Sociology is defined as the scientific study of society and human behavior. Sociology illuminates the human experience. It invites us to examine different aspects of our environment that we often overlook or ignore. Sociology looks behind the outer aspects of life and provides us with a sociological consciousness that helps us better understand the social forces that we confront. Sociology looks at those things that are not necessarily apparent. By studying the society we live in we gain insight into our selves. A noted sociologist C. Wright Mills called this process "the sociological imagination". Mills saw the concept of the "sociological imagination" as a tool that helps us to penetrate our social world and identify the links between who we are with the larger social forces.

Sociology provides a method of inquiry to observe and measure our world so we can better understand it. As a social science its research has changed our ideas regarding crime, aging, alcoholism, mental illness, foreign peoples and cultures, and the differences between the sexes. Sociological knowledge can be a powerful tool for both acquiring knowledge and for intervening in social affairs to achieve various goals.

Social issues and problems overlap and intersect with our personal lives. They are interrelated and dependent upon one another. Social scientists when examining public issues or the large picture as "macro sociology". Macro-sociology again looks at the big picture regarding society. It studies social groups and societies. It focuses on the large scale and long term social processes, including the state, the family, the economy, culture and social structures. In the examination of smaller scale issues or problems is called micro-sociology. Micro-sociology deals with everyday life. How a man and women initiate a conversation at a social event. The social dynamics of the office holiday party, etc.

Themes as crime, emotional problems, the argument of nature versus nurture in the development of the human personality, drug abuse, child abuse, human sexuality, and others will be discussed throughout this unit.

In the scientific process there is a myth that these studies can be value free. Value free scientism is suppose to be objective and should remain free form making value or moral judgments. Remember, cultural studies are not value free. Every culture produces its own expressions. In the United Sates there is a rich mixture of people from many cultures. The problem with understanding culture is that most social scientists have been looking at culture through Western anthropological glasses.

In the scientific process social scientists have to come up with a rigorous methodology to study a phenomenon. Social scientists develop standardized instruments and techniques to quantify behavior across different populations and groups. Problems arise when the dominant culture makes up the rules of what is worthy of study. In other words it’s the dominant culture which validates that which is worthy to study. Remember that culture is forged out of relationships of power between the dominant and subordinate cultures.

All human societies have complex ways of life that differ from one to another. Culture consists of all that humans learn to do, to use, to produce, to know, and to believe as they mature and live out their lives. All cultures must confront and resolve certain common and basic problems. There are certain cultural universals that have developed in all cultures to resolve social problems. Many have to do with the division of labor, taboos, marriage, family organization, and rites of passage.

These issues are very important to the structure of any society. Many societies differ in regards to norms, values, and certain taboos. Yet in most cultures there are universal taboos that are shared or held important to maintain. They might be issues like murder, incest, theft. These universal cultural taboos may have differ consequences if they are violated but most cultures hold these as hold these in common.

In any society there will be those who dominate and those who are the subordinates. In most cases the dominant culture will define and empower those norms and values which they hold as important. The subordinate cultures may try to resist the assimilation process by the dominant culture for the subordinate culture to adapt. But for the most part the subordinate cultures will either adapt to the dominant value system or suffer consequences. Its in this conflict that these cultural differences are forged out of relations of power.

Its in this confrontation that cultural values are re-defined and implemented. Most Marxist’s sociologists or conflict theorists see this conflict arising out of issues of those who hold and maintain economic power. It is in the constant struggle between the dominant and subordinate cultures at every level both on the macro and micro level which creates the inconsistencies and inequalities. Issues of sexism, racism, gender issues, religious issues, etc. It is in the constant struggle that these issues are defined, re-defined, and implemented.

Readings:

Introduction and discussion of syllabus/assignment schedule. Course overview.

After you finish the readings for Week 1, post a message in the conference in which you comment on the following questions:

1. In you own words define what is a social problem?

2. How does using the sociological imagination help us better understand different social problems.