The Sociological Perspective
• The Sociological perspective is illustrated
through considering causes of suicide
• Suicide often regarded as a supremely antisocial
and non-social act
• Yet there are hidden social causes of suicide-SEE
DURKHEIM, SUICIDE: A STUDY OF SOCIAL
FORMS
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Theory, Research, and Values
• Auguste Comte (1798-1857): Sought to
understand the social world using scientific
method of research
Coined the term, “sociology”
SOCI in latin-companion
LOGY in latin-reason.
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Theory, Research, and Values
1. There Is tension between
(i) belief in importance of science, & (ii) vision
of ideal society
1. Tension in works of important early figures
in sociology (e.g., Marx, Durkheim,
Weber)
2. Tension- continues today- Theory, research,
and values…
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4
Sociology’s Four Main
Theoretical Traditions
1. Functionalism: How is social order supported
by macrostructures?
2. Conflict Theory: How is social inequality
maintained and challenged?
3. Symbolic Interactionism: How do people create
meaning when they communicate in micro-level
settings?
4. Feminism: What are the social sources of
patriarchy in both macro and micro settings?
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Functionalism
1. Human behaviour is governed by
stable patterns of social
relations (“social structures”)
2. Social structures can either
maintain or undermine social
stability.
3. Suggests social structures are
based mainly on shared values
4. Argues that re-establishing
equilibrium - best way to solve
most social problems.
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S. D. Clark (1910-2003)
First Chair of Sociology at
University of Toronto.
Functionalist focus:
How society re-established
equilibrium after
experiencing disruptions
caused by economic
change.
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Functionalism in North America
• Talcott Parsons: Best known for
identifying how various institutions
must work to ensure smooth operation of
society as a whole
• Robert Merton: Proposed that social
structures have manifest and latent
functions.
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Durkheim’s Theory of Suicide
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Sociological Explanation of
Suicide: Durkheim’s
Contribution
• Émile Durkheim  At end of 19th century,
demonstrated suicide rates were strongly influenced
by social forces
 Examined association between rates of suicide and
rates of psychological disorder for different groups
 Found suicide rates and rates of psychological
disorder did not vary directly, and often appeared to
vary inversely
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Conflict Theory and Karl Marx
• Conflict theory originated in work of Marx
• Historical or dialectical materialism
Struggle between classes to resist & overcome
opposition of other classes
• Marx believed workers would become aware of
their exploitation (i.e., develop class
consciousness)
Bring about a SOCIALIST -“communist”
society
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Conflict Theory in North
America
• C. Wright Mills laid foundations for modern
conflict theory in late 1960’s.
• 1960s - with its growing civil unrest - that
conflict theory took hold in North America
Conflict among classes, nations, races, &
generations was the very essence of society
Gave rise to important contributions to conflict
theory
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Max Weber SYMBOLIC
INTERACTION
• Weber noted growth of the service sector of
economy, with its many manual workers &
professionals
• Occupational groups stabilize society because
they enjoy higher status
• Showed class conflict is not the only driving
force of history
• Argued politics & religion also are important
sources of historical change
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Symbolic Interactionism
• Focuses on interpersonal
communication in microlevel
social settings
• Emphasizes social life is possible
only because people attach
meanings to things
• Stresses people help to create their
social circumstances, not merely
react to them
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Erving Goffman
(1922-82)
Famous Canadian
Symbolic
Interactionist.
Studied sociology &
anthropology at
University of Toronto.
Renowned for
“dramaturgical”
approach.
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Symbolic Interactionism
1. Arose out of influence of Weber, Mead, &
Goffman:
2. Weber emphasized importance of Verstehen:
3. Empathetic understanding people’s motives
& meanings
4. PEOPLE attach meanings to things to gain a
clear sense of the significance of their actions
(e.g., role of Protestant ethic in early capitalist
development)
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Social Constructionism
• Is a variant of symbolic interactionism
• Argues that when people interact, they typically
assume things are naturally or innately what they
seem to be…(taken for granted)
• Suggests apparently natural or innate features of
life are often sustained by social processes that
vary historically and culturally
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Postmodernism
• Postmodernism was originally a reaction to
modernism.
