function, symbol)
O Identify sociology as a social science as well as
be able to explain how it applies to as well as is
different from other social sciences.
O Explain what the sociological imagination is as
well as its impact our their lives today.
Helps us view the world from a
different “perspective”
Understanding how we can
make a difference…
Video Clip
Elevator Ride
O Article in your perception
packet.
3 Perspectives of Sociology
O - Conflict Perspective
O - Functionalist Perspective
O - Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
Why study Sociology?
O
Gain a new perspective on, or view of, yourself and the world
around you.
DON’T JUST EAT THE ICING ON THE CAKE, LOOK WHAT’S INSIDE…..
Sociological Perspectives
O
Sociological Perspective: looking at social life in a scientific
systematic way, rather than depending on common-sense
explanations.
O
Look beyond commonly held beliefs to the hidden meanings
behind human actions.
DON’T JUST EAT THE ICING ON THE CAKE, LOOK WHAT’S INSIDE…..
How do you make the world better?
O How do you affect the miniature earth that
you live in?
O “Be the change you want to see in the
world”
O http://www.stservicemovie.com/
TOUGH QUESTION #1:
O Question 1: If you knew a woman who was
pregnant, who had 8 kids already, three who
were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally
retarded and she had syphilis; would you
recommend that she have an abortion?
TOUGH QUESTION #1
If you said yes, you just killed Beethoven. (he
was the baby)
TOUGH QUESTION #2:
O
Question 2: It is time to elect a new world leader, and your vote counts.
Here are the facts about the three leading candidates:
O
Candidate A: Associates with crooked politicians, and consults
with astrologists. He’s had two mistresses. He also chain smokes and
drinks 8 to 10 martinis a day.
O
Candidate B: He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until
noon, used opium in college and drinks a quart of whisky every
evening.
O
Candidate C: He is a decorated war hero. He’s a vegetarian,
doesn’t smoke, drinks an occassional beer and hasn’t had any
extramarital affairs.
O
Which of these candidates would be your choice?
TOUGH QUESTION #2
O Candidate A is Franklin D. Roosevelt
O Candidate B is Winston Churchill
O Candidate C is Adolph Hitler
How does this affect your
perception?
O ENVIRONMENT – what do you see?
O How does a sociologist use these clues to
identify problems and offer potential
solutions?
O Broken Window Theory
O George Kelling
O (Urban Sociologist)
BROKEN WINDOW THEORY
O Consider a building with a few broken
windows. If the windows are not repaired,
the tendency is for vandals to break a few
more windows. Eventually, they may even
break into the building, and if it's
unoccupied, perhaps become squatters or
light fires inside.
O Or consider a sidewalk. Some litter
accumulates. Soon, more litter
accumulates. Eventually, people even start
leaving bags of trash from take-out
restaurants there or breaking into cars.
Sociological Perspective
O Someone who can’t find a job is…………
O Homelessness is the result of………………
O Immigrants come here because……………
Sociological Perspective
O Individual Responsibilities

Societal
Responsibilities
Sociological Imagination
O
Ability to see the connection between the
larger world and your personal life.
O
“The capacity to range from the most
impersonal and remote topics to the most
intimate features of the human self – and to
see the relations between the two.”
O
All good sociologists and students of sociology
must possess this ability. You will use this
throughout the entire semester in this class.
Lets try it right now!!! (Illustration Activity)
Can you visualize a
connection?
Use your imagination…..sociological, that is…
Sociological Imagination
DID YOU KNOW?
The Family of Social Sciences
Introduction to the Social Sciences:
O
O
Anthropology – comparative study of past and
present cultures
O
O
O
O
O
O
Most similar to sociology
Psychology – deals with the behavior and
thinking of organisms
Economics – study of the choices people make
in an effort to satisfy their needs and wants.
Political Science – The examination of
organization and operation of governments.
History – the study of past events
Sociology – the study of human society and
social behavior
Conflict Perspective
O
Focus on the forces in society that promote
competition and change
O
View social life as a competing power struggle
among competing social groups
O
Karl Marx – groups in society are engaged in
a continuous power struggle for control of
scarce resources
O
O
Haves vs. Have nots
A few power elite make all the choices….?
Conflict Theory
O Conflict may occur over differences in values &
interests
O Conflict may range from hostility, tension,
competition, and rivalry to outright violence
O Conflict with outside forces binds group members
together
O Conflict over issues may lead to positive social
change
Functionalist Perspective
O
View society as a set of interrelated parts that
work together to produce a stable social
system
O
Survive on consensus – meaning most
people agree on what is good for society, and
then work together to ensure that the social
system runs smoothly.
O
Founders – Comte, Spencer
Structure & Function
HUMAN
BODY
EXAMPLE
Normal vs. Abnormal
Types of Functions:
O Manifest Function –
O Intended and recognized
O Latent Function –
O Unintended & recognized
Applications – What are the functions of…..
Applying Functionalism
O Manifest -
O Latent Functions-
O Latent Dysfunctions
High School – in general
O Manifest -
O Latent -
What is the function of
Higher School?
MANIFEST FUNCTION (intended)
O Transmission of culture
O Facilitating class / racial / ethnic integration
O Creates a informed citizenry
O Produce cognitive skills
O Screening, sorting, selecting talent
O Developing new knowledge
What is the function of
Higher School?
LATENT FUNCTION (unintended)
O Delaying entry into the workplace
O Babysitting so parents can work
O Teaching discipline & obedience
O Reproduction of social class
Education - Crash & Burn
Miss
South
Carolina
Video Clip
SYMBOLIC
Interactionist
O
Focuses on how individuals interact with one another
in Society, and the shared meanings they place on
their own actions and the actions of others.
O
MEANS OF COMMUNICATION!!
O
Primary groups are the most impactful
(family, peer group, school mates, coworkers)
O
Bottom line – life wouldn’t make sense
Symbols in
everyday life
O Without symbols – there would be no aunts,
dads, employers, teachers, or even brothers
or sisters.
O Symbols define what our relationships are.
O Behavior – different among parents, peers,
boyfriend / girlfriend?
O Simple Symbols Scenario:
Suppose that you are head over heels in love with
someone and are going to marry this person
tomorrow.
The night before your wedding, your mother
confides in you that she had a child before she
married, and gave it up for adoption.
She then tells you that she has just discovered that
the person you are going to marry is this child.
How does this symbol change your mind?
Interactionist Perspective
contd.
O Use of Symbols –
O Physical Objects, gestures, words, and
events.
O Examples?
FIRE!!
Symbols
O United States
Symbols with cross cultural meanings
O Example:
Meaning?
Symbols
Satanic?
Peace?
Nuclear
Disarmament?
“Miss”use of Symbols – Why?
O Just don’t do it…..
Isn’t Sociology Sweet?
O We must look deeper into understanding
situations around us…..let’s not get “stuck”
Clip
On the ride…….