Transcript Sociology - Redlands Community College

Sociology:
Your Compass
for a New World
Robert J. Brym and John Lie
Preface: Why a Compass for a New World?
► All
maps allow us to find our place in the
world and see ourselves in context of larger
forces.
► Sociological maps allow us to ‘grasp the
interplay of [people] and society, of
biography and history’ (C. Wright Mills quoted
in Brym & Lie 2007,p.xxv)
► This
book shows you how to draw
sociological maps so you can see your place
in the world, figure out how to navigate
through it, and perhaps discover how to
improve it.
Why a Compass for a New World?
► Sociological
maps can help us make sense
of our lives, however uncertain they may
appear to be. (Brym & Lie 2007, p.xxvi)
► Sociological maps, by revealing the
opportunities and constraints you face can
help to teach you who you are and what
you can become in this particular social and
historical context. (Brym & Lie 2007, p.xxvi)
Why a Compass for a New World?
►Maps
do not tell you where to go or what to do
– maps are tools to help you plan your own trip
►Therefore, this textbook has five main goals:
1. To help you draw the connections between one’s
self and one’s social world
2. To teach you how to think versus what to think
3. To help you make connections between the
objective science of sociology & the subjective
experiences of people
4. To help you broaden your horizons with discussions
of diversity and global issues
5. To deal with sociology, not just as a historical
discipline but as a current guide for life.
Chapter 1: A Sociological Compass
In this chapter you will learn:
► That
sociologists believe that the causes of human
behavior lie mostly in the patterns of social
relations that surround and permeate us.
► That
sociologists examine the connection between
social relations and personal troubles
► About
the origins and founders of Sociology
► The
role of Sociology in understanding the scope,
direction, and significance of social change
► The
role of Sociology in your own life
Chapter 1: A Sociological Compass
In this chapter you will learn:
► That
Sociology helps us see the operation of the social
world more clearly
► That Sociologists are often motivated to do research
by the desire to improve people’s lives.
► That sociologists adopt scientific methods to test their
ideas.
► That sociology can help you come to grips with your
century, just as it helped the founders of society deal
with theirs.
► That sociology can help us create the best possible
future [for ourselves and our world] and this is the
principal justification for the discipline of sociology
(Brym & Lie 2007, p.xxvi)
What is Sociology?
Sociology is the
systematic study of
human behavior in social
context
What is Sociology?
Sociology is the
systematic study of
human behavior in social
context
For example….
Sociology and Suicide?
► Traditional
Viewpoint – suicide is a result of
psychological disorder in the individual
Sociology and Suicide?
► Traditional
Viewpoint – suicide is a result of
psychological disorder in the individual
► Durkheim’s sociological perspective – suicide
rates strongly influenced by social forces
 Social Solidarity vs. Psychological Disorder
From Personal Troubles to
Social Structures
► Society
lives in you
► Patterns of social relations affect your
innermost thoughts and feelings, influence
your actions, and thus help shape who you
are.
► Stable patterns of social relations are called
Social Structures
► Our own sociological awareness involves
recognizing that three levels of social
structure surround and permeate us.
From Personal Troubles to Social Structures
Microstructures
Macrostructures
Global structures
From Personal Troubles to Social Structures
Microstructures
Patterns of intimate
social relations formed
during face-to-face
interaction
-families, friendships,
work associations
Macrostructures
Global structures
From Personal Troubles to Social Structures
Microstructures
Macrostructures
Patterns of social
relations that lie outside
and above your circle of
intimates and
acquaintances
-classes, bureaucracies,
and power systems
such as patriarchy
Global structures
From Personal Troubles to Social Structures
Microstructures
Macrostructures
Global structures
patterns of social
relations that lie outside
and above the national
level
- International
organizations, patterns
of worldwide travel and
communication,
economic relations
between countries
The Sociological Imagination
► The
quality of mind that enables one to see
the connection between personal troubles
and social structures.
