Sociology

Symbolic Interactionism

the study of the ways individuals interact through a shared understanding of words, gestures, and other symbols

Positivism

the theory that laws are to be understood as social rules, valid because they are enacted by authority or derive logically from existing decisions, and that ideal or moral considerations

Symbolic Interactionism

the view of social behavior that emphasizes linguistic or gestural communication and its subjective understanding, especially the role of language in the formation of the child as a social being.

Sociological Perspective

understanding human behavior by placing it within its broader social context

Agauste Comte and positivism

- father of sociology -suggested that we apply the scientific method to the social world- a process known as positivism -with the upheavels of the french revolution- Comet started wondering what held the key to answering those questions -when society becomes set on a particular course, what causes it to change

Herbert Spencer and Social Darwinism

-Did studies on birdlife and plant life -Certain species and organisms are more adaptable over time -sometimes called the second founder of sociology -Sociologists should not guide social reform -most capable and intelligent member serve, while the less capable die out -Spencer called this 'survival of the fittest' -Spencer purposed that societies evolve over time as the fittest people adapt to the environment -Spencers ideas that it was wrong to help the poor offended many -his ideas about society became very popular in Europe a field of racism -social Darwinism has been discredited today a few people gave it to Darwin not Spencer

Max Weber

-German sociologist and a contemporary of Emile Durkheim -Religion is the central force in social change. -protestant belief system encouraged members to embrace social change -Look to Calvinists beliefs system to Weber's philosophy. -financial success meant you were in better standing with God -A person attained this through living frugally and investing their money wisely -He philosophy was illustrated through his book The protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capatilism

Sexism in Early Sociology

-In the early years it was dominated by men because of social roles that prevented the most woman from education -Women were devoted to the 4 Cs (Church, cooking, children, cleaning) -Some wealthy women became educated but sexism stopped them from advancing professionally. -Jane Addams is one of the two sociologists to win a noble peace prize (1931)

Karl Marx

-Marx's influences have been so great that he been called one of the three great modern thinkers -People should try to change society and change was a radical revolution -The engine of our history was class conflict -Society is made up of 2 classes and they are natural enemies the bourgeoise and the prolerarta -Marx called for a workers revolution where the government should wither away and there would be a classless society -Marxism spurred communism but it's not the same

Values in sociolgical research

-Weber argued for sociology to remain value free as a way of keeping objectivity in their research -He and others promoted the use of replication repeating a study to compare and uncover research bias

Scientific Method

A method of procedure that has characterized natural science. It consists of systematic observation, measurement, experiment,formulation, testing, and modification hypothesis.

To understand human nature

Can be used by anyone for any purpose

Explain what Max Weber meant by Verstehen and Emile Durkheim by social facts. How can the two theories fit together?;

Durkheim connects to the social fact, and Weber connects with Verstehen. Durkheim's writings lead to functionalism when Weber's writings lead to symbolic interactionism. Both are considered fathers of sociology and wrote during the late nineteenth century. They fit together because we use verhestien to be able to interpret social facts.

Emile Durkheim

Emile durkheim and social integration Durkheim studied suicide rates of several European countries and found that different groups with a country had different suicide rates Males more likely than females Protestants more likely than females, protestant more likely than Catholics, and unmarried more likely than married people \ He concluded that even though suicides is a highly individual act it is influenced by social factors

Common Sense

Good sense and sound judgement in practical matters.

What is the morale of the "Elephant Story" on page 7? What does it suggest about the role of the different social sciences in explaining human behavior?

I believe the Elephant Story talks about that everyone focused on their one place of experties but a socioogist wanted to work together with all of them and see the bigger picture. But at the end all of them turned back to their regular area of experties without listneing to the sociolgist. It suggests that all of these positions want to think that their idea is the best instead of working together because they studied hat area of experties and thinks its the best one.

Explain how and why sociology emerged as a science in the middle of the nineteenth century in Europe - explaining the contributions made by several of the early sociologists.

It came around in the early 19th century in response to the challenges of modernity. Increasing mobility and technological advances ended up with people being exposed to different cultures and societies.

Basic or Pure Sociology-

Like rational choice theory, conflict theory, or functionalism, pure sociology is a sociological paradigm basically strategy for explaining human behavior.

Generalization

Relating to or characteristic of all the people born and living at the same time, regarded collectively.

To investigate harmful social arraignments

Should be used to reform society

Explain the sociological perspective and how ideas like social location, biography and history contribute to our understanding of human behavior.

Sociological perspective is the understanding of human behavior by placing it within its broader social context. Social location, biography and history help us understand human behavior by showing us why these behaviors happened and how they differ for different societies.

What is the difference between the Natural Sciences and the Social Sciences? What is sociology?

The difference between natural sciences and social sciences is that natural science is the study of natural world and social sciences study the social world humans in general. Sociology is the scientific study of society and behavior.

Identify and explain the key issues in the debate about the proper role of values in sociology.

There are standards in cultures that people want to live up and society makes it feel like if you're not acting that way you are unimportant and are not treated the same= by people that do follow in the specific way of the culture. This is a role in sociology because it shows human behavior and understanding of why people act in a specific way.

First departments of sociology in the US

University of Kansas (1889) and University of Chicago (1892)

Conflict Theory

a theoretical framework in which society is viewed as composed of groups that are competing for scarce resources Karl Marx is the founder analyxed socitey and history = class conflict

functional analysis

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

Conflict Theory

are perspectives in sociology and social psychology that emphasize a materialist interpretation of history, dialectical method of analysis, a critical stance toward existing social arrangements, and political program of revolution or, at least, reform

Functions

beneficial consequences of people's actions

Verstehen

empathic understanding of human behavior.

Functionlists and Conflict theorirsts

focus on the macro level they study the large scale patterns of society.

Syblomic interactionists

focus on the micro level they study social interaction

dysfunctions

harmful consequences of people's actions as they undermine a social system's equilibrium

Public Sociology

is a subfield of the wider sociological discipline that emphasizes expanding the disciplinary boundaries of sociology in order to engage with non-academic audiences. It is perhaps best understood as a style of sociology rather than a particular method, theory, or set of political values.

Social Interaction-

is an exchange between two or more individuals and is a building block of society. Social interaction can be studied between groups of two (dyads), three (triads) or larger social groups. By interacting with one another, people design rules, institutions and systems within which they seek to live

Armchair Philosophy

is referring to the Philosophy of a person who hasn't necessarily had any formal education to back their own philosophy. So Armchair Philosophy is an off-the-cuff philosophy discovered through everyday experiences and expressed through the person who is experiencing it.

Social Location

refers to the areas in life that people occupy because of their place in society.

Social Sciences

studies the social world - human relationships (political science, psychology, sociology, etc)

Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology

symbolic interactionism, functional analysis, conflict theory

Applied Sociology

that describes practitioners who use sociological theories and methods outside of academic settings with the aim to 'produce positive social change through active intervention

three events in the rise of sociolgy

the industrial revolution (tradition is thrown off), Polictical revoluttion (new social order), and Imperalism (how/why cultures differ and clash)

What Dominated North American sociology?

the sociology department of the University of Chicago