Sociology: ch 1 what is sociology
Merton
Deviant behaviour occurs when people cannot achieve goals by legitimate means in society. His explanation combines: Structural factors- societies unequal opportunity structure cultural factors- the strong emphasis on success of goals and weaker emphasis on means of achieving them. Strain theory
What is the theoretical perspective neo-Marxism
Neo-Marxism is a loose term for various twentieth-century approaches that amend or extend Marxism and Marxist theory, usually by incorporating elements from other intellectual traditions, such as critical theory, psychoanalysis, or existentialism (in the case of Sartre).
how do you apply sociological perspective?
The three major sociological perspectives are symbolic interactionism, functionalism and conflict theory. Symbolic interactionism, also known as the symbolic interaction theory, is a perspective that puts a large emphasis and symbolic meaning on the social interactions that humans develop. This theory was introduced by philosopher George Herbert Mead, but can be traced back to Max Weber. It examines the meanings that people impose on objects, events and behaviors. Functionalism, a theory from Emile Durkheim, analyzes how social order is possible and how society remains stable. It states that each part of society functions to provide stability for the whole society. The institutions of society, like the government, are the strongest parts. If a society is disorganized, it must change to stabilize itself. Conflict theory, derived from the works of Karl Marx, studies how power and coercion affect social order. Marx believed that those with the greatest political, economic and social resources would hold the most power in society, according to About.com. These powerful people would maintain social order through domination.
what is the concept of social structure?
The underlying regularities or patterns in how people behave in the relationships.
What is the theoretical perspective Symbolic interactionism
is a major framework of sociological theory. This perspective relies on the symbolic meaning that people develop and rely upon in the process of social interaction.
what is the difference between micro sociology and macro sociology?
mirco- The study of human behavior in the context of face-to-face interaction. macro- The study of large-scale groups, organizations, or social systems.
George Herbert Mead
theory of the genesis of the mind and self. The outcome of socialization is the ability to anticipate the reactions of others and to adjust our behavior accordingly.
what can we learn from socialization?
understand how adopting a sociological perspective allows us to develop a richer understanding of ourselves and the world.
Harriet Martineau
wrote observations of institutions (prisons, factories) and compared American and European class systems Studied American society in depth and was an advocate for slaves, women's rights, and wrote extensive analyses of social life. Also, translated August Comte's ideas into English. emphasized sociology as a science and introduced feminism. Women's lack of economic power helped keep them dependent. Translated Comte's great book and out sold Charles Dickson.
give an example of macro sociology
-political systems -economic systems -religious institutions -modes of family life -education systems
Early Sociological theorist Durkheim
1. The main dynamic of modern development is the division of labor as a basis for social cohesion and organic solidarity. 2. Durkheim believed that sociology must study social facts as things, just as science would analyze the natural world. His study of suicide led him to stress the influence of social factors, qualities of a society external to the individual, on a person's actions. Durkheim argued that society exerts social constraint over our actions. Founder of modern sociology; had famous study of suicide as social phenomenon and argued deviance was resultant of hereditary and environmental factors
Early Sociological theorist Marx
1. The main dynamic of modern development is the expansion of capitalism. Rather than being cohesive, society is divided by class differences. 2. Marx believed that we must study the divisions within a society that are derived from the economic inequalities of capitalism.
Early Sociological theorist Weber
1. The main dynamic of modern development is the rationalization of social and economic life. 2. Weber focused on why Western societies developed so differently from other societies. He also emphasized the importance of cultural ideas and values on social change.
What is the theoretical perspective Marxism
A body of thought deriving its main elements from the ideas of Karl Marx.
What is the theoretical perspective feminist theory
A sociological perspective that emphasizes the centrality of gender in analyzing the social world and particularly the uniqueness of the experience of women. There are many strands of feminist theory, but they all share the desire to explain gender inequality i society and to work to overcome it.
What is the theoretical perspective Functionalism
A theoretical perspective based on the notion that social events can best be explained in the terms of the functions they perform-that is, the contributions they make to the continuity of a society.
W.E.B. DuBois
African American progressive who rejected the previous ideology of Booker T. Washington (who said that self-improvement/education comes first, and then whites will learn to accept blacks on their own); this man argued that blacks need political rights in order to make any economic gains and he created the NAACP to make changes.
what is an example of sociological imagination?
