Chapter Preview
Section 1: The Sociological Perspective
Section 2: The Origins of Sociology
Section 3: Theoretical Perspectives
Chapter Preview · Section 1
The Sociological Perspective (pages 6–13)
Sociology studies human social behavior. It
assumes a group, rather than an individual,
perspective. Sociologists look for the patterns in
social relationships. Individuals can benefit by
using their sociological imaginations to look at
events in their personal lives.
Chapter Preview · Section 2
The Origins of Sociology (pages 14–22)
Sociology is a young science. It started with the
writings of European scholars like Auguste Comte,
Harriet Spencer, Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max
Weber. Jane Addams and W.E.B. Du Bois helped to
focus America’s attention on social issues. After World
War II, America took the lead in developing the field.
Chapter Preview · Section 3
Theoretical Perspectives (pages 23–31)
Sociology includes three major theoretical
perspectives. Functionalism views society as an
integrated whole. Conflict theory looks at class, race,
and gender struggles. Symbolic interactionism
examines how group members use shared symbols as
they interact.
Section 1: The Sociological
Perspective
Sociology studies human social behavior. It
assumes a group, rather than an individual,
perspective. Sociologists look for the patterns
in social relationships. Individuals can benefit
by using their sociological imaginations to look
at events in their personal lives.
• perspective
• sociology
• sociological perspective
• social structure
• sociological imagination
On a scale of 1 to 5;
How much influence
do groups have on
your life?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A
B
C
D
The Nature of Sociology
• Perspective is a particular point of view.
• Sociology is the study of social structure.
• The sociological perspective always
focuses on the group as opposed to the
individual.
The Social Sciences
The Importance of Patterns
• Social structure is the patterned interaction
of people in social relationships.
• Sociologists focus on a pattern of behavior
shared by members of a group or society,
not the behavior of an individual.
• All groups encourage conformity.
Acquiring the Sociological Imagination
• Sociological imagination is the ability of
individuals to see the relationship between
events in their personal lives and events in
their society.
• Sociological imagination allows us to
question accepted ideas, or the conventional
social wisdom.
Health Insurance
Why is it important to understand the
sociological perspective?
A.
To better understand the
individual.
B.
To know which group is
the best.
C.
To better understand the
forces that effect our lives.
D.
To learn how to socialize.
A.
B.
C.
D.
A
B
C
D
Section 2: The Origin of
Sociology
Sociology is a young science. It started with the
writings of European scholars like Auguste
Comte, Harriet Martineau, Herbert Spencer,
Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber.
Jane Addams and W.E.B. Du Bois helped to
focus America’s attention on social issues.
After World War II, America took the lead in
developing the field of sociology.
Time Line of Early
Sociologists
• positivism
• class conflict
• social statics
• mechanical solidarity
• social dynamics
• organic solidarity
• bourgeoisie
• verstehen
• capitalist
• rationalization
• proletariat
How would you rate changes in our
society over the past few years?
A.
Positive
B.
Neutral
C.
No real changes
A.
B.
C.
D.
A
B
C
D
European Origins
• Sudden changes during the late 19th
century in Europe caused intellectuals to
begin the study of sociology.
• Auguste Comte used positivism,
scientific observation so that one
can be positive of results, to
study society.
Time Line of Early
Sociologists
Auguste Comte
European Origins (cont.)
• Comte distinguished between:
– social statics
– social dynamics
Time Line of Early
Sociologists
European Origins (cont.)
• Harriet Martineau emphasized
sociology as a science and was a
pioneering feminist theorist.
Time Line of Early
Sociologists
Harriet Martineau
European Origins (cont.)
• Herbert Spencer compared social
stability to the parts of the body.
• Spencer introduced Social
Darwinism—the idea that
evolutionary social changes
lead to progress provided
people did not interfere.
• He opposed social reform.
Time Line of Early
Sociologists
Herbert Spencer
European Origins (cont.)
• Karl Marx wanted social scientists to change
the world instead of merely studying it.
• He thought that the bourgeoisie
(capitalists) and the proletariat would
eventually have a conflict and a classless, or
communistic, society would emerge.
Time Line of Early
Sociologists
European Origins (cont.)
• Marx felt that the key to
the unfolding of history
was class conflict.
Karl Marx
Time Line of Early
Sociologists
European Origins (cont.)
• Emile Durkheim believed that:
– In preindustrial times societies were
based on mechanical solidarity.
