SOCI 205 1nd EditionExam # 1 Study Guide Lectures: 1-9Lecture 1 (September 1&3)Introduction to SociologyWhat is Sociology, and which two sociologists contribute to the definition of “sociology”?Peter Berger suggests that sociology should debunk (show the falsehood of) common sense – this is exhibited in the events of the Salem Witchcraft trials. Berger also states that sociology offers a different perspective from the majority – this is often why sociology departments are shut down.C.Wright Mills states that sociology is the scientific study of the connection between the individual and the social structure; Mills also coined the idea of the sociological imagination (seedefinition for social structure and social imagination below). [Mills would say “let’s look at the recession and how it affected the individual” – look at the general before you study the individual]What is social structure?Social Structure is the underlying patterns in human behavior. (e.g. The hockey roster organized by birthday shows the advantages of early birthday months. Those born in January are more mature mentally and are at an advantage to those who were born in December of the same year. This pattern is underlying and still affects the behavior [in this case, the skill level] of the player.) [precisely about patterns]What is the sociological imagination?C. Wright Mills coined the phrase “sociological imagination” and was not perceived well byother sociologists at the time. Sociological imagination is the ability to look at things socially and see how they interact and influence each other while pulling oneself away from the situation in order to see it in a different perspective (Ashley Crossman, An Overview of the Sociological Imagination). Developing A Sociological PerspectiveWhat is social construction?Social Construction states that what people do is a product of the culture and history. Attributes that are perceived as “natural” can also be socially constructed. (e.g. Ear size playing a factor in admission to a university, restricting certain races, etc.) Society will use things out of an individual’s control to create social boundaries. [idea that the world we think around us is natural is actually a reflection of what we, as humans, have created – we have racialized preceptions of people which APPEAR to be true, but actually aren’t (e.g. Jews good at basketballmust have to do with them being Jew, but that’s wrong]What is social order?Social Order is taught through socialization (where we learn how to behave in society) andis generally taught during an individual’s younger years by using a reward/punishment system (ifyou don’t raise your hand to speak or if you speak out of turn, you can’t go to recess). Social order is a way in which beliefs and values are passed down. Social order can be reproduced naturally (professor assigns seats and students are upset, but if professor does not assign seats, students will naturally sit in the same seat everyday).Is the individual tied to structure or agency?Structure is the recurrent patterns in history that limit the opportunities available for an individual; whereas, agency is the individual’s ability and will to make their own choices. Kristof’s article agrees with structure and that an individual’s chances are determined by the “lottery of birth”. Sociology states that individuals do have the capacity to deviate from patterns (agency) (e.g. 1st generation college student is deviating from family history or structure)What is social change?De Tocqueville states that America is a nation of joiners. By this, De Tocqueville means that America joins voluntary organizations and are very active in the lives of the community. Social life is dynamic and is in a constant state of change, so the participation from Americans is continually changing – associations are becoming online-based rather than meeting-based, etc. [society is constantly changing, what might seem stable is actually a process of considerable change]Ethics in ResearchWhat are the 3 rules of Conducting Research? [good to focus on*]1. “Do no harm” – Individual should not encounter more harm than they otherwise would in everyday life.2. Informed Consent – Individuals participating in a study have a right to know that they are participating in a study and what the study entails.3. Voluntary Participation – Always have the right to leave.What are three studies that did not follow the 3 rules of conducting research?Stanley Milgram’s “Obedience” (video of electric shock as punishment for giving the wrong answer to a question), Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male (1932-72),Guatamalans inoculated with diseases to study effect of penicillin (1946-58)Who were the early theorists of sociology? (need to memorize Marx, Weber, and Comte)August Comte (1798-1857) was a French philosopher who suggested that sociology should intervene to improve society. Herbert Spencer supported the idea of Social Darwinism (survival of the fittest); however, unlike Comte, Spencer believed sociologists should study society and not intervene. Karl Marx (1818-1883) believed in the Conflict Approach which saw conflict as a reality; this developed the “materialist conception of history” which emphasizeseconomics as the driving source of change. Marx says that Capitalism causes conflict between capitalists and workers: the conflict will bring social change because in order for the conflict to be resolved, a dramatic transition (social change) is necessary. Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) believed in functionalism and saw society as a set of interdependent parts. Durkheim did a broad study on suicide that concluded during rapid social change, suicide rates increase; he alsosays suicide is a result of anomie, a French term, that basically means life is meaningless. Max Weber (1864-1920) focused on religion rather than social change, but also believed in the conflict approach and symbolic interactionism. What are the three paradigms of sociology?Symbolic Interactionism, Conflict, and Functionalism Approaches. Symbolic Interactionism (George Mead) is the exchange of symbols through interactions with others. These interactions among each other teach individuals how to act, what to do, and whatto think. (e.g. teens know the risk of tobacco, but find themselves safe from the harm and view the “positive image” they are portraying to their peers as