INTRODUCTORY LECTURE
I. The Sociological Perspective
Sociology is scientific study of society
Systematic study of patterns among humans
Larger context of social interaction
Social science, but not Psychology
Anthropology – pre-history
History
Social Work
A. Seeing the General in the Particular - Mills
B. Seeing the Strange in the Familiar - Berger
C. Individuality in Social Context –Durkheim on
Suicide
II. The Importance of Global Perspective
high-income countries, or industrial nations that are
relatively rich,
the middle-income countries, or nations characterized by
limited industrialization and moderate-to-low personal
income,
and the low-income countries, or nations with little
industrialization and severe poverty.
1) Societies all over the world are increasing
interconnected, making traditional distinctions
between "us" and "them" less and less valid;
2) Many human problems that we face in the United
States are far more serious elsewhere; and
3) Studying other societies is an excellent way to learn
more about ourselves.
III. The Sociological Perspective in Everyday Life
A. Sociology and Social Marginality - state of being
excluded from social
activity as an "outsider."
B. Sociology and Social Crisis - certain historical
periods have been
represented by social disruption that has increased
sociological awareness
C. Benefits of the Sociological Perspective
(1) Helping us assess the truth of commonly held
assumptions, (2) prompting us to assess both the
opportunities and the constraints that characterize our
lives, (3) empowering us to participate actively in our
society, and (4) helping us recognize human variety and
confront the challenges of living in a diverse world.
D. Applied Sociology - social programs and social
policy creation and implementation
IV. The Origins of Sociology
Prior to the nineteenth century philosophers used only
philosophical and theological perspectives in their studies,
concentrating on the imaginary "ideal" rather than on the
analysis of what society was really like. Sociology
emerged as focus was given to understanding how society
actually operates.
A.Science and Sociology
Auguste Comte argued for a scientific approach in studying
society and coined the term sociology in 1838. three eras:
theological stage, metaphysical stage, and the scientific
stage.
Sociology emerged in the United States as an academic
discipline during the early twentieth century. US soc is very
positivistic, not very philosophical
B.Social Change and Sociology
Sociology emerged after the great transformations in
European societies during the 1600 & 1700s.
1. New Industrial Economy - rapid technological
change, rise of factories and cities, weakened cultural
traditions
2. The Growth of Cities – larger, more diverse,
social mobility, education
3. Political Change - Divine Law replaced by
ideas of individual liberty and individual rights.
C. Marginal Voices – Sociologists often marginalized
population, also now recognizing work of women
(Martineau, Addams) and blacks (W.E.B. DuBois)
V. Sociological Theory
While the sociological perspective provides us with a
unique vantage point from which to observe our social
world, theory helps us to meaningfully organize and
explain the linkages between specific observations we
make. A theory is a statement of how and why specific
facts are related.
Sociologists are guided by one or more general
frameworks, or theoretical paradigms. A theoretical
paradigm provides a basic image of society that guides
thinking and research. There are three principal theoretical
paradigms used by sociologists. Each one focuses the
researcher's attention on particular types of questions about
how society is organized, and on different explanations
about why certain patterns are found in
society.
A. Structural-Functional Paradigm - framework for
building theory that sees society as a complex system
whose parts work together to promote solidarity and
stability. The two basic components of this paradigm are
social structure, or a relatively stable pattern of social
behavior, and social function, which refers to
consequences of a social pattern for the operation of
society.
Early sociologists using this perspective included Auguste
Comte, Herbert Spencer, and Emile Durkheim.
In US 1900s, Robert Merton
manifest functions, or consequences of social structure
both recognized and intended, & latent functions, which
are unrecognized and unintended consequences of social
structure. May be eufunctions and dysfunctions
Critique: is a conservative approach, tends to ignore
tension and conflict
B. The Social-Conflict Paradigm - framework for
building theory that sees society as an arena of inequality
that generates conflict and social change. Social
differences, rather than social integration, are the focus
using this paradigm.
Marx, feminist, womanist
Critique: social unity is ignored, and that in focusing on
change, objectivity may be lost.
C. Symbolic-Interaction Paradigm (micro-level
orientation) framework for building theory that sees
society as the product of the everyday interactions of
individuals. We interact in terms of shared symbols and
meanings.
George Herbert Mead, Erving Goffman (dramaturgical
analysis), and George Homans and Peter Blau (socialexchange analysis)
D. Example:
Sports: Three Theoretical Paradigms in Action
1.The Functions of Sports
2.Sports and Conflict
3.Sports as Interaction
VI.Summary
Sociology is the study of society. We attempt to be as
scientific as we can. We need statistics to make
generalizations and inferences. The only statistics you
need to know are: mean, median, mode. Know the three
theoretical perspectives and one outstanding founder. For
this, see handout.