Sociology
Sociology
Defining sociology
Sociology deals with the relationships
between Individual and Society.
Individual
Society
Defining sociology
Some definitions:
“It is the study of the relationship between the
individual and society, investigating how human
thought, action and interaction shapes and is
shaped by society” (Germov & Poole, 2020, p.4)
“it’s the study of society, the
study of how people live, or the
study of people’s interactions
with one another” (Carl et al,
2011, p.5)
“the systematic study of human
behaviour in social context.”
(Furze et al, 2015, p.2)
How social forces shape individual
behaviour
Impact on gender, age, retirement
Taste of fashion (marketing strategy)
Access to higher education
Choice of having children
Changes in lifestyle by global events
Ethnic clashes
How individual action shapes society
Actions by great leaders, scholars etc.
Movements: Arab Spring, labour rights
etc.
Sociology as a science
Why is ‘systematic’ study important?
Because sociologists need to be able to support
their findings with evidence
Important to note the difference between this
and common sense, or anecdotal evidence
Quantitative research deals with
statistics and numbers
Qualitative research deals with words
and meanings
Sociological research often uses both
Sociology as a Lens
The Sociological Imagination
1. Connecting personal troubles
to public issues
Eg – why is an individual
unemployed? Laziness? Or are social
forces at play?
2. Looking at the world from
different perspectives
‘The idea is to use a variety of
viewpoints and in this way to let your
mind become a moving prism
catching light from as many angles as
possible’. 1973, pp. 235-6.
C. Wright Mills
Challenging the taken-for-granted
Peter Berger – “It can be said that the first
wisdom of sociology is this – things are not
what they seem” (1963, p.23). Nothing can be
‘taken for granted’ about the social world.
A brief history of sociology
Term first used by French
philosopher August Comte
in 1820s
Socius = ‘companion’ + logos
= ‘the study of’
1798-1857
You say you want a revolution
Sociology developed in a
rapidly changing world…
‘Modern’ era – 1600
(approx)- 1940
The Enlightenment (Age of
Reason)
“each individual should
reason independently,
without recourse to the
authority of schools,
churches or clergymen”
(Perry et al, 2004, p428)
Immanuel Kant, 1724-1804
Industrial Revolution
…who moved to the cities, where the
sudden huge growth in manufacturing
meant they had employment (from
c18th)
Unfortunately, this
employment usually
involved working
incredibly long hours for
little pay in very
dangerous conditions
Main focus of much of
the work of Karl Marx
French Revolution
There was also a
political aspect to these
changes, as people
questioned the order of
things rather than
accepting it as ‘given by
God’.
Who is the King to tell me
what to do?
See also American War of
Independence
Eugene Delacroix,
‘Liberty leading the People’
Modernity and the origins of
sociological thought
The application of science to industry
Colonisation and exploration of the
globe
Transformation of life from more stable
rural social relations to more fluctuating
urban relations
The enormous expansion of knowledge
The questioning of everything sacred
Modernity is more of an attitude than an
era
Modernity and the origins of
sociological thought
Early sociologists wanted to understand
the changes that were taking place
“Sociology is a social science, having as its
main focus the study of the social
institutions brought into being by the
industrial transformations of the past two
or three centuries.” (Giddens, 2006, p23)
The Development of Sociology
Early Thinkers
Auguste Comte (France, 1798–1857)
Coined sociology
to apply to the
science of human
behavior
Positivism
“Queen Science”
The Development of Sociology
Émile Durkheim (France, Germany
1858–1917)
Developed fundamental thesis to
help explain all society
Industrial revolution led
specialization in task which
ultimately caused Anomie.
During Anomie occurs when people
have lost their sense of purpose
or direction, often during a time of
profound social change.
Anomie: loss of direction felt in a society when
social control of individual behavior has
become ineffective
The Development of Sociology
Max Weber (Germany, 1864–1920)
To fully comprehend behavior, we
must learn subjective meanings
people attach to their actions, called
Vertehen
The Protestant Ethic and the
Spirit of Capitalism
relationship between the ethics of
Protestantism and the
emergence of the spirit of
modern capitalism.
Max Weber
He argues that the modern spirit of
capitalism sees profit as an end in itself, and
pursuing profit as virtuous.
A deep psychological need for clues about
whether one was actually saved arose, and
looked to their success in worldly activity for
those clues.
Protestant came to value profit and material
success as signs of God's favor.
The Development of Sociology
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
Society fundamentally
divided between two
classes that clash in
pursuit of their own
interests
Under capitalism, the
two main classes are
the bourgeoisie
(capitalists) and the
proletariat (the
working class)
Karl Marx
Their interdependent relationship is based on
economic exploitation
Wealth will polarise in the hands of fewer
and larger capitalists
Eventually, according to Marx, the workers
will recognise their collective interests, rise
up and overthrow this system
Theoretical perspectives
Functionalist perspective
Major Theoretical Perspectives
Functionalist Perspective
Thinks of society as a living organism.
Emphasizes ways parts of a society are structured to
maintain its stability
Each part works to keep society operating in an
orderly way
Members generally agree about what is morally right
and morally wrong.
Society as a vast network of connected parts, each
of which helps to maintain the system as a whole.
Example of prostitution.
Emile Durkheim
Major Theoretical Perspectives
Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
Micro perspective on society (unlike functionalist
and conflict perspective)
Generalizes about everyday forms of social
interaction to understand society as a whole
Sociological framework for viewing humans as
living in a world of meaningful objects (material
things, actions, symbols)
Nonverbal communication: can include many
gestures, facial expressions, and postures
Functionalist
ConflictKarl Marx
Major Theoretical Perspectives
Conflict Perspective
Society is a system of social inequalities based
on class, gender and race approaches.
Assumes social behavior is best understood in
terms of conflict or tension between competing
groups (need not to be violent)
The Marxist View: conflict not merely a class
phenomenon, but part of everyday life in all
societies
Feminist Perspective
Views inequity in gender as central to all
behavior and organization
Interactionist
Interactionist –
Mead and Cooley
Feminist
Major Theoretical Perspectives
Table 1-1 Comparing Major Theoretical Perspectives
Table to be continued on next slide
Major Theoretical Perspectives
Table 1-1 Comparing Major Theoretical Perspectives
Concepts/Points to remember
1. What is sociology?
2. Sociological imagination.
1.Sociological perspectives
- Functional, Conflict, Interactionist and Feminist