SOC 100 - Week 1

Sociology

The systematic study of human groups and their interactions.

• Our entire existence is defined by our being social beings who live and grow through our interactions with others.

• So we cannot hope to understand ourselves and the world around us without investigating the relationship between the individual and social.

Sociological perspective

the unique way in which sociologists see our world and can dissect the dynamic relationships between individuals and the larger social network in which we all live.

• The smallest decision reveals a lot about a person

  • ex. what you wear for the day or Thewhat you eat when you go out with friends

The Sociological Perspective

Seeing the general in the particular is the ability to look at seemingly unique events (particular) and then recognize the larger (general) features involved

• the ability to view the world from two distinct yet complementary perspectives

• observe individual behaviour to generalize group behaviour

• see unique events or circumstances, but realizing the larger or general features involved

  • ex. see one homeless individual, but knowing there are more.

Microsociology

attempting to understand individual or small group dynamics; face-to-face interactions

Macrosociology

attempting to understand society as a whole; outside and above one’s circle of acquaintances

Global structures

patterns of social relations outside and above the national level

• The international level

Sociological imagination

the ability to understand the dynamic relationship between individual lives and the larger society

• Developed by C. Wright Mills

• Personal troubles result from individual challenges.

• Larger social factors cause social issues

• The “trick” is understanding how these personal troubles may be due to larger social issues.

• Personal problems are actually social issues

  • ex. unemployment, failing a test

Quality of mind

one’s ability to look beyond personal circumstances and into social context

Mills referred to those who could not see the social world as it truly exists as

cheerful robots

The Historical Development of Sociology: The Scientific Revolution (circa 1550)

encouraged evidence-based conclusions about society

The Historical Development of Sociology: The Democratic Revolution (circa 1750)

suggested people were responsible for organizing society; thus, human intervention was capable of solving social problem

The Historical Development of Sociology: The Industrial Revolution (circa 1780)

created a host of social problems; attracted attention of social thinkers

Auguste Comte (1798– 1857)

The “father” of sociology; coined the term in 1838

• Hard science should be applied to the social worlds

Auguste Comte Law of three stages:

1. Theological: religious outlook, the world is an expression of God

2. Metaphysical: a period of questioning and challenging (including the teachings of the Church)

3. Positive: rules of observation, experimentation, and logic