Slide 1After studying this chapter, you should be able to do the following:Sociology as a Point of ViewTo be a sociologist, you would have to:ExampleThe Sociological ImaginationHow to apply sociology to the real worldSociological ImaginationThe focus of sociological imagination:Sociology and ScienceScientific MethodEmpiricism The view that generalizations are valid only if they rely on evidence that can be observed or verified through sense.Social ScienceSocial Science DisciplinesSociology versus Other DisciplinesDevelopment of SociologyKey SociologistsAuguste Comte (1798-1857)Harriet Martineau (1802-1876)Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)Three scholars responsible for shaping sociology into relatively coherent disciplineKarl Marx (1818-1883)Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)Identified three types of SuicideMax Weber (1864-1920)W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963)Other sociologistSlide 28Slide 29Slide 30Slide 31Contemporary SociologySlide 33The Sociological PerspectiveThe Sociological PerspectiveChapter 1Chapter 1After studying this chapter, you should After studying this chapter, you should be able to do the following:be able to do the following:Understand the sociological point of view and how it differs from Understand the sociological point of view and how it differs from that of journalists and talk-show hosts.that of journalists and talk-show hosts.Compare and contrast sociology with the other major social Compare and contrast sociology with the other major social sciences.sciences.Describe the early development of sociology from its origins in Describe the early development of sociology from its origins in nineteenth-century Europe.nineteenth-century Europe.Know the contributions of sociology’s pioneers: Comte, Martineau, Know the contributions of sociology’s pioneers: Comte, Martineau, Spencer, Marx, Durkheim, and Weber.Spencer, Marx, Durkheim, and Weber.Describe the early development of sociology in the United States.Describe the early development of sociology in the United States.Understand the functionalism, conflict theory, and the Understand the functionalism, conflict theory, and the interactionist perspectives.interactionist perspectives.Realize the relationship between theory and practice.Realize the relationship between theory and practice.Sociology as a Point of ViewSociology as a Point of ViewWhat is Sociology?What is Sociology?It is the scientific study of human society and social It is the scientific study of human society and social interactions. interactions. Main focusMain focusGroupGroupSeeks toSeeks toUnderstand forces that operate throughout societyUnderstand forces that operate throughout societyForces that mold individualsForces that mold individualsShape their behaviorShape their behaviorThus determine social events Thus determine social eventsTo be a sociologist, you would have To be a sociologist, you would have to:to:Change how you see the worldChange how you see the worldBroaden your perspective on the worldBroaden your perspective on the worldMake sense out of what’s going on around Make sense out of what’s going on around you.you.ExampleExampleWithout a full sociological understanding Without a full sociological understanding of domestic violence many believe that the of domestic violence many believe that the victims should simply just walk away. victims should simply just walk away. Is it easy for domestic violence victims to Is it easy for domestic violence victims to leave? Why or why not?leave? Why or why not?See figure 1.1 See figure 1.1The Sociological ImaginationThe Sociological ImaginationC. Wright Milles (1959) used the term C. Wright Milles (1959) used the term sociological imagination to refer to:sociological imagination to refer to:The relationship between individual The relationship between individual experiencesexperiencesForces in the lager society that shape our Forces in the lager society that shape our actionsactionsHow to apply sociology to the real How to apply sociology to the real worldworldCan you think of an issue that may have Can you think of an issue that may have or had some affect you and society as a or had some affect you and society as a whole? (explain)whole? (explain)ExamplesExamplesDivorceDivorceTax increaseTax increaseIncreased tuitionIncreased tuitionSuicide or death of a loved oneSuicide or death of a loved oneSociological ImaginationSociological ImaginationIs the process of looking at all types of Is the process of looking at all types of human behavior patterns and finding human behavior patterns and finding previously unseen connections among previously unseen connections among them.them.Why do most children who witness abuse in Why do most children who witness abuse in the home become abusers?the home become abusers?Why is it likely that a woman who leaves her Why is it likely that a woman who leaves her abuser will return?abuser will return?The focus of sociological The focus of sociological imagination:imagination:Every aspect of societyEvery aspect of societyEvery relationship among individualsEvery relationship among individualsCrowds at sports eventsCrowds at sports eventsShifts in styles of dress and popular musicShifts in styles of dress and popular musicChanging patterns in courtship and marriageChanging patterns in courtship and marriageThe emergence and fading of different lifestylesThe emergence and fading of different lifestylesPolitical movementsPolitical movementsReligious sectsReligious sectsThe distribution of income and access to resources and The distribution of income and access to resources and opportunitiesopportunitiesDecisions made by the Supreme Court, congressional Decisions made by the Supreme Court, congressional committees, and local zoning boards.committees, and local zoning boards.Sociology and ScienceSociology and ScienceSociology Sociology Commonly described as one of the social Commonly described as one of the social sciencessciencesRefers to a body of systematically arranged Refers to a body of systematically arranged knowledge that shows operation of general knowledge that shows operation of general lawslawsEmploys the same general methods of Employs the same general methods of investigation that are used in the natural investigation that are used in the natural science.science.Scientific MethodScientific MethodA process by which a body of
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