CHAPTER 1:WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?Slide 3Slide 4Slide 5Slide 6But I'm Unique!ApplicationWhy Do We Need Sociology?Slide 10Slide 11Sociology Goes Beyond Common Sense.THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATIONSlide 14Slide 15MicrosociologyMacrosociologyWhy is sociology important?Slide 19Slide 20ORIGINS OF SOCIOLOGICAL THINKINGSlide 22Slide 23Slide 24DiscussionSlide 26CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIESThe PerspectivesFunctionalismSlide 30Slide 31Conflict TheorySlide 33Slide 34Feminist TheoriesSlide 36Symbolic InteractionismWe act differently in different situations.Slide 39Slide 40CHAPTER 1:THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATIONWHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?The systematic study of social interaction at a variety of levels1•Interaction between individuals–A dating couple–Co-workers1Interaction–Individuals•Interaction between groups–Newcomers and old-timers in a community–High school cliques1Interaction–Groups•Interaction between nations–Immigration patterns–Economic globalization1Interaction–NationsSociology goes beyond what we call common sense in several waysBeyond Common SenseBut I'm Unique!•Some people object to the systematic study of interaction.•They argue that interaction is not patterned and regular.1Application•What would happen if we didn't have patterned interactions?–Traffic–Shopping–ConversationWhy Do We Need Sociology?•Some people argue that sociology is just common sense.•It makes the obvious difficult.1Application1. True/False: The death penalty reduces crime.2. True/False: Living together decreases the chance of getting divorced.3. True/False: Opposites attract.•These and many other common sense ideas are false.•A systematic study of interaction can show us what really happens.1Sociology Goes Beyond Common Sense.•Common sense often distorts reality.•Common sense is often contradictory.•Common sense perceptions change over time.•Much of our common sense is based on myths and misconceptions.1THE SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION•According to C. Wright Mills, the sociological imagination is the ability to see the connection between individual lives and larger social influences.2•The sociological imagination sees the connection between personal troubles (biography) and structural (public and historical) issues.2Sociological ImaginationApplication•How could each of these situations be both a trouble and an issue?–Divorce–Unemployment–ViolenceMicrosociology•Focuses on small-scale patterns of individuals' social interaction in specific settings–Individuals interacting as friends–Patterns of interaction within families2Macrosociology•Focuses on large-scale patterns and processes that characterize society as a whole–Comparison of divorce rates for different countries–Effect of trade policies on unemployment rates2Why is sociology important?•It can help us make informed decisions.–Should we live together before marriage?–Should the U.S. increase the minimum wage?2•Sociology can help us understand diversity.–Who are the non-Hispanic whites?–What happens when men work in traditionally female occupations?2Sociology and Diversity•Sociology can help us evaluate social and public policies.–Does a curfew for teenagers effectively reduce crime?–Should the United States have government provided health care?2Sociology and PolicyORIGINS OF SOCIOLOGICAL THINKING•Auguste Comte–The "father of sociology"–Argued for the empirical study of society–Analyzed social statics and dynamics3•Analyzed social facts, social solidarity, division of labor, and social integration•Conducted study of suicide and social integration3Emile Durkheim•Analyzed Industrial Revolution•Studied capitalism, class conflict, and alienation3Karl Marx•Argued for the importance of ideas, ideologies, and charismatic leaders•Argued for verstehen or subjective understanding•Argued for value-free sociology3Max WeberDiscussion•Is it possible to be a value free sociologist?•Should sociology be value free?3•Other important early social thinkers included:–Harriet Martineau–Jane Addams–W. E. B. Du Bois3Other Social ThinkersCONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES•A theory is a set of statements that explains why a phenomenon occurs.•Theories are tools and evolve over time.4The Perspectives•Functionalism–How does structure help society work?•Conflict–How are resources distributed?•Feminist–How does life reflect gender?•Interactionism–How do we construct meaning through symbols?4Functionalism•Society is a complex system of interdependent parts that work together to ensure a society's survival.•Functions are purposes and activities to meet different needs that contribute to a society's stability4•Manifest functions are intended and recognized.•Latent functions are unintended and unrecognized.•Dysfunctions have negative impacts4FunctionalismApplication•The cell phone–What are the manifest functions?–What are the latent functions?–What are the dysfunctions?•Divorce–What are the manifest functions?–What are the latent functions?–What are the dysfunctions?Conflict Theory•Conflict theory examines the ways in which groups disagree, struggle over power, and compete for scarce resources.•Karl Marx predicted that conflict would result from widespread economic inequality.4•The "haves" dominate in social, political, and economic activities over the "have-nots."4Conflict TheoryDiscussion•In what ways is your education influenced by whether you are a "have" or a "have-not?"•Do kids from wealthy families have an advantage in sports?4Feminist Theories•Feminist theories explain the social, economic, and political position of women in society.•They maintain that women suffer injustice because of their sex.•They seek to free women from traditionally oppressive expectations and constraints.4Discussion•In what ways do women have less power than men in our society?•Should women serve in combat?4Symbolic Interactionism•Symbolic interactionism looks at individuals' everyday behavior and communication through symbols and shared meanings.•It is a micro-level perspective.•Interactionists see society as socially constructed.4We act differently in different situations.Application•Why is it a particular day of the week?•How does a dating couple indicate that they are a together?•How do we define the different racial categories that people are assigned?•How do we know how to feel about a
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