Sociology chapter 1- discover Sociology PDF

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Sociology notes- Chapter 1

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Sociology  The scientific study of human social relations, groups, societies.  Scientific: a way of learning about the world that combines logically constructed theory and systematic observation Two foci  Micro-level sociology o Small group social relationships and interactions, and how they influence people’s attitudes and behaviors.  Macro-level sociology o How institutions, organizations, and whole societies are established, function, and change. (e.g., Durkheim) The sociological Imagination (C. Wright Mills)  The ability to grasp the relationship between individual lives and the larger social forces that help to shape them. o Awareness of the individual’s relationship to wider society. o Ability to link a particular person’s (or group’s) private troubles to broader social trends. o Understanding how a person’s biography (life story) links to the broader social and historical context in which he/she lives. Sociological theory: 1. Logical, rigorous framework for the interpretation of social life that make particular assumptions and ask particular questions about the social world. 2. A logical explanation about a causal relationship between two or more aspects of social life. What does a theory do? 1. Explains 2. Predicts 3. Gives depth of meaning 4. Goes beyond opinion and anecdote Sociology’s major theories  Structural-functionalism theory o I. Assumptions  1. View of society: stable, well-integrated, harmonious

Sociology notes- Chapter 1

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 2. Level of analysis emphasized: macro sociological- largescale patterns  3. View of the individual: socialized to perform societal functions through social roles  4. View of social order: maintained through cooperation and consensus  5. View of social change: predictable, reinforcing, “evolutionary” o II. Key concepts  Functions vs. Dysfunctions: when one or more parts of society contribute to its equilibrium. If not they’re a dysfunction.  Manifest (intended) vs latent (unintended) functions/dysfunctions  Stability vs. instability o Sociological Theory of Suicide  Emile Durkheim  1858-1917  Suicide- foundational text for the discipline of sociology, and remains influential in the study of suicide o Social solidarity’s effect on people (The role of Community and Religion)  1. Egoistic (individualistic) suicide  Competitive relations- esp. Economic- create loose bonds with others  Emphasizes self-reliance and Independence  Emphasizes the person over the group  Reduced “we-feeling”  Who’s more likely to commit egoistic suicide? o Protestants o Never married o Person living in country at peace  Who’s least likely? o Catholics

Sociology notes- Chapter 1

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o Married o Person living in country at war  2. Anomic (Normlessness) Suicide  Individual feels loss of societal direction. Social controls are ineffective  Keys o 1. Person’s connection to a groups and communities o 2. Sociologists must study how groups/ communities influence people  Substantial breakdown in social control  Feel left to “own devices” no one or thing to help or rely on  No firm norms controlling people’s impulses and behaviors  Who’s more likely to commit anomic suicide? o Widowed older male farmers living on detached farms o Divorced individuals o Military recruits o Freshman away from home  Who’s least likely? o Married individuals o Students at a local college  Altruistic Suicide  Individuals highly regulated  Individual needs subordinate to group needs.  Person has extreme needs to his/her group  Who’s more likely to commit this suicide o Traditional Hindu Widow o Kamikaze o 9/11 Terrorist hijackers

Sociology notes- Chapter 1

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 4. Fatalistic suicide  Individuals are too highly regulated but do not have much social integration: slaves, childless married women  Conflict Theory o Assumptions  1. View of Society: Characterized by tension and struggle between groups  2. Level of analysis emphasized: Macro sociological  3. View of the individual: People are shaped by power  4. View of social order: Maintained by force, coercion, intimidation  5. View of social change  A. Change occurs all the time  B. Conflict can have positive consequences  Change should be revolutionary  6. Example: Rules often reinforce and support the interests and needs of those in power o Key concepts  Completing interests  Social inequality  Subjugation of groups  Symbolic Interactionism o Both the individual self and society as a whole are the products of social interactions based on language and other symbols.  Herbert Blumer: U.S. sociologist who was credited for the term in 1937  Approach originated in the lectures of George Herbert Mead (University of Chicago philosopher) o Symbolic interactionist paradigm argues that people acquire their sense of who they are ONLY through interactions with others.  Symbols: representations of things that are not immediately present to our senses  ex: words, gestures, emojis, tattoos, etc....