► Let’s read his entire statement together…
► C. Wright Mills (pp.7-8, Brym & Lie)
The Sociological Imagination
►Born
during three modern revolutions
that pushed people to think about
society in an entirely new way
 The Scientific Revolution
 The Democratic Revolution
 The Industrial Revolution
The Sociological Imagination
►Born
during three modern revolutions that
pushed people to think about society in an
entirely new way
 The Scientific Revolution (1550)
Not just about Newton’s apple
► It encouraged the view that
sound conclusions about the
workings of society must be
based on solid evidence, not just speculation
► Descartes (France) and Hobbs (England) called
for a science of society
►
 The Democratic Revolution
 The Industrial Revolution
The Sociological Imagination
► Born
during three modern revolutions that pushed
people to think about society in an entirely new way
 The Scientific Revolution
The Democratic Revolution (1750)
► Radical
Idea that people
are responsible for society
and therefore human
intervention can solve social
problems
► Much of the justification for sociology as a
science arose out of democratic revolutions
►
The Industrial Revolution
The Sociological Imagination
► Born
during three modern revolutions that
pushed people to think about society in an
entirely new way
 The Scientific Revolution
 The Democratic Revolution
 The Industrial Revolution (1780)
► Created
host of new and serious
social problems that attracted
attention of social thinkers
► Growth of industry moved people to cities –
overcrowding, long hours, dangerous working
conditions, bureaucracy, filth, and poverty
► Social thinkers responded by giving birth to the
sociological imagination
The Sociological Imagination
► Born
during three modern revolutions that
pushed people to think about society in
an entirely new way
 The Scientific Revolution
► Suggested
that a science of society is possible
 The Democratic Revolution
► Suggested
society
that people can intervene to improve
The Industrial Revolution
► Presented
social thinkers with a host of social
problems crying out for a solution
The Sociological Imagination
► Born
during three modern revolutions that
pushed people to think about society in
an entirely new way
 The Scientific Revolution
► Suggested
that a science of society is possible
 The Democratic Revolution
► Suggested
society
that people can intervene to improve
The Industrial Revolution
► Presented
social thinkers with a host of social
problems crying out for a solution
The Sociological Imagination
► Born
during three modern revolutions that
pushed people to think about society in
an entirely new way
 The Scientific Revolution
► Suggested
that a science of society is possible
 The Democratic Revolution
► Suggested
society
that people can intervene to improve
The Industrial Revolution
► Presented
social thinkers with a host of social
problems crying out for a solution
The Birth of
Theory, Research, and Values
Theory without practice
cannot survive and dies as
quickly as it lives. He who
loves practice without theory
is like the sailor who boards
ship without a rudder and
compass and never knows
where he may be cast.
-Leonardo da Vinci
(quoted in Brym & Lie, 2007)
The Birth of
Theory, Research, and Values
► Theory-
a tentative explanation of
some aspect of social life that states
how and why certain facts are related
► Research- the process of systematically
observing reality to assess the validity
of a theory
► Values-ideas about what is right and
wrong
The Birth of
Theory, Research, and Values
Founders of Sociology:
August Comte, French social
thinker, coined the term
sociology in 1838
Herbert Spencer, believed he
had discovered scientific
laws governing the
operations of society
The Birth of
Theory, Research, and Values
Giants of Sociology:
Karl Marx
Emile Durkheim
Max Weber
Sociological Theory and Theorists
►Functionalism
►Conflict
Theory
►Symbolic Interactionism
►Feminist Theory
Sociological Theory and Theorists
►
Functionalism – 4 tenets
1. Human behavior is governed by
stable patterns of social relations,
or social structures
2. Social structures maintain or
undermine social stability-how the
parts (structures) fit together and
how each part contributes to the
stability of the whole (its function)
Sociological Theory and Theorists
►
Functionalism – 4 tenets
3. Social structures are based mainly
on shared values, a moral cement
that binds people together
4. Reestablishing equilibrium can best
solve most social problems – a
conservative response to social
unrest
Sociological Theory and Theorists
►
Functionalism Major Theorists
 Emile Durkheim
 Robert Merton and Talcott Parsons
Sociological Theory and Theorists
►
Conflict Theory – 4 tenets
1. Focuses on large, macro-level
structures
2. Shows how major patterns of
inequality in society produce social
stability in some circumstances and
social change in others
Sociological Theory and Theorists
►
Conflict Theory – 4 tenets
3. Stresses how members of
privileged groups try to maintain
their advantages while subordinate
groups struggle to increase theirsan on-going power struggle.
4. Typically leads to the suggestion
that eliminating privilege will lower
the level of conflict and increase
total human welfare.
Sociological Theory and Theorists
Conflict Theory – Major Theorists
Max Weber
C. Wright Mills W.E.B. Du Bois
Karl Marx
Sociological Theory and Theorists
►
Symbolic Interactionism – 4 tenets
1. Focus on interpersonal communication
in micro-level social settings
2. Emphasis on social life as possible only
because people attach meanings to
things-understanding subjective
meanings people associate with social
circumstances
Sociological Theory and Theorists
►
Symbolic Interactionism
3. People help to create their social
circumstances and do not merely
react to them (all the world’s a stage)
4. Validation of unpopular and nonofficial
viewpoints by focusing on the
subjective meanings people create in
small social settings – increases our
understanding of people who may be
different from us.
Sociological Theory and Theorists
►
Symbolic Interactionism –Major
Theorists
Erving Goffman
George Herbert Mead
Max Weber
Sociological Theory and Theorists
►
Symbolic Interactionism – variant:
 Social constructionism
►
Apparently natural or innate features
of life are often sustained by social
processes that vary historically and
culturally
Sociological Theory and Theorists
►
Feminist Theory – 4 tenets
1. Focuses on various aspects of
patriarchy – system of male
domination in society
2. Male domination and female
subordination are determined not by
biological necessity but by structures
of power and social convention
Sociological Theory and Theorists
►
Feminist Theory
3. Examines the operation of patriarchy
in both micro- and macro-level
settings
4. Contends that existing patterns of
gender inequality can and should be
changed for the benefit of all
members of society
Sociological Theory and Theorists
►
Feminist Theory- Major Theorists
Jane Addams
Harriet Martineau