Introduction Introduction to Sociologyto Sociology

What is Sociology?What is Sociology?

The study of human society The study of human society including social organization including social organization and social actionand social action

SociologySociologyDefinition: Definition:

The The systematic systematic

study of study of human society human society

and social and social interaction.interaction.

A society is a large social grouping that shares the same geographical territory and is subject to the same political

authority and dominant cultural expectations.

The Sociological The Sociological ImaginationImagination

Is a way of looking at our Is a way of looking at our experiences in light of what is experiences in light of what is going on in the social world going on in the social world around us.around us.

……like a snow globe or view from like a snow globe or view from space.space.

Sociology is not common Sociology is not common sensesense

Social ScienceSocial ScienceScientific MethodScientific Method

Identify the problemIdentify the problemFormulate hypothesisFormulate hypothesisGather dataGather dataAnalyze dataAnalyze data

5 Key Concepts5 Key Concepts

Social StructureSocial Structure

Social ActionSocial Action

Functional IntegrationFunctional Integration

PowerPower

CultureCulture

5 Key Concepts5 Key Concepts

Social StructureSocial StructurePatterns of social relationshipsPatterns of social relationships

Marriage, employment, etc.Marriage, employment, etc.

Patterns of social positionPatterns of social position President, priest, etc.President, priest, etc.

Patterns of numbers of peoplePatterns of numbers of people Size of countries, populations, etc.Size of countries, populations, etc.

5 Key Concepts5 Key ConceptsSocial ActionSocial Action

Things people do to bring about changeThings people do to bring about change

Functional IntegrationFunctional IntegrationParts work together to make a wholeParts work together to make a whole

PowerPowerCapacity of one group/person to get another to Capacity of one group/person to get another to

do it’s will do it’s will DirectDirect IndirectIndirectMicroMicro MacroMacro

5 Key Concepts5 Key Concepts

CultureCultureLanguage, norms, values, beliefs, Language, norms, values, beliefs,

knowledge, symbols that make up a knowledge, symbols that make up a way of lifeway of life

5 Key Concepts5 Key Concepts

Pick a social issue and analyze…Pick a social issue and analyze…

3 Prominent 3 Prominent Sociological TheoriesSociological Theories

Symbolic Interactionist TheorySymbolic Interactionist TheoryHow do people manage in groups?How do people manage in groups?

Functionalist TheoryFunctionalist TheoryHow is society structured so that How is society structured so that

tasks necessary for existence are tasks necessary for existence are accomplished?accomplished?

Conflict TheoryConflict TheoryHow is power used and maintained?How is power used and maintained?

Origins of SociologyOrigins of Sociology

1700s1700sAmerican RevolutionAmerican RevolutionFrench RevolutionFrench Revolution

1800s1800sIndustrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution

Important PeopleImportant PeopleAdam SmithAdam Smith

1723 - 17901723 - 1790Rational choice theoryRational choice theory

People make choices on the basis of rational People make choices on the basis of rational cost-benefit analysiscost-benefit analysis

Self interest leads to efficient production of the Self interest leads to efficient production of the goods consumers want and a rise in wealthgoods consumers want and a rise in wealth

Society is self-regulatingSociety is self-regulatingAll parts, acting in their own interest, are All parts, acting in their own interest, are

meshed together to form integrated whole for meshed together to form integrated whole for the common good.the common good.

Important PeopleImportant People

Jeremy BenthamJeremy Bentham1748-18321748-1832Disagreed with Smith…Disagreed with Smith…

Visible Hand is the best wayVisible Hand is the best way

Important PeopleImportant PeopleAugust ComteAugust Comte

1798- 18541798- 1854Father of sociology Father of sociology

Founded and named sociologyFounded and named sociologySocial StaticsSocial Statics

Those aspects of social life that have to do Those aspects of social life that have to do with social order and stabilitywith social order and stability

Social DynamicsSocial DynamicsThose aspects of social life that have to do Those aspects of social life that have to do

with social change and institutional with social change and institutional developmentdevelopment

Important PeopleImportant People

Karl MarxKarl Marx1818-18831818-1883Father of CommunismFather of CommunismConflict TheoryConflict Theory

Economy is basis of Economy is basis of social structuresocial structure

Capitalists/Bourgeoisie Capitalists/Bourgeoisie Vs. Workers / ProletariatVs. Workers / Proletariat

Conflict is the engine of Conflict is the engine of historyhistory

Important PeopleImportant PeopleHerbert SpencerHerbert Spencer

1820 - 19031820 - 1903Evolution explains changeEvolution explains change

Change occurs as members adapt to changes Change occurs as members adapt to changes in the natural environment or social in the natural environment or social environmentenvironment

Organic AnalogyOrganic AnalogyAll of society should be studied, not just the All of society should be studied, not just the

parts….like a human bodyparts….like a human bodySocial DarwinismSocial Darwinism

Society should not be interfered withSociety should not be interfered with

Important PeopleImportant People

Emile DurkheimEmile Durkheim1858-19171858-1917Social integration is Social integration is

basis of societybasis of societyFunctionalist TheoryFunctionalist Theory

Society is greater Society is greater than it’s partsthan it’s parts

Important PeopleImportant People

George Herbert MeadGeorge Herbert Mead1863-19311863-1931Symbolic Interactionist TheorySymbolic Interactionist TheoryPerception is realityPerception is realitySense of self is obtained through Sense of self is obtained through

social interactionsocial interactionFocus on Focus on small groupssmall groups and the and the

individualindividual as well as on as well as on symbolssymbols such such as body languageas body language

Important PeopleImportant People

Max WeberMax Weber1864-19201864-1920Functionalist Theory and Conflict Functionalist Theory and Conflict

TheoryTheoryVerstehenVerstehenFocus on large groupsFocus on large groupsSaid to be in a debate with the Said to be in a debate with the

ghost of Karl Marxghost of Karl MarxMarx - cultural change follows Marx - cultural change follows

economic changeeconomic changeWeber - economic change follows Weber - economic change follows

cultural changecultural change