– In industrial times societies are based
organic solidarity.
Time Line of Early
Sociologists
European Origins (cont.)
• Dirkheim introduced the use of statistical
techniques for testing social theories.
Time Line of Early
Sociologists
Emile Durkheim
European Origins (cont.)
• Max Weber claimed that humans
act on the basis of their own
understanding of a situation.
• Weber believed that the best
understanding of the personal
intentions of people in groups
can be gained through the
method of verstehen.
Time Line of Early
Sociologists
Max Weber
European Origins (cont.)
• Weber identified rationalization
as a key influence in the change
of society.
Time Line of Early
Sociologists
Max Weber
Sociology in America
• The study of sociology began in Europe, but
the greatest development has taken place in
the United States.
Time Line of Early
Sociologists
Sociology in America (cont.)
• Jane Addams was the best known of the
early women social reformers in the United
States.
• Addams focused on the
women’s suffrage and
peace movements, as
well as the effects of
industrialism on the lower
class.
Time Line of Early
Sociologists
Jane Addams
Sociology in America (cont.)
• Addams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
in 1931.
Time Line of Early
Sociologists
Jane Addams
Sociology in America (cont.)
• W.E.B. Du Bois experienced and studied
racial discrimination and segregation.
• Du Bois analyzed the
sophisticated social structure
of African American
communities within the
United States and
throughout the world.
Time Line of Early
Sociologists
W.E.B. Du Bois
How did Karl Marx believe a
communistic society would arise?
A.
Through the method
of verstehen
B.
By rationalization
C.
Class conflict would
ensue
D.
Through the rise of
social Darwinism
A.
B.
C.
D.
A
B
C
D
How were Jane Addams and
W.E.B. Du Bois similar?
A.
They were both from Europe.
B.
Both focused on people
who endured discrimination.
C.
They left the United States.
looking for a better life
D.
Both graduated from the
University of Chicago.
A.
B.
C.
D.
A
B
C
D
Section 3: Theoretical
Perspectives
Sociology includes three major theoretical
perspectives. Functionalism views society as
an integrated whole. Conflict theory looks at
class, race, and gender struggles. Symbolic
interactionism examines how group members
use shared symbols as they interact.
• theoretical
perspective
• functionalism
• manifest functions
• latent functions
• dysfunction
• conflict perspective
• power
• symbol
• symbolic interaction
• dramaturgy
The Role of Theoretical Perspectives
• Theoretical perspective, when applied to
sociology, means a set of assumptions
about the workings of a society accepted
as true by the supporters of the theory.
The Role of Theoretical Perspectives
(cont.)
• Three theoretical perspectives overarch in
the field of sociology:
– functionalism
– conflict theory
– symbolic interaction
A World Turned
Upside Down
Perception and
Perspective
Is it important to have different
perspectives?
A.
Yes
B.
No
C.
It depends on the
situation
A. A
B. B
C. C
Functionalism
• Functionalism states that all parts of a
society contribute, or function, as an
integrated whole.
• A change in one part of a society leads to
change in another part.
Functionalism (cont.)
• According to Robert Merten (1969) there are
two kinds of functions:
– manifest functions
– latent functions
Functionalism (cont.)
• Elements of society that make a negative
contribution lead to dysfunction.
• According to functionalism, there is a
consensus on values that leads to the high
degree of cooperation found in any society.
Conflict Perspective
• The conflict perspective emphasizes that
groups and societies compete as they
attempt to preserve and promote their own
special values and interests.
• Conflict theory is based on a contest for
power.
Symbolic Interactionism
• Symbolic interactionism, according to
Herbert Blumer, is defined as the interactions
among people based on mutually understood
symbols.
Symbolic Interactionism (cont.)
• The basic assumptions of symbolic
interactionism include:
– We learn the meaning of a symbol from
the way we see others reacting to it.
– We base our behavior (interactions) on
those symbols.
– We then use the meanings of symbols to
imagine how others will respond to our
behavior.
Symbolic Interactionism (cont.)
• To better understand human interaction,
Erving Goffman introduced dramaturgy
which describes human interaction as a
theatrical performance.
Assumptions of the
Major Theoretical
Perspectives
The Social Sciences
The Social Sciences
Time Line of Early Sociologists
Time Line of Early Sociologists
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract
of the United States: 2004–2005.
A World Turned Upside Down
Perception and Perspective