Introduction to the Study of
Sociology
Primary Question
• What is sociology and why is it important and
beneficial?
• What is the concept of free-will?
Agency vs. Structure
– What determines an individuals behavior?
• Agency-making individual choices based on
free-will
• Structure-cultural and structural influences
operate in the decision making process
– How society is organized
– Society is patterned
What is Sociology?
The Sociological Perspective
• Sociology
• The Sociological Imagination
– C. Wright Mills
• Is sociology simply common sense?
Common Sense
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Is subjective
Ignores facts
Is contradictory
Varies across groups and cultures
Is based on myths and misconceptions
Sociology and the Social Sciences
• What is Science?
• What is the difference between natural and
social sciences?
– What are some other social sciences and what do
they study?
Sociological Perspective
• The sociological imagination helps us to
understand how the social structure affects
our lives
• The structure of society refers to the way that
a society is organized
– Institutions
– Social Groups
– Statuses
– Roles
Social Institutions
• An established and enduring pattern of social
relationships
– The five traditional social institutions are
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Family
Religion
Politics
Economics
Education
Elements of Culture
Culture is defined as
the meanings and ways
of life that characterize
a society including
beliefs, values, norms,
sanctions, and
symbols.
Levels of Analysis
• Macro sociology - Looks at the "big picture" of
society and suggests how social problems are
affected at the institutional level.
• Micro sociology - Concerned with the social
psychological dynamics of individuals
interacting in small groups.
• What is a theory?
Theory
• A theory is a set of statements that explains
why a particular phenomena happens
– Theories can be viewed as tools or lenses through
which individuals view society and, in this case,
the family.
– Theories differ
Benefits of the Sociological Perspective
• Gaining a broad understanding of society
• Promotes and understanding of the social
world and our place in it.
• Helps us to understand how our lives are
shaped by society, but also how individuals
working together can change society
– Disclaimer: Sociology addresses serious problems
that face society, and often leads to disturbing
discoveries about our society and ourselves.