WEEK 1: WELCOME TO SOCI 1

Hello!  and welcome to Soc 1 online:  Introduction to Sociology

This first session covers an introduction to the discipline of sociology, a look at the key thinkers in the field—both past and present, the major theoretical perspectives of sociology, and sociological research.

Readings for this week: Chapter 1 in textbook.

Assignments due this week:

• Complete and submit syllabus
• Discussion Board Postings
• Extra Credit:  Learning Styles + Homepage

Sociology is defined as: the systematic study of social behavior and human groups.

What is sociology’s basic insight: that human behavior is largely shaped by the groups to which you belong.

EX: do you act differently at work than you do at home? Why is that?

Because your behavior is shaped or modified depending on the group you are with.

C. Wright Mills described this type of creative thinking as the ability to view one’s own society as an outsider.

Example: Eating while walking is viewed differently in the United States and Japan.

It allows us to look beyond a limited understanding of things and people in the world, and allows for a broader vision of society.

The term science refers to the body of knowledge obtained by methods based on systematic observation.

Natural science is the study of physical features of nature, such as astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, and physics.

Social science is the study of various aspects of human society, such as sociology, anthropology, economics, history, psychology, and political science.

In contrast to other social sciences, sociology emphasizes the influence that society has on people’s attitudes and behaviors, and examines the ways which people shape society.

Common sense is often unreliable and inaccurate.

Example: Epidemic of teen-pregnancies creating a drag on the welfare system. (women, not teens, account for most unwed mothers on welfare).

Sociology tests, records, and analyzes information scientifically to describe and understand a social environment.

Example: Common sense may tell us the world is round, but the notion is based on centuries of scientific work.

Effective theory may be both explanatory and predictive.

Example: Durkheim’s theory on suicide.

Durkheim’s research suggested that suicide is related to group life. Suicide rates reflect the extent to which people are integrated into the group life of society (Catholics and Protestants).

An essential task in building sociological theory is to examine the relationship between bits of data that are gathered through research and may seem completely unrelated.

Coined the term sociology to apply to the science of human behavior.

Comte believed a theoretical science of society and systematic investigations of behavior were needed to improve society.

Offered insightful observations of the customs and social practices of both Britain and the United States. She emphasized the impact of economy, law, trade, and population on social problems.

She spoke in favor of the rights of women, the emancipation of slaves, and religious tolerance.

Adapted Charles Darwin’s evolutionary view of the "survival of the fittest" by arguing that it is natural that some people are rich while others are poor.

Spencer’s view had a vested interest in the status quo, not change.

Consider the time of Spencer’s work and understand how it justified racism and classism.

Question: Do you think Spencer would favor the Welfare Program? Why or why not?? Spencer would NOT be in favor, because he felt that if a person could not survive on their own ... well ... so be it.

Behavior must be understood within a larger social context and not just individualistic terms.

Durkheim conducted the first sociological study. The topic was suicide and he hypothesized that suicide was affected by group solidarity.

1. egoistic—results from low group solidarity

a concern for the self rather than the group.

EX: depressed, lonely and isolated person

2. altruistic—results from high group solidarity

too much involvement with the group

EX: terrorist

3. anomic—results from feeling of disconnection

anomie refers to normlessness

Durkheim found this type of suicide after times of rapid social change

EX: Stock market crash

Durkheim concluded that religion reinforces a group’s solidarity.

Consequences of work was of interest to Durkheim. He suggested that specialized labor in industrial societies leads to anomie.

Durkheim was concerned about the dangers that alienation, loneliness, and isolation might pose for modern industrial societies.

A German sociologist that suggested students should employ verstehen (understanding) in their intellectual work. To fully comprehend behavior, we must learn the subjective meanings people attach to their actions, how they view themselves, and explain their behavior.

Weber is also credited with the concept of an ideal type in which he suggested various characteristics of an organizational model of bureaucracy, which he suggested should be the most efficient form of organization.

Suggested society is fundamentally divided between classes that clash in pursuit of their own class and self-interests. He saw the factory as the center of conflict between the owners of production (bourgeoisie) and the exploited labor forces (proletariat).

Marx and his colleague, Friedrich Engels, argued that workers should unite to overthrow capitalist societies.

Sociologists within the United States have contributed to the development of new insights to better understand the workings of society.

Preferred to view society from smaller units, such as intimate face-to-face groups. He saw groups as the seedbeds of society in the way they shape people’s ideals, beliefs, values, and social nature.

Cooley’s work increased understanding of small-sized groups.

Co-founded Chicago’s Hull House.

Working with Ida Wells-Barnett, she successfully prevented racial segregation in Chicago public schools.

Advocated a more egalitarian society.

Noted different ways people achieve success. Emphasized sociology should strive to bring the macro-level and micro-level approaches to the study to society.

Macrosociology concentrates on large-scale phenomena.

Microsociology stresses the study of small groups.

The major perspectives provide an introductory look at the discipline of sociology.

In the view of functionalists, society is like a living organism in which each part of the organism contributes to its survival.

Functionalism emphasizes the way that parts of a society are structured to maintain its stability.

Talcott Parsons dominated functionalist thought in sociology for over four decades in the United States.

Robert Merton described 2 types of functions that every social institution has:

manifest functions are open, stated, conscious functions which receive intended consequences.

These are the obvious, intended, easily recognized functions of institutions

EX: Alcoholics Anonymous

Manifest function: to stop drinking

Latent functions are unconscious or unintended functions, which may reflect a hidden purpose.

These are the functions that are sort of coincidental, they are unobvious, unintended, and not easily recognized.

EX: Alcoholics Anonymous

Latent function: may be increased social support or improved family relationships

Dysfunction:

Each social institution can have both functions and dysfunctions according to the functionalist perspective.

Dysfunction refers to an element or process of society that may disrupt a social system or a decrease in social stability.

Dysfunction can be negative or positive in nature.

Example: Prison gangs can be functional for prison security.

Conflict Theory

Assumes that social behavior is best understood in terms of conflict or tension between competing groups. Expanding on Marx’s work, conflict theorists are interested in how society’s institutions maintain privileges for the upper classes and keep others in a subservient position.

Exploitation of workers under capitalism.

Emphasis on social change and redistribution of resources.

Considered more radical than functionalists.

DuBois, a Black sociologist, contended knowledge was essential to combat prejudice and discrimination.

Helped to found the NAACP and advocated for researchers to view society through the eyes of those that rarely influence the decision- making processes.

Interactionist Perspective

Generalizes the everyday forms of social interaction in order to understand society as a whole. It is a sociological framework for viewing human beings as living in a world of meaningful objects.

George Herbert Mead is regarded as the founder of interactionism.

Symbols are important in human communication.

Erving Goffman purported the dramaturgical approach. Compares everyday life to that of actors on a stage.

Example: Projecting a serious image at work, and a party image with friends.

Feminist Perspective

Views inequality in gender as central to all behavior and organization. Allied with the conflict perspective.

Focus on the micro-level relationships, unlike conflict theory.

Feminism views the subordination of women as inherent in capitalist societies.

Radical feminists hold the oppression of women as inevitable in all male- dominated societies.

The Sociological Approach

Sociology makes use of all the perspectives.

Refer to Table 1-2 p. 17 in textbook.

No one approach is the correct one. Perspectives may often overlap, and they can equally diverge as particular issues that are being studied coincide.

Discussion Question

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