Lecture Notes1-22-14- Sociology is the study of human groups1-27-14- Sociology is the study of groups.- Groups are more than the sum of their parts.- Social inequality is a big topic in sociology: race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, age, etc.- Sociology involves “politics” (the world could be better) and “science” (evidence & research can prove/disprove things).- History of Social Network Analysis Bourdieu (“social capital”)  Granovetter (“weak ties”) - Network Effects Dyadic effects Hyperdyadic effects◦ Three Degrees of Influence ◦ Six Degrees of Separation- A Social Network: consists of all the connections and ties within a group or collection of groups A group is a collection of individuals defined by a common attribute (it need not contain information about connections)- The shape of a network is its “structure” or “topology”- “The strength of weak ties” (Granovetter)- Dyadic Spread: the tendency of effects to spread from one person to their direct social ties - Hyperdyadic spread: the tendency of effects to spread from person to person to person (outside a person’s direct social ties)- Happiness and Social Networks Happy and unhappy people cluster among themselves Unhappy people are on periphery of the network Our friends and their friends and their friends affect our happiness. A person is 15% more likely to be happy if directly connected to a happy person (1 degree) At 2 degrees 10% more likely to be happy At 3 degrees 6% more likely to be happy Each unhappy friend deceases the likelihood of happiness 7%1-29-14- Society as Consensus (Durkheim) collective conscience collective effervescence mechanical & organic solidarity anomie functionalism- Emile Durkheim(1858-1917) One of the founding figures in sociology Proponent of what is now called “functionalism” or the “consensus perspective”- Collective conscience “the totality of beliefs and sentiments common to the average member of society.”  a widespread moral compulsion to live in accordance with established rules and norms Our collective conscience becomes visible when we voice “common sense.” Crime reaffirms our collective conscience Deviance reaffirms our collective conscience- Collective Effervescence Perceived social energy that emerges from crowd solidarity; produced by group rituals and actions - Mechanical and Organic Solidarity Mechanical Solidarity found in simple societies Built on shared beliefs, rituals and experiences => similar mindset Organic Solidarity found in complex societies Build on division of labor to benefit society- Functionalism A sociological perspective that emphasizes society as an interconnected functioning whole that’s similar to organs in a human body. Durkheim and Connected are good examples of functionalism. Today, most sociologists do not identify themselves as “functionalists.” - Anomie - Individual or group-wide feelings of aimlessness or purposelessness provoked by certain social conditions.2-3-14- Durkheim’s Typology of Suicide Type: egoistic; altruistic; anomic; fatalistic- Durkheim’s Study of 19th Century Suicide Rates Jews < Catholics < Protestants Married < Unmarried Rural < Urban Wartime < Peace2-10-14- Arenas of conflict- Karl Marx’s Theory of History – stages  Theory of Capital – labor/value  Theory of Culture – base & superstructure- Arenas of Conflict class ethnicity and race gender and sexuality region religion- Marxist Theory of History- Primitive accumulation (master/slave)  Feudalism (lords/serfs)  Capitalism (bourgeoisie/proletariat)  Socialism - Class stratification A form of social stratification based on income and access to resources Classes are fluid. Upward and downward class mobility is possible. Social classes are, to some extent, achieved rather than ascribed at birth.  But the social class we are born into influences our social outcomes more than we think.- The Labor Theory of Value Marx’s economic theory of capitalism’s inherent exploitive nature.- Exploitation alienation- The traditional Marxist model of Culture- Base (the economy: mode of production, feudalism, capitalism, socialism) Superstructure (everything else: art, media, ideology) 2-12-14 - Unit 1 Topics Social Networks Structure & Agency  Social Solidarity Social Conflict Culture Cultural Hegemony Cultural Capital Capital Conversion- Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim are “founding fathers” of sociology. Marx emphasizes social conflict (particularly class conflict).  Durkheim emphasizes social solidarity.- Emile Durkheim describes societies and groups as having social solidarity due toshared experience (doing the same thing as everyone else) and/or being interdependent (needing other people, and other people needing you).- The collective conscience (not “conscious”) refers to the thoughts and sentiments common to a group of people.  The collective conscience acts as an internal source of direction and guidance.- Class inequality is a major topic in contemporary American sociology. Most see class inequality as a core problem that generates other problems…  ... therefore, “that’s bad because it’s Marxist!” isn’t a winning argument in sociology. Marxism ≠ Leninism or USSR- Marx viewed world history as moving through inevitable stages. In the final stage, the poor – unable to buy the things they make under capitalism – will rise up against the rich to usher in socialism.- Marx’s “labor theory of value” demonstrates the inherently exploitive nature of capitalism. The growth of the rich/poor gap from the mid-1950s to present accords witha Marxist account of capital accumulation.- Marx wrote that our economic system drives and reflects our cultural life. The “base” determines the “superstructure.”- Culture Culture is shared meaning embodied in form or practice. Culture can be a source of social consensus or social conflict. Culture seems personal and individualistic, but sociologists show how culture connects to social groups and its divisions.- Hegemony Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937) A sneaky kind of power that works by getting people to “buy into” the criteriaof their own oppression.  class struggle as “trench warfare” In this metaphor, Gramsci