Another aspect of imagining the beverage as something more than just a drink is for a person to consider why he drinks that particular beverage. For example, the person should consider that coffee or alcohol is an addictive drug. While it is a social substance in the West that is not considered illegal, it is not an acceptable substance in other cultures. The person can then imagine what substances are acceptable in those cultures, and how that substance would change social encounters
which major transformation had an impact on the emergence of sociology in the 19th century.
Factors that led to the development of sociology are industrial revolution, imperialism and the success of natural sciences. Sociology is the scientific study of human social life, societies and groupings. It emerged as a distinct discipline in the mid 19th century when European social observers began to experiment using scientific methods. Sociologists study societies and their development in terms of their economies, religions, political decisions and laws. The Industrial Revolution in Europe marked significant social and political upheaval. Many people from the countryside in England were forced to migrate to cities as their lands were being taken over by landlords for intensive farming systems. In the cities, people generated new ideas about democracy and political rights. There was emergence of ideas about individual rights to life, pursuit of happiness and liberty, which laid a base to future political revolution. The second factor that led to the development of sociology was imperialism. The conquering of many parts of the world by Europe exposed Europeans to radically different cultures. Shocked by these divergent ways of life, they began to ask why cultures varied from each other. Finally, the success of natural sciences triggered people to interrogate basic elements of their social world. This marked the beginning of scientific method in studying human behavior.
Some sociologists argue that the current problems in America's inner cities (such as drugs, violence, and fatherless households) area the result of the disappearance of blue-collar jobs in the United States. This argument reflects what idea from the text? (a) social constraint (b) rationalization of economic life (c) distinctiveness of Western society (d) materialist conception of history
Feedback: A materialist conception of history, developed by Marx, understands changes in society to have origins in economic factors. Thus, social change is understood to originate in class struggles. (d) materialist conception of history
A bureaucracy is a type of organization that depends on which of the following? (a) office buildings (b) division of labor (c) social constraint (d) computer systems
Feedback: According to Weber, a bureaucracy is divided into different jobs with specific functions. A bureaucracy essentially functions through organic solidarity, where the variety of specified tasks come together to create a functioning whole. b) division of labor
A study of university admissions that compares the impact of gender and social class on probability of admission before World War II and after World War II is an example of ___ . (a) Marxism (b) macrosociology (c) functionalism (d) microsociology
Feedback: Macrosociology examines large-scale social systems and often looks at changes and/or continuities over time. Although social class and gender are the properties of individuals, they have patterned impacts on institutions and other forms of social organization. b) macrosociology
Many of the things we experience in life that seem to be completely natural, like differences in behavior between men and women, are seen by sociologists to be examples of ____ . (a) biology (b) social constructions (c) agency (d) division of labor
Feedback: Social constructions are ideas about the world that are created by man, rather than a result of pure biology or nature. Differences in behavior between men and women, though often seen as a result of biology, are actually created through the different expectations of men and women expressed by members of a social group. (b) social constructions
In sociology, studying the effects of the economic recession on a student's ability to secure a job after graduation is a way of studying how ____ affects our lives. (a) the sociological imagination (b) our grades (d) our work ethic
Feedback: Social structure refers to the underlying regularities or patterns in how people behave and in their relationships with one another. While economic recessions may affect many people, there are patterns that dictate how strongly it affects different groups of people or different areas of employment. These patterns may have a stronger effect on your ability to get certain jobs than individual decisions might. (c) social structure
The ability of individuals or members of a group to achieve aims or further their interests, even in the face of the resistance of others, is called ___ . (a) determination (b) violence (c) power (d) ideology
Feedback: While power may sometimes be based on violence or force, it is not the same thing. Power is often accompanied by ideology, which can be used to obtain consent from others or to justify certain actions taken by the powerful. (c) power
what is a feminist perspective?
Feminist sociology is a conflict theory and theoretical perspective which observes gender in its relation to power, both at the level of face-to-face interaction and reflexivity within a social structure at large. Focuses include sexual orientation, race, economic status, and nationality.
