Sociology: Chapter 1

Society

people who share a culture and a territory

authority

power that people consider legitimate, as rightly exercised over them; also called legitimate power

patterns

recurring characteristics or events

replication

repeating a study in order to test its findings

social integration

the degree to which people feel a part of social groups

sociology

the scientific study of society and human behavior

Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)

Goal #1: get sociology recognized as a separate academic discipline Goal #2: to show how social forces affect people's behavior Rigorous research comparing suicide rates of different countries Found that specific groups within these countries have different rates Protestants, males, and unmarried were more likely Catholics, females and the married were less likely Conclusion: "social factors underlie suicide" Identified social integration: the degree to which people are ites to their social group Those with weaker social ties are less likely... Protestant (greater freedom of thought), males (more independent), unmarried (lack connections/responsibilities) Those with strong bonds can also be encourages Spouse dying, cults, etc. Durkheim stressed social facts

proletariat

Marx's term for the exploited class, the mass of the workers who do not own the means of production

class conflict

Marx's term for the struggle between capitalists and workers

When was sociology established in the United States?

The earliest departments of sociology were established in the late 1800s at the universities of Kansas, Chicago, and Atlanta. During the 1940s, sociology was nominated by the University of Chicago. A tension between social reform and social research and theory ran through sociology, and in its early years, the contributions of women and minorities were largely ignored.

theory

a general statement about how some parts of the world fit together and how they work; an explanation of how two or more facts are related to one another

Verstehen

a german word used by Weber that is perhaps best understood as "to have insight into someone's situation"

conflict theory

a theoretical framework in which society is viewed as composed of groups competing for scarce resources

positivism

the application of the scientific approach to the social world

scientific method

using objective, systematic observations to test theories

What is a theory?

A theory s a general statement about how facts are related to one another. A theory provides a conceptual framework for interpreting facts.

How do sociologists use Verstehen and social facts to study human behavior?

According to Max Weber, to understand why people act as they do, sociologists must try to put themselves in their shoes. He used German verb Verstehen, "to grasp by insight," to describe this essentially subjective approach. Although not denying the importance of uncovering social facts, objective social conditions that influence how people behave. Contemporary sociology uses both approaches to understand human behavior.

Auguste Comte and Positivism (1798-1857)

Apply the scientific method to the social world Philosophical upheaval of French Revolution "What holds society together" Social order? What causes it to change? Coined the term Sociology Believed in Reform

What is the difference between basic (or pure) and applied sociology?

Basic (or pure) sociological research whose purpose is to make discoveries. In contrast, applied sociology is the use of sociology to solve problems.

Karl Marx and (1818-1883)

Class Conflict Influenced sociology but also world history Class conflict: the struggle between capitalists (Bourgeoisie) and workers (proletariat) How does it end? Workers unite in revolution Outcome= classless society He did not create communism, but his ideas were later applied Developed conflict theory

social facts

Durkheim's term for a group's pattern of behavior

Harriet Martineau

Early Social Research Wrote Society in America secretly Discussed: family, race, gender, politics, and religion Her work was ignores.. Until recently

bourgeoisie

Karl Marx's term for capitalists, those who own the means of production

What is science, and where does sociology fit in?

Science is the application of systematic methods to obtain knowledge and the knowledge obtained by those methods. The sciences are divided into the natural sciences, which seek to explain and predict events in the natural environment; and the social sciences, which seek to understand the social world objectively by means of controlled and repeated observations. Sociology is the scientific study of society and human behavior.

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)

Social Darwinism "Survival of the fittest" 2nd founder of sociology Societies evolve from lower to higher forms Generations pass Most capable and intelligent survive Overtime societies improve reform not necessary If you help the lower class you interfere

C. Wright Mills, 1959

Sociological Imagination (larger picture) "Sociological imagination is a person's ability to connect his personal experiences to the society at large and to a greater extent, to historical forces" How are people influenced by society? How do groups influence people? A way of thinking that steers us away from one's usual day-to-day life and look at one's life afresh Question your assumptions!

What is sociology's major theoretical perspectives?

