Intro to Sociology

What is sociology (3)

1. Study of how societies are organized

2. How structures shape behavior and outcomes

3. Interplay between individuals and institutions

What does “sociological imagination” refer to

Understanding how personal experiences are shaped by social forces

C. Wright Mills on the sociological imagination:

personal troubles affects public issues and vice versa

which ideas are part of the sociological imagination (2)

1. our choices are shaped by social forces

2. what seems personal is often influenced by society

What is the difference between what economics and sociology think about choices

economics : cost-benefit choice

sociology : choices are embedded in norms, networks, institutions

both matter

What big event/thing in history really reframed the story

The Industrial Revolution

How did the industrial revolution impact things

It rearranged daily life:

• space (farm vs. a factory)

• new power relations (boss and employees, higher ups)

• governments (laws and sanctions)

Wat does division of labor mean

people specializing in different tasks and relying on each other

Cities and new population growth means what about self sufficiency vs dependence

what about specialization

urban life = dependence on strangers

Specialization → productivity gains

the downside : vulnerability

What becomes the norm from division of labor

interdependence

Why did sociology emerge (3)

Demographic growth

Economic transformation

rapid urbanization

True or false : the industrial revolution quickly improved the quality of life?

False

describe the life improvement after the industrial revolution

eventually life improved but SLOWLY, there were very harsh early decades

people become more or less self sufficient?

less, they start to rely on others

according to sociologist what is true about group behavior?

members of a crowd bring different identities and priorities

What happens when people expect something to happen

it will happen : the toilet paper covid example

What is panic buying

purchasing large amounts of supplies due to fear of crisis

according to the textbook, what often influences our decision to stock up before a storm?

behavior of people around us and media reports

so WHY study sociology? (3)

make sense of systems and inequalities, evaluate policies (use evidence) , see the invisible forces shaping life

Wrap-up: what is the sociology origin story

the Industrial Revolution