Auguste Comte
French philosopher remembered as the founder of positivism. Saw human history as 3 stages: theological, metaphysical and scientific. Founded sociology French philosopher from the 19th century, founder of positivism, a philosophy that stressed observation and scientific approaches to the problems of society
What is the theoretical perspective rational choice theory
Rational choice theory is an economic principle that states that individuals always make prudent and logical decisions. These decisions provide people with the greatest benefit or satisfaction — given the choices available — and are also in their highest self-interest.
1) Sociological perspective means the ways in which sociology as a discipline sees the social world. The text discusses this under "basic concepts" (pp. 6-10). This perspective also includes the text discussions on sociological imagination (pp. 5-6), Durkheim and Marx (pp. 12-14), and how sociology can help us (p. 24). Discuss what sociological perspective is about by giving three illustrations (Note: show your understanding, not your memory capacity; and you do not need to include all the pages I mentioned here. You can discuss selectively, and you may use your own illustrations and examples pertinent to your readings).
Sociological perspective is the ways sociology sees the social world. There are many ways in which sociology observes society and different opinions about it. Examples such as, social construction, social order, and agency and structure show illustrations of what sociological perspective is about. Without sociological perspective the way people view society would not be the same. Sociological perspective enhances how people view situations in the world and how to organize it. Social construction is an idea or practice that a group of people agree exists. For example, the role that is viewed of a baby when it is first born into society. Society automatically puts gender roles into action based on if the baby is a boy or girl. Girls are supposed to act or walk a certain way perceived by men and women that already exist in the world. Same goes for baby boys. The baby is also placed in gender specific colors, pink for a girl and blue for a boy. This idea is a sociological perspective because it is how society views and molds new babies into what is considered socially acceptable. Additionally, social order is the way people are supposed to act in certain situations because it is considered the normal reaction and you are not supposed to break away from a pattern that is considered orderly in society. For example, a student is paying attention in class and quietly sitting taking notes. Why does the student not talk or disrupt class? Maybe it is because the student needs a recommendation letter from the professor and by behaving in this manner, the student is motivated to act accordingly in the classroom environment. Society conforms the student into thinking if they behave a certain way or pattern they will be rewarded. Sociological perspective relates the social order because it is how people perceive patterns in society. Furthermore, agency is the the ability for people make their own free choices in determining the fate of their own lives or structure which is the notion that people in society are born into what they are already going to be in life and it can not be changed. For example, a child's parents did not go to college and their daughter wants to go to college. The parents may be more likely to convince her that college is too high of a goal and she should choose another path so that she is not disappointed. Their daughter refused to accept the fate in which she was born in society and decides to go to college anyway. Agency and structure is another way sociological perspective can be illustrated because is shows the perspective of people that are born into certain social background that they cannot help and decide from free determination from within to pursue a different life or remain content with what they are born into. In conclusion, sociological perspective is an important view of society. It helps us understand how different people live and how to better understand social problems, it enlightens are well-being with self-understanding, and it helps us to assess results of public policy. Without sociological perspective society would lack understanding and be a little more insensitive and chaotic.
what is sociology and its focus?
Sociology is the systematic study of human society. Sociologists study the aspects and functions of human society.
what is the concept of power?
The ability of individuals or the members of a group to achieve aims or further the interests they hold. Power is a pervasive element in all human relationships. Many conflicts in society are struggles over power, because how much power an individual or group is able to achieve governs how far they are able to put their wishes into practice.
what is sociological imagination?
The application of imaginative thought to the asking and answering of sociological questions. Someone using the sociological imagination "thinks himself away" from the familiar routines of daily life.
give an example of micro sociology
The examination of social gatherings is an example of a microsociological pursuit. Microsociology focuses on human interaction experienced throughout daily events. These interactions may involve routine rituals that occur during commonplace activities in work, home and school environments, or they may examine individual reactions to happenstance encounters in unexpected circumstances. Rather than examining the realm of society as a whole, microsociology assumes a more immediate approach in studying behavior based on direct human interaction. It is more specialized in understanding individual roles within smaller social situations.
what is sociological perspective?
The sociological perspective is the study of human life and social interactions, as well as how those interactions shape groups and society as a whole.
what is socialization?
The process through which people learn to be proficient and functional members of society, lifelong process, people learn the attitudes, values and beliefs that are reinforced by a particular culture.
