CHAPTER ONE- The Sociological Perspective*Sociological perspective (imagination)= stresses the social contexts in which people live- Examines how these contexts influence people’s lives- Question of how groups influence people- How people are influenced by their societyo Society= a group of people who share a culture and a territory- Look at social location= the corners in life that people occupy because of where they are located in a societyo Jobs, income, education, gender, race-ethnicity, and age- People do what they do because of external influences which become part of our thinking and motivation- Society in which we grow up, and our particular location in that society, lie atthe center of what we do and how we think*Global context sociology allows us to look at both parts of our current reality: being part of a global network and our unique experiences in our smaller corners of life*Origins of Sociology- Tradition vs. Scienceo Science= requires theories that can be tested by researcho Sociology emerged in mid 1800s when social observers began using scientific methods to test ideaso Born in the midst of the Industrial Revolution  people moving away from the farms and into the cities Traditions began changing; democracy spreading o Scientific method= using objective, systematic observations to test theories Began applying this to social life- Auguste Comte and Positivismo Positivism= applying the scientific method to the social worldo Auguste Comte straight off French Revolution began wondering what held society together Why social order instead of anarchy and chaos? What causes society to change?o Called the new science sociology= the study of society Apply new principles to social reformo Credited with being the founder of sociology- Herbert Spencer and Social Darwinismo Sometimes called second founder of sociologyo Disagreed with Comte Shouldn't guide social reform (would interfere with natural process that improves society)o Societies evolving from lower form to higher form (barbarian to civilized); society’s most capable and intelligent survive Survival of the fittest- Karl Marx and Class Conflicto Agreed wit Comte that people shouldn't try to change societyo Was for revolution Got him thrown out of Germany so he settled in Englando Engine of human history is class conflict: Two social classes which are natural enemies Bourgeoisie= the capitalists, who own the capital, land, factories, and machines Proletariat= the exploited workers Eventually workers will unite and rise up; this will usher in a classless society, free of exploitation- People will work according to abilities and receive goods and services according to their needso Different from communism- Emile Durkheim and Social Integrationo Wanted sociology to be recognized as a separate academic discipline from history and economics Achieved this when awarded world’s first academic appointment in sociology (from University of Bordeaux)o Conducted research to show how social forces affect people’s behavior Suicide: social factors underlie it Social integration= the degree to which people are tired to their social group- People who have weaker social ties are more likely to commit suicideo Applying Durkeim Sociologists look at patterns of behavior= recurring characteristics or events- Max Weber and the Protestant Ethico Contemporary of Durkheimo Religion and the Origin of Capitalism Disagreed with Marx that economics is the central force in social change, that role belongs to religion Calvinists (Protestants) told they wouldn't know if they were saved until Judgment Day- Uncomfortable with this, looked for a “sign” that they were in God’s will- Found it in financial success  began living frugal lives, saving money, and investing it in order to make more- Brought forth capitalism Desire to invest capital in order to make more money= the spirit of capitalism*Sociology in North America- Sexism at the Time: Women in Early Sociologyo In 1800s sex roles were rigid (women= wife and mother) Four K’s in German= four C’s in English  church, cooking, children, clotheso Most people didn't receive higher education and if anyone did it was meno Some women: Marion Talbot- associate editor of “American Journal of Sociology” for thirty years Beyond sociology: Grace Abbott- first chief of US government’s Children’s Bureau; Francis Perkins- first woman to hold cabinet position; Jane Addams- Nobel Price for Peaceo Early female sociologists viewed sociology as path to social reform Ways to improve society  stopping lynching, integrating immigrants into society, improve conditions of workerso Caused debate of whether sociology should focus on reform (female sociologists) or on research of society (men); men won Causing female sociologists to be ignored; being acknowledged again todayo Harriet Martineau- extensive analyses of U.S. social customs - Racism at the Time: W.E.B. Du Boiso Difficult for African American professionalso Du Bois became first African American to earn doctorate at Harvardo Began teaching sociology at Atlanta University and doing researcho “The Souls of Black Folk” by Du Bois analyzed changes that occurred in the social and economic conditions of African Americans during thirty years following Civil Waro Along with others, founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peopleo Eventually embraced revolutionary Marxism- Jane Addams: Sociologist and Social Reformero Combined role of sociologist and social reformero Background of wealth and privilegeo Co founded Hull House in Chicago’s slums Strived to bridge gap between powerful and powerlesso One of the founders of the NAACPo Co founded American Civil Liberties Union Eight hour work day Child labor lawso Co winner of Nobel Peace Prize- Talcott Parsons and C. Wright Mills: Contrasting Viewso Social theoryo Developed abstract models of society that influenced a generation of sociologistso Did nothing to stimulate social activismo C. Wright Mills deplored this, wanted to get back to social reform  Imminent threat to freedom from power elite- top leaders of business, politics, and military- The Continuing Tension: Basic, Applied, and Public Sociologyo Basic sociology= analyzing some aspect of society, with no goal otherthan gaining knowledgeo Applied sociology= using sociology to solve problems o Public sociology= American