Chapter 1 - The Sociological Perspective
Sociology 101 with Nix-mccray at Community College of Baltimore County
About this deck
By: Joshua Olszewski
Textbook:
Essentials of Sociology, A Down-to-Earth Approach (9th Edition) (MySocLab Series)
Created: 2011-02-11
Size: 36 flashcards
Views: 2525
Textbook:
Essentials of Sociology, A Down-to-Earth Approach (9th Edition) (MySocLab Series)Created: 2011-02-11
Size: 36 flashcards
Views: 2525
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The Sociological Perspective
> Stresses the social contexts in which people live.
>Examines how these contexts influence peoples lives.
Question is: How groups influence people, especially how people are influenced by their society.
Society
> A group of people who share a culture and a territory
Social Location
>The corners in life that people occupy because of where they are located in a society
Science in Sociology
>Science: In contrast - requires theories that can be tested by research.
Scientific Method
> Using objective, systematic observations to test theorie - was being tried out in Chemistry and Physics.
>Opened many secrets which have been concealed with nature
Auguste Comte - Founder of Sociology
> Suggested we apply the scientific method to the social world (Positivism)
>Started to wonder what held society together.
Purpose: Not only to discover social principles - but to also apply them to social reform.
Herbert Spencer - Social Darwinism
> Disagreed with comte
>Said sociology should not guide social reform "Societies are evolving, and we shouldn't interfere"
>Societies go from a lower form (Barbarian) to higher (Civilized) forms
Herbert Spencer - Social Darwinism (con'd)
> As generations pass a society's most capable and intelligent members (fittest) survive - lass capable die off
> More fittest members produce more advance society.
Karl Marx - Class Conflict
> Class conflict is the engine of human history
> Struggle between communists and workers
> 2 social classes
1. Bourgeoisie - Capitalists, own capital land, factories, machines
2. Proletariat - Exploited workers
Emile Durkheim - Social Integration
> Until him; sociology viewed as part of history and economics --> wanted to CHANGE
>Master Goal was to get sociology recognized as a separate academic discipline
>1887 U. Of Bordeaux "First academic Appointment in Sociology"
Emile Durkheim - Social Integration (con'd)
>Second goal - Show how social forces affect people's behavior
Studied suicide rates - every country was different
Males over woman, Protestants over Jews and christians
Unmarried more than Married
Emile Durkheim (con'd)
> Suicide isn't what it appears
> People here and there deciding to take their lives for personal reasons
Instead: Social factors underlie suicide
Leads to social integration:
Social Integration
> Degree to which people are tied to their social group.
Max Weber (Mahx Vayber) - Protestant Ethic
> Wanted to uncover the origin of capitalism (transforming society)
> Conclusion: Changes in religion brought about capitalism.
> Developed the Protestant Ethic
Protestant Ethic
> Value attached to hard work, thrift, and efficiency in one’s worldly calling, which, especially in the Calvinist view, were deemed signs of an individual’s election, or eternal salvation.
Sexism and Early Female Sociologists
> 1800's - Sex roles were rigid
> Women C.C.C.C (Church,Cook,Children,Clothes)
> Higher ed - Few who received - men only
> Many female sociologists wrote extensively
Harriet Martineau (1802 - 1876)
> Published society in america
> Translated Comte's ideas into English
> Early Female sociologists viewed sociology as a path to social reform - Focusing on how to improve society.
W.E.B Du bois
> First A.A to graduate w/ doctorate
> Every year bet 189 and 1914 published book on race relations bet blacks and whites
> Became active in social reform after years of colecting + Interperting data
Started NAACP
>Embraced Marxim
Jane Addams & Social Reform
> Came from background of wealth and privilege
> Strived for social justice
> Co-founded Hull House - 1889
> Campaigned for laws against child labor
> Co-winner of Nobel Peace Prize 1931
Talott Parsons & C. Wright Mills: Theory Vs. Reform
> Parsons: Developed abstract models of society. Influenced a generation of sociologists
>Wright-Mills: Urged sociologists to get back to social reform "Sociologists missing the point" he said. Freedom was threatened by Power Elite group.
Basic sociology (1 of 3)
> Analyzing some aspect of sociology, with no goal other than gaining knowledge
>Others questioned: " Knowledge for what?!"
> Argue that gaining knowledge through research isn't enough.
Use expertise to help reform society
Applied Sociology (2 of 3)
> Using Sociology to solve problems.
> Used in ways that help solve problems, and disrupt terrorist groups.
Public Sociology (3 of 3)
> Apply Sociology in a broader way
> Harnessing the sociological perspective for well-being of the public
>Guiding politicians and public leaders
>Was "basic" sociology before
Three Perspectives in Sociology
1. Symbolic Interactionism
2. Functional Analysis
3.Conflict Theory
>Each theory provides distinct interpretation of social life.
Theory
> A theory is a general statement about how some parts of the world fit together and how they work.
>Explanation how two or more "facts" are related to one another
Symbolic Interactionism
> Main Idea: Symbols - things which we attach meaning - key to understanding how we view the world.
>Brought in by Charles Cooley
>Analyze how social life depends on the ways we define ourselves and others
Symbolic Interationism (con't)
>Study face-to-face interaction, examining how people make sense out of life - how they determine their relationships.
Functional Analysis
> Central idea: Society is a whole unit, made up of interrelated parts that work together.
> ALSO known as Functionalism and Structural Functionalism
> Rooted from origins of Sociology
Functional Analysis (con't)
> Whenever we examine a smaller part - we need to look for its functions and dysfunctions and see how it relates to the larger unit.
^^That can be applied to ANY social group^^
Conflict Theory
> Provides third perspective on social life
> Conflict theorists stress that society is composed of groups that are competing with one another for scarce resources - struggle for power
> Karl Marx is the founder of the conflict theory
Karl Marx and the Social Conflict
> He concluded that the key to human history is class conflict.
> In each society, some small group controls the means of production, exploiting the ones not in control.
Bourgeoisie and Proletariat
> Bourgeoisie - Small group of capitalists who own means to produce wealth
> Proletariat - Mass of workers who are exploited by bourgeoisie
Levels of Analysis: Macro and Micro`
> A major difference among these theoretical perspectives is their level of analysis.
Macro vs. Micro
>Macro: Studied by Functionalists and conflict theorists - large-scale patterns of society
>Micro: Studied by Symbolic Interactionists, on social interaction - what paople do when they are in one another's presence.
Nonverbal Interaction
> Communication without words through gestures, use of space, silence etc..
Sociological Research:
>8 Steps
1.Select a Topic 4. Formulate a Hypothesis 7. Analyze the results
2.Define the problem 5. Choose a research method 8. Share the Results
3. Review the Literature 6. Collect the Data
About this deck
By: Joshua Olszewski
Textbook: Essentials of Sociology, A Down-to-Earth Approach (9th Edition) (MySocLab Series)
Created: 2011-02-11
Size: 36 flashcards
Views: 2525
Textbook:
Essentials of Sociology, A Down-to-Earth Approach (9th Edition) (MySocLab Series)Created: 2011-02-11
Size: 36 flashcards
Views: 2525
About StudyBlue
STUDYBLUE makes things that make you better at school.
Things like online flashcards with photos and audio.
Things like personalized quizzes and friendly reminders about when (and what) to study next.
Think of it as a digital backpack™: access to all of your study materials online and on your phone.
STUDYBLUE exists to make studying efficient and effective for every student, for free. Join us.
“I have used this website for three exams, and I see a huge difference in my test results.”
Naj
Naj