Chapter 1 Summary - Sociology compass for a new social world notes PDF

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Sociology compass for a new social world notes ...

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Chapter 1: A Sociological Compass Sociology Defined The Systematic study of human behaviour in social context

The Sociological Perspective Sociological Explanation of Suicide Emile Durkheim - Suicide more than just individual act  Strongly influenced by social forces  Link between psychological disorders and suicide  Suicide rates vary because of various degrees of SOCIAL SOLIDARITY Social Solidarity Defined 1. The degree to which group members share beliefs and values 2. The intensity/frequency of their interaction Durkheim (Cont’d) - Married people ½ as likely to complete suicide o Creates social ties connecting individual to society - Women less likely than men o Women tend to be more involved in social relations of family life - Jewish less likely than Christians o Due to hardships of past causing them to become more tightknitted - Old more likely than young and middle-aged o Older more likely to encounter more hardships Suicide in Canada - Less strong social ties o Less than 1/6 of population born after 1960 attend religious services weekly o Unemployment rate rose o Divorce rates rose o Out-of-marriage birth rose (less family connection) o Larger LGBTQ+ community o Destroyed social groups of indigenous populations via Europeans

Personal Troubles to Social Structures Social Structures Relatively stable patterns of social relations

Levels of Social Structure Microstructures - Patterns of relatively intimate social relations formed during face-toface interactions o i.e.  family  friendship circles  work associations Macrostructures - over-arching patterns of social relations that lie outside and above more intimate relations (microstructures) o i.e.  class bureaucracies  power systems (patriarchy) Global Structures - patterns of social relations lying outside and above national level o i.e.  international organizations  patterns of worldwide travel and communications  economic relations between countries

The Sociological Imagination (C. Wright Mills) Sociological Imagination Quality of mind that enables one to see connection between personal troubles and social structures

Origins of Sociological Imagination Scientific Revolution - 1550 - Encouraged sound conclusions about workings of society must be based on solid evidence NOT JUST SPECULATION Democratic Revolution - 1750 - People responsible for organizing society - Human intervention CAN solve social problems Industrial Revolution - 1780’s - Most important world event (Rapid economic transformation, especially in England)

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Large-scale application of science and technology to industrial processes, creation of factories and formation of a working class

Theories, Research and Values Theories Tentative explanations for why things occur within the social system

Research Gathering information to assess the validity of a theory

Values Ideas about what is right/wrong and good/bad

Sociological Theories and Theorists Functionalism (Durkheim) 1. 2. 3. 4.

Stresses social patterns govern human relations Shows how social structures influence social stability Emphasis on social structures based on shared values or preferences Sees re-establishing balance/equilibrium as best way to solve social issues Talcott Parsons - Identified how institutions must work to ensure the smooth operation of society as a whole o i.e.  families effectively raising new generation  military successfully defends society  school teaches students how to become productive adults  religion helps people share a common moral code Robert Merton - suggested social structures may have different consequences o disruptive/dysfunctional  create social instability in structure o Manifest Functions  Obvious and intended affects o Latent Functions  Non-obvious and unintended effects

Conflict Theory -

Generally focuses on macro and global structures Looks at major patterns of how inequality in society produces both social stability and social change

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Typically leads view that eliminating privilege will lower conflict and increase sum of total human welfare Marx (Mid-19th Century) - Class Conflict o Struggle between classes to resist and overcome opposition of other classes (Class consciousness) Weber - Argued working class stabilized society - Added religion and politics also important components of historical change Gramsci - Two ways of class domination o Hard  Controlling jobs, using force, etc. o Soft  Control by dominant class to point where values are universally accepted as common sense Foucault - Culture is site of ongoing conflict o Use of new technology and internalization of control mechanisms - Poststructuralism (mid-20th century France) o Denied stability of social relations and cultures, capacity to shape how we think and act, neat categorization of social and cultural elements as binary opposites

Symbolic Interactionism Definition -

Focuses on micro-level settings emphasis on adequate explanation of social behaviour requiring understanding of subjective meanings people attach to social circumstances

Weber -

Protestant Ethic o Religious doubts can be reduced and state of grace ensured with hard work and simple living o Unintended side-effect of increased savings/investments  Stimulates capital growth

Mead -

Focus on how sense of self is formed through social circumstances o Learn self through observation, mimicking and trial and error

Goffman -

How people present themselves effects how one defines themselves

Social Constructionism Argues that natural or innate features of life are sustained by historical and cultural varying social processes

Queer Theory Gender and self-identity vary so greatly it fails to capture sexual instability that characterizes lives

Feminist Theory Social structures in both micro settings and macro settings creating gender inequality (often favouring men)

Harriet Martineau -

First female sociologist One of the first feminist Spent life fighting for social return o Received Nobel Peace Prize

Sociological Compass Equality of opportunity

Constraint

Freedom

Inequality of Opportunity

Equality vs. Inequality -

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Many believe the post-industrial revolution will create more opportunities for everyone to get education, influence gov’t policies and find a good job Others believe this will lead to even more issues

Freedom vs. Constraint -

Growing freedom within limits

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Can choose o Who you want to be o Who you want to associate with o How you want to associate yourself Post-industrialism and globalization may make us freer in some ways, but also places new constraints...