Sociology Unit 1

sociology

the systematic study of human society

society

refers to people who interact in a defined territory and share culture

sociological perspective

seeing the general in the particular; sociologists look for general patterns in the behavior of particular people

The sociological perspective also helps see the strange in the familiar which means that

Society shapes what we think and do; the power of society guides our actions, thoughts, and feelings

Two situations help people see how society shapes individual lives through the sociological perspective:

1) Living on the margins (edges)- such as people with disabilities- they may feel like outsiders

2) Periods of crisis- the great depression

sociological imagination

By turning personal problems into public ones, the sociological imagination is the key to bringing people together to create needed change

global perspective

the study of the larger world and our society’s place in it

life experiences

In sociology, it shows us that our place in society shapes our

standard of living, (United States, Canada)

High-income countries, nations with the highest overall

average (eastern europe)

Middle-income countries with a standard of living about

most people are poor (africa and asian regions)

Low income countries nations with a low standard of living

Auguste comte

The term “sociology” was coined in 1838. His approach is called positivism, a scientific approach to knowledge based on positive facts rather than mere speculation.

sociological theory

The desire to turn observations into understanding brings us to the importance of

theory

a statement of how and why specific facts are related

Theoretical approach

a basic image of society, which guides thinking and research; 3 types- structural function approach, social-conflict approach, and symbolic- interaction approach

Structural- function approach

Macro-level orientation is concerned with broad patterns that shape society as a whole. Society is viewed as a complex system; parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.

social structure (structural functional approach)

Any relatively stable patterns of social behavior found in social institutions, such as families, workplaces, or classrooms.

social functions (structural functional approach)

The consequences of a social pattern for the operation of society as a whole ( keeps society going); handshake, religious ritual.

Emile Durkheim (Structural functional approach)

helped establish sociology as a discipline in french universities

Herbert Spencer (Structural functional approach)

compared society to the human body

Robert Merton (Structural Functional approach)

expanded on the concept that any socail strucute is likely to have many social functions

manifest functions

The recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern; example- higher ed preparing students for jobs after graduation

Latent functions

the unrecognized and unintended consequences of any social pattern; example- finding a marriage partner

Social dysfunctions

a consequence of any social pattern that disrupts the operation of society or its harmful to some category of the population (taxi driver/ uber driver)

Social- Conflict approach

Sees society as an area of inequality that generates conflict and change. Factors such as class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and age are linked to society’s unequal distribution of money, power, education, and social prestige. Also considered macro- level orientation

Karl Marx (Social Conflict approach)

focused on the importance of social class in inequality and social conflict (the bourgeoisie, rich)

Harriet Martineau (Social Conflict approach)

First female sociologist; translated Comte’s work from French to English. Fought for changes in education policy for women

Jane Addams (Social Conflict approach)

A sociological pioneer who helped found Hull House, a Chicago settlement that aided immigrant families. Known as the “Mother of social work,” won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931.

W.E.B. Du Bois (Social conflict approach)

earned P.H.D. in sociology from Harvard. Believed that sociologists should not simply learn about society’s problems but also try to solve them. Saw sociology as the key to solving society's problems.

Symbolic- Interaction approach

Sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals. Offers a close-up focus on social interactions in specific situation (micro-levle orientation)

Max Weber (Symbolic Interaction approach)

understanding a setting from the people in it

George Herbert Mead (Symbolic Interaction approach)

How we build personalities from social experience

culture

the ways of thinking and acting, and the material objects that together form a person’s way of life. Our link to the past, how we make sense of the present, and our guide to the future.

nonmaterial culture

the ideas created by members of a society (cant see/ touch) examples: freedom, honesty, respect

Material culture

The physical objects created by members of a society. examples: bible, flag, chopsticks

cultural universals

Traits that are part of every known culture. Examples: family, ceremonies, language, food

culture shock

Personal disorientation when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life. Tends to be more intense when traveling abroad.

symbols

Anything that carries a particular meaning recognized by people who share a culture. Gestures, signs, objects, signals, and words that help us understand our world.

Language

a system of symbols that allows people to communicate with one another

cultural transmission

the process by which one generation passes culture to the next

values

Culturally defined standards that people use to decide what is good, desirable, or just serve as broad guidelines for social living

Beliefs

Specific thoughts or ideas that people hold to be true

equal opportunity, achievement and success, material comfort, activity and work, progress, freedom

6 basic U.S. values

Norms

rules and expectation by which a soicety guides the behavior of its members

mores

norms that embody the moral views and principles of a group

taboo

certain mores are considered diquesing and unimaginable (incest)

Folkways

norms that direct appropriate behavior in day to day, routine interactions

social control

attempts by society to regulate people’s thoughts and behavior

mores are important for laws

murder used to be not be against the law

folkways can become mores or laws

smoking used to be normalized but now there are smoking areas and its not allowed

not all mores become laws

its not against the law to cheat on a test

subculture

Cultural patterns that set apart some segment of society’s population. Almost limitless in number in the US, such as Chinatown in san francisco, biker groups, body modification groups

Counterculture

Refers to cultural patterns that strongly oppose those widely accepted within a society. Might defy larger society by developing their own set of norms and values (Hippies, cults)

Ethnocentrism

The practice of judging another culture by the standards of one’s own culture. Think that they are superior to others.

Cultural relativism

The practice of judging a culture by its own standards. Requires an open mind and a willingness to consider the values and norms of other cultures.

Xenocentrism

refers to the belief that another culture is superior to one’s own

discoveries

recognizing and understanding more fully something already in existence

Inventions

process of creating new cultural elements results from existing objects or concepts.