SOC 160: Notes

individuals sharing geographic are and culture

knowledge, values, customs, material objects, passing from one generation to the next

social condition and behavior pattern. examples: war, crime, poverty, rasicm ---- non social problem: there are 1000 hunting deaths each year -----social problem: driving a motor vehicle results in 34000 deaths every year *its a social problem because it causes social conern and acts to change are put into place * seatbelts are required; safety -- which leads to 50% less deaths

certain individuals ; or all people of society: harmed causing public concern and act of change

its a systematic method of investigation; it requires research but cannot be modeled as a natural science *relies on interview and statistical approaches

data analysis- still have social imagination; logically assessments of our arguments

"awareness of the relationship between experience and the wider society" *ability to connect person troubles with public issues

allows us to: change perspectives from one to another *ask yourself what are some of the economical forces that lead to certain kinds of social behavior

:gives frame work for society; allows us to decide, predict, and explain things

macrolevel of analysis ; looking at broad patterns in society Functionalist solutions: Strengthen social institutions (education, family) oHelp meet the needs of poor institutions § How we go about reach higher levels of education

intended and recognize activity of a social process; develop of human capital *overtly recognized

unintended; beneficial consequences of a social process *not usually overtly recognized ------education:acts as a babysitter;allows parents to work;

micro level analysis; ppl become humans thru our interacts ---mom & baby ---family & friends social probs:become socially constructed; behaviors our learned

society is based off of inherent power struggles'; macro analysis --- not benefiting everyone equally ; minorities & majorities -- diff groups working together to control scarce resources

Functionalist: Violence increases when social institutions are weakened --- Solution: strength social institutions (family, school) Conflict: Violence is a response to inequalities in society o Solution: reform political and economic institutions to change inequality · Symbolic interactionism ( definitions are accepted by one group) violence is learned behavior o Solution: change societal values which encourage violence

· explanations using number o How much money is women making compared to men o Use number to represent o This part of Lawrence--- poor

explanations using interpretive descriptions (words) o Used to get at subjective explanations o How does it influence your behaviors

Field analysis- going into the field to learn something in its natural setting to collect data o Survey analysis- research using surveys; Secondary analysis- using data that pre-exists.. analyze photos etc

· Land of opportunity o Possibility of achieving “ the American dream” o Each generation can potentially have a higher standard of living than those that came before o Want to be happy in life.. and want a high standard of living.. want to make more money than our parents

o Upward or downward movement in a class system o A class system is a system of social inequality based on ownership and control of resources

· Households o Spending more and more time at work o Leading to gaining higher income and getting more wants o Decline in social capital- social networks have value o Fewer people are engaging in outside organizations o No longer going to church, sporting clubs, etc · Human capital- having education · As social networks go down- o Economy- Rising personal debt;Average national credit card debt-$8,000 o Everyone wants the new products-Leads to declining savings; Rising college costs—average college debt-- $25,000 · Democracy- Average house seat cost-- $1,000,000; Based on donating-Senate seat on average- $5,000,000 · Public health-Those who are wealthy have better health o Higher levels of inequality leads to shorter life spans; Major impact on health ú Social polarization of classes

Karl marx (1818-1883)- founding of sociology; Relationship to means of production in capitalist society; Bourgeoisie: own means of production;Proletariat: work for those who own means of production Assets to produce wealth Max weber (1864-1920) Wealth- value of our economic assets Power- achievement of goals despite opposition;Prestige- respect and esteem from others;The interplay between these factors determines one’s position- Wealth,Power,Prestige

Poverty Explanations:Individual;Cultural Structural explanations: Changes in economy put people in poverty: Broader macro changes: Downsizing, layoffs, increase, in technology Solutions of poverty: No consensus on causes of poverty results in no consensus on solutions to poverty

· Important so people in lower classes have an opportunity to move up to middle or upper class… in the following generations

Segmented labor market · Primary labor market o What we all aspire too o Good jobs that we want to have o They demand high skills § With high skills comes high wages o Requires high levels of training and specialization