SOC 111 Exam # 1 Study Guide Benokraitis Chapters 1 & 3Chapter 1: Thinking like a SociologistBe able to describe Sociology, the Sociological Imagination, and key terms and people.What is sociology? (p. 1-2)- Sociology: the systematic study of social interaction at a variety of levels. o Social interaction: the process by which we act towards and react to the people around us.o Systematic study of social interaction: Social behavior is regular and patterned (has a system to it). It takes place between individuals, in small groups, large organizations, andentire societies. - Sociology is NOT common sense. It uses more critical thinking and spans more broadly to allow us to move beyond traditional/established ways of thinking.What is the Sociological Imagination? (P.2-5)- C. Wright Mills (1916-1962): our individual behavior is influenced by social factors. o Coined the Term: Sociological Imagination.- Sociological Imagination: the ability to see the intersection/ connection between individual livesand larger social influences. o Emphasizes the connection with personal troubles and societal issues. Example: if only some people are unemployed, it is a personal issue, if unemployment is widespread, it becomes a societal/public issue.o Uses both the microsociology (small scale; patterns of the individual in specific social interaction settings; consists of most daily interactions) and macrosociology (large scale patterns that characterize the whole society) approaches to examine people’s social interaction in specific settings.Some origins of Sociological Theory (starts on p. 6)- Theory (also referred to as theoretical perspective): a set of statements that helps to explain why a phenomenon occurs. They produce knowledge, guide research, help with analyzing findings, and help to offer solutions for social problems.o Theories evolve over time, and don’t emerge overnight.- Key people; most influential contributors to the development of sociology: o August Comte (1798-1857): “The father of sociology”; coined the term sociology. (p. 7) Believed that the study of society must be empirical (based on observations, experiments, or experiences instead of ideology, religion, or intuition.) Viewed sociology as a scientific study of two aspects1. Social statics: What principles of social order explain a particular society? And interconnections between their structures. 2. Social dynamics: explores how individuals and societies change over time. His ideas are still used today to examine relationships between education and politics (social statics), and how their interconnections change over time (social dynamics).o Harriet Martineau (1802-1856): An English author and publisher. Also, August Comte’s English translator, she made many of his ideas publicized, translating and condensing hismaterial for popular consumption (she spread the word). (p. 7-8) Emphasized systematic data collection through observation and interviews, recording with an objective analysis to explain events and behavior. She published the first sociology methodology text. Huge Feminist, especially against women and children working on dangerous machinery; strongly opposed slavery.1. Took a 13 month tour of the US declaring American women as “socialized to be subservient and dependent rather than equal marriage partners” (SOC, Benokraitis, student edition p.8).2. Most historians dismissed her ideas as too radical.o Emile Durkheim (1858-1917): French Sociologist and writer (p. 8) Agreed with Comte that societies are characterized by unity and cohesion because the members are bound by common interests and attitudes. Ignored Martineau’s scientific contributions, and didn’t believe Comte showed that Sociology could be scientific. In order to be scientific, he believed it must have:1. Social Facts: aspects of life outside the individual that can be measured. (Material facts: age, place of residence, population size; nonmaterial facts: communication processes, everyday behavior, how people relate to each other.) - Also includes social currents (collective behavior and social movements) Division of Labor: an interdependence of different tasks and occupations, which is characteristic of industrialized societies, and produces social unity and facilitates change. People become more dependent on each other as the divisionof labor becomes more specialized; each person has a unique and needed job which collectively creates a functional societal unit.1. According to Durkheim, Social solidarity/social cohesiveness and harmony is maintained by a division of labor Social integration Durkheim showed more than any of the original theorists how important empirical testing is in sociological theories.1. Tested suicide rates in the population to test his theory that suicide is related to integration. Found that these suicide rates showed how well aperson integrated into family, group, and community life. If they felt alone, helpless, and hopeless, they were more likely to commit suicide, so he concluded, individual acts are often the result of structural arrangements such as weak social ties.o Karl Marx 1818-1883 (p. 9-10) A German social philosopher, often described as the most influential social scientist who ever lived. Main contributor to Conflict Theory. Tried to explain changes in society during the Industrial Revolution (As did August Comte, and Harriet Martineau) Capitalism: determined economic issues produce divisiveness rather than social solidarity. Believed the most important social changes reflected the development of capitalism (an economic system where ownership of the means for production is in private hands.) Believed society to be divided into the “haves” (capitalists) and the “have nots” (proletariat). Viewed industrial society as composed of three social classes:1. Capitalists (Bourgeoisie): the ruling elite who own the means to producethe wealth2. Petit bourgeoisie: small business owners and workers who have their own means pf producing wealth, but might end up in proletariat because of business failing, or are driven out from competition.3. Proletariat: The masses of workers who depend on their wages to survive, have only few resources, and make up the working class. Argued that history is a series of class struggles between capitalists and the workers, as the capitalists gained wealth and prestige, the working class would become increasingly dissatisfied,