Sociologist use three primary theoretical frameworks to interpret social life. Symbolic interactionism examines how people use symbols to develop and share their views of the world. Symbolic interactionists usually focus on the micro level- on small-scale, face to face interaction. Functional analysts, in contrast, focus on the macro level- on large scale patterns of society. Functional theorists stress that a social system is made up of many parts. When, working properly, each part contributes to the stability to the whole, fulfilling a function that contributes to the system's equilibrium. Conflict theorists also focus on large-scale patterns of society. They stress that society is composed of competing groups that struggle for scarce resources. Which each perspective focusing on select features of social life and each providing a unique interpretation. no single theory in adequate. The combined insights of all three perspectives yield a more comprehensive picture of social life.

Should the purpose of social research be only to advance human understanding or also to reform society?

Sociologists agree that research findings should be value free, that the researcher's values and beliefs should be set aside in order to permit objective conclusions. But sociologists do not agree on the uses and purpose should be only to advance understanding of human behavior; others, that its goal should be to reform harmful social arrangements

What was the position of women in early sociology?

Sociology appeared during a historical period of deep sexism. Consequently, the few women who received the education required to become sociologists, such as Harriet Martineau, were ignored.

When did sociology first appear as a separate discipline?

Sociology emerged as a separate discipline in the mid 1800s in Western Europe, during the onset of the Industrial Revolution. Industrialization affected all aspects of human existence- where people lived, the nature of their work, how they viewed life, and their interpersonal relationships. Early sociologists who focused on these social changes include Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, Harriet Martineau, and W.E.B. Du Bois

What trends are likely to have an impact on sociology?

Sociology has gone through three phrases: The first was an emphasis on reforming society; the second, an emphasis on basic sociology. In today's third phrase, we are swinging full circle, coming closer to our roots of applying sociology to social change. Applied sociology is likely to continue its influence. A second major trend, globalization, is likely to broaden sociological horizons, refocusing research and theory away from its concentration on U.S. society.

Max Weber

Verstehen: word used by Weber DEF: "to understand" Weber believed that the best interpreter of human behavior is someone who "has been there" Key factor is Weber is to fit social facts together with Verstehen Studied the origin of Capitalism Believed Capitalism came about due to the Protestant faith Weber called it the Spirit of Capitalism

generalization

a statement that goes beyond the individual case and is applied to a broader group or situation

Functional analysis

a theoretical framework in which society is viewed as composed various parts, each with a function that, when fulfilled, contributes to society's equilibrium; also known as functionalism and structure functionalism

symbolic interactionism

a theoretical perspective in which society is viewed as composed of symbols that people use to establish meaning, develop their views of the world, and communicate with one another

macro-level analysis

an examination of large-scale patterns of society

globalization of capitalism

capitalism (investing to make profits within a rational system) becoming the globe's dominant economic system

pure/basic sociology

sociological research whose purpose is to make discoveries about life in human groups, not to make changes in those groups

science

the application of systematic methods to obtain knowledge and the knowledge obtained by those methods

globalization

the extensive interconnections among nations due to the expansion of capitalism

Social location

the group memberships that people have because of their location in history and society

natural sciences

the intellectual and academic disciplines designed to comprehend, explain, and predict events in our natural environment

social sciences

the intellectual and academic disciplines designed to understand the social world objectively by means of controlled and repeated observations

manifest functions

the intended beneficial consequences of people's actions

subjective meanings

the meanings that people give their own behavior

What is the sociological perspective?

the sociological perspective stresses that people's social experiences- the groups to which they belong and their experiences within these groups- underlie their behavior. C. Wright Mills referred to this as the intersection of biography and the history.

values

the standards by which people define what is desirable or undesirable, good or bad, beautiful or ugly

applied sociology

the use of sociology to solve problems from the micro level of family relationships to the macro level of crime and pollution

value free

the view that a sociologist's personal values of biases should not influence social research

common sense

those things that "everyone knows" are true

objectivity

total neutrality

Sociological perspective

understanding human behavior by placing it within its broader social context

latent functions

unintended beneficial consequences of people's actions