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The Sociological Perspective

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How did Sociology get started?

From France, Germany & England August Comte (France)

“Father of Sociology” Coined the tern “Sociology” Behavior more complex than natural phenomena

Becomes an academic discipline in U.S. around 1900

What is the Sociological Perspective?

Sociology looks at the power of society to shape your individual life. Why are you going to college? Who will you fall in love with? How many children will you have? Will you commit suicide?

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What is the Sociological Perspective?

Peter BergerSeeing the general in the particular

Durkheim’s Study of suicideLack of social integration

Eg. Wealthy, unmarried Protestant male

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What is the Sociological Perspective?

C. Wright Mills “The Sociological Imagination” Personal problems become public issues

Abortion Home foreclosure Number of children (e.g. China)

Do you remember?

Who is the father of Sociology? Who wanted you to see

“The general in the particular”? Who wanted you to see how personal

problems become public issues?

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What are social theories? How do they help us?

Theory How & why specific facts are related Integrates data and information Help decide what kinds of research questions to ask. Confirmed, modified, or rejected through research

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What types of theories are there?

Structural Functionalism Conflict Symbolic interaction

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What is Structural Functionalism?How does it see the world?

Macro focused Sees society as a complex system promoting solidarity and

stability Manifest functions

Recognized or intended consequences Latent functions

Unrecognized and unintended consequences Social dysfunction

Examples Family P.M. Sex

Prohibition

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What is Conflict Theory?How does it see the world? Macro focused Inequality = conflict Karl Marx Social patterns benefit some people while

depriving others Example

Workers VS owners

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What is Symbolic Interaction?How does it see the world?

Micro focuses Society operates on the subjective meanings of

symbols Examples:

Stubborn VS. steadfast Bus Police lights & bar fight Slides & Clothes Cloning VS “Somatic nuclear cell transfer”

Do you remember?

What are the three main Sociological theories? Which two theories are macro focused? Which one looks at society as an integrated

system? Which one looks at how we interpret the

meanings of words and symbols?

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