Sociology:
An Introduction
Part 1:
Basic Sociological
Understandings
“Sociology is everywhere & everywhere is sociology…”
Anthropology
Sociology
Economics
SOCIAL SCIENCES
Psychology
History
Political Science
What is Sociology?
• DEFINITION: the systematic study of human
society & social behavior
• TWO PRIMARY QUESTIONS:
• Why do people behave the way they do?
• Why are social situations the way they are?
Sociological Perspective
• DEFINITION: a scientific &
systematic method of viewing
the behavior of groups
Sociological Perspective
• Peter Berger:
• Seeing the general in
the particular…
• Possible to identify
general social patterns in the behavior of
particular individuals
Sociological Perspective
• C. Wright Mills:
• “Seeing the familiar as
strange.”
• Sociologists must work to bring new eyes to
the social world they live in
• Society shapes our lives
Sociological Perspective
• The sociological perspective allows us to
understand how our social location impacts
our worldview
• Social Location: your social demographics
& how they relate to the rest of your
community
• Worldview: Perspective you have on the
world around you
Sociological Perspective
• Sociological Imagination:
• The ability to see connections
between the larger world and
our personal lives
• Connection between “history” &
“biography”
Sociological Perspective
• “Each of us has to
play the hand we
are dealt but
society is dealing
the cards”
Sociological Perspective
• Benefits of the Sociological Perspective:
1. Assess the truth of “common sense”
2. Assess the opportunities & constraints
in our lives (social forces)
3. Empowers us to become active social
participants
4. Allows us to live in a diverse world
Part 2:
Historical Origins
Historical Background
• Developed as an academic discipline during
the mid-19th century
• Sociology emerged as the intellectual
atmosphere of Europe shifted
• Change in Focus:
• How should an ideal society operate?
• How does society operate in reality?
Historical Timeline
• Enlightenment (late
1600s to late 1700s)
• Industrial Revolution
(mid 1700s to mid 1800s)
• Urbanization (mid 1800s forward)
Part 3: Who’s Who
in Sociology
Auguste Comte (1798–1857)
• French philosopher
• Father of Sociology (1838)
• Coined “Sociology”
• One of the 1st to apply the scientific
method to study of social life
• Focused on social order and social
change
Herbert Spencer (1820–1903)
• English philosopher
• Heavily influenced by Darwin
• Believed that social change
and conflict were inevitable on the road to a
perfect society
• “Social Darwinism”
Karl Marx (1818–1883)
• German philosopher
• Believed that society is a
direct reflection of economic
organization; driven by
economic forces
• Two Warring Classes:
• Bourgeoisie & Proletariat
Emile Durkheim (1858–1917)
• French sociologist
• Particularly concerned with
social order, as well its
maintenance
• Interested in the functions of societal
institutions
• First true sociological study, Suicide (1897)
Max Weber (1864–1920)
• German sociologist
• Interested in society’s
impact on the individual,
rather than society as a
whole
• Vershtehen (fehr-SHTAY-en) – meaning that
others attach to their actions
• Social actions/motivations
Part 4:
Sociological Theory
Importance of Theory
• Theory attempts to explain social behavior
in terms of the “real world”
• Three Major Theoretical Approaches:
• Structural-Functionalism
• Conflict Theory
• Symbolic Interactionism
Importance of Theory
• Each approach provides a set of
fundamental assumptions that help guide
sociological understanding
• Macro-Level v. Micro-Level
CAUTION!
Macro-Level
Structural-Functionalism
• Guiding Question:
• How do social
institutions and
processes create stability & security, and
what happens when they don’t?
• Key Players:
• Comte, Spencer, Durkheim
Structural-Functionalism
• Assumptions:
• Society is an organism
comprised of interrelated
parts; known as subsystems
• Subsystems work together to promote
solidarity & stability
• Each subsystem has a function (manifest v.
latent)
Structural-Functionalism
• Manifest Function:
• The intended and recognized consequence of
some element of society
• Latent Function:
• The unintended
and unrecognized
consequence of
some element
of society
Structural-Functionalism
• Major Emphases:
• Stability (function
v. dysfunction)
• Harmony
• Evolution
What are the Functions of?
• Examples:
• Education?
• Marriage?
• Government?
• Religion?
Structural-Functionalism
• Key Criticisms:
• Does not encourage active social change;
Waits for system to naturally stabilize
• Subjective and unclear
Conflict Theory
• Guiding Question:
• How is society
organized (or divided) and
who benefits from this?
• Key Players:
• Marx, Weber, Mills
Conflict Theory
• Assumptions:
• Society consists of basic
inequalities; contributes
to inevitable conflict
• Social relations are in a constant state of
change
• The “Haves” v. the “Have-Nots”
Conflict Theory
• Major
Emphases:
• Competition
over scarce resources
• Impact of inequalities on power & rewards
• Social change as a result of conflict
Conflict Theory
• Example:
• Think of the term/phrase
most commonly used in the United States to
describe when people from other countries
come to the U.S. without the appropriate
legal paper work. What do we tend to call
that?
Conflict Theory
• Key Criticisms:
• Difficult to explain the more orderly & stable
elements of society
• Too heavily focused on economy & class;
neglects the cultural aspects of society
• Assumes that differences ALWAYS lead to
conflict
Micro-Level
Symbolic Interactionism
• Guiding Question:
• How, and in what way,
do people interpret and
negotiate their
surroundings?
• Key Players:
• Weber, Mead, Cooley
Symbolic Interactionism
• Assumptions:
• People attach meaning to things based on
their ongoing interactions with others
• Continuously negotiated
• Meanings guide action & reaction
• Fake Celebrity Example
Symbolic Interactionism
• Major Emphases:
• Language & symbols are the building blocks
of society
• Importance of interpersonal relationships &
social interaction
• Socialization
Symbolic Interactionism
• Examples:
• What does this
picture symbolize
to you? Write the
first word that
comes to mind…
Symbolic Interactionism
• Examples:
• What does this
picture symbolize
to you? Write the
first word that
comes to mind…
Symbolic Interactionism
• Examples:
• What does this
picture symbolize
to you? Write the
first word that
comes to mind…
Symbolic Interactionism
• Examples:
• What does this
picture symbolize
to you? Write the
first word that
comes to mind…
Putin’s Pawn
Symbolic Interactionism
• Key Criticisms:
• Tends to minimize the impact of larger
societal factors in regards to interpersonal
relationships & interactions
Practice
• Societies are in relative balance
• Structural Functionalism
Practice
• Power is one of the most important elements
in social life
• Conflict
Practice
• Religion helps hold a society together
morally
• Structural Functionalism
Practice
• Symbols are crucial to social life
• Symbolic Interactionism
Practice
• Many elements of a society exist to benefit
the powerful
• Conflict
Practice
• Segments of society compete to achieve their
own self-interest rather than cooperate to
benefit others
• Conflict
Practice
• Social life should be understood from the
viewpoint of the individuals involved
• Symbolic Interactionism
Practice
• Education is a necessary aspect of social
harmony
• Structural Functionalism
Practice
• Social change is constantly occurring
• Conflict
Practice
• Conflict is harmful and disruptive to society
• Structural Functionalism