• Influenced by the Western European
disillusionment induced by World War II,
• Postmodernism tends to refer to a cultural,
intellectual, or artistic state lacking a clear
central hierarchy or organizing principle.
Postmodernism
• Postmodernism
• Sees social reality as embodying
extreme complexity,
contradiction, ambiguity, diversity,
or inter-referentiality
Feminist Theory
• Focuses on various aspects of
patriarchy (system of male
domination in society)
• Suggests male domination is
determined by structures of power
• Examines operation of patriarchy in
both microlevel and macrolevel
social settings
• Recommends eliminating patterns of
gender inequality
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Margrit Eichler
(1942- )
Chair, Sociology,
OISE.
Head of Women’s
Studies,
University of Toronto.
Internationally known
for work on
feminist methodology.
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Naomi Wolf, The Beauty Myth
FEMINIST CONFLICT
APPROACH
• Two key stages
in women’s history:
• 1. The Surgical Age- 19th century
• 2 Cosmetic Age- late 20th century/21st
Cosmetic Age
• NAOMI WOLFE- Linked 19th, 20th and
21stc.
1. CAPITALISM
2. GENDER INEQUALITY
3. HEALTH AND MEDICINE
4. MASS MEDIA
Conflict: IDEAS VS.
IDEOLOGY
• IDEAS- human thought, innovation,
creativity, reflexivity.
• IDEOLOGY-a product of material forces,
material conditions…
Production vs. Reproduction
• FUNCTIONALISTS=argue that human beings
reproduce and create for themselves social
institutions such as the family. (idealism)
• Conflict theorists- argue that human production
gives rise to social institutions as society advances
the division of labour results in human alienation.
(materialism)
Production vs. Reproduction
• FUNCTIONALISTS=argue that human beings
reproduce and create for themselves social
institutions such as the family.
(SOCIALIZATION PARADIGM-idealism)
• Conflict theorists- argue that human production
gives rise to IDEOLOGY-social institutions are
ideological and bourgeois..
Reproduction
• FUNCTIONALISTS=argue that human beings
reproduce and create for themselves social
institutions such as the family. (idealism)
• Conflict theorists- argue that human
production gives rise to social institutions (ie
family)
• Conflict theorists believe that as society
advances, the division of labour results in human
alienation. (materialism)
Marxist Feminists
• EVEN romantic love, (family and sexuality)
are ideological and tied to the ruling class.
• Mass media provide images of desirability,
sexuality, gender relations etc.
• Women’s role in family, unpaid labour serves the
interests of the bourgeoisie.
CONCLUSION
• THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVEsocial force influence individual behaviour
• PARADIGMS-SF, CONFLICT, SI,
FEMINISM..
• Paradigms differ on the impact of society
on the individual.
• Paradigms are key to unlocking parochial
and provincial tunnel vision
Suicide Rate by Age and Sex,
Canada, 2004
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Sociological Explanation of
Suicide: Durkheim’s
Contribution
• Émile Durkheim  At end of 19th century,
demonstrated suicide rates were strongly influenced
by social forces
 Examined association between rates of suicide and
rates of psychological disorder for different groups
 Found suicide rates and rates of psychological
disorder did not vary directly, and often appeared to
vary inversely
Copyright © 2010 Nelson Education Limited
28
Durkheim’s Contribution
• Durkheim argued suicide rates varied as
result of differences in degree of social
solidarity in different categories of the
population
• Social solidarity refers to:
- the degree to which group members share
beliefs and values; and
- the intensity and frequency of their interaction
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SOCIOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVE
• READ:
DURKHEIM, SUICIDE: A STUDY OF
SOCIAL FORMS..
• THIS is PURE, SCIENTIFIC,
SOCIOLOGY