Chapter 1: Sociology: A Chapter 1: Sociology: A Unique Way to View the Unique Way to View the

WorldWorldSoc 100 Dr. Santos

What is the Social WorldWhat is the Social World

The social world is the totality of human-The social world is the totality of human-to-human relations & interactions that at to-human relations & interactions that at any given time in history form a self-any given time in history form a self-contained, self-suficient social system.contained, self-suficient social system.

Prior to a few centuries ago, humanity had Prior to a few centuries ago, humanity had a vast multiplicity of social worlds at any a vast multiplicity of social worlds at any given time, some large (empires), others given time, some large (empires), others tiny (bands).tiny (bands).

The “Modern World” constitutes a single The “Modern World” constitutes a single social world for all humanity: it took five or social world for all humanity: it took five or so centuries to construct.so centuries to construct.

Why is the social world important?Why is the social world important? Humans are fundamentally social beings Humans are fundamentally social beings

- - Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)

SurvivalSurvival: shared expectations, social : shared expectations, social conventions & norms help create order and conventions & norms help create order and keep conflict to a minimumkeep conflict to a minimum• Though in the past, social worlds collided tooThough in the past, social worlds collided too

Individuals and the social world mutually Individuals and the social world mutually influence and make one another; e.g. influence and make one another; e.g. language, trade, writing, work, science, language, trade, writing, work, science, faith. “No man is an island.” No individual faith. “No man is an island.” No individual meaning or purpose truly possible without meaning or purpose truly possible without reference to the whole social system.reference to the whole social system.• This has become true to all collectivities, like This has become true to all collectivities, like

national states, cultural world regions, etc.national states, cultural world regions, etc.

A comparison of the social sciencesA comparison of the social sciences The evolution of our modern structures of The evolution of our modern structures of

knowledge from previous unified systems:knowledge from previous unified systems:• The great split between theology and philosophy The great split between theology and philosophy

in the 16th century, followed byin the 16th century, followed by Philosophy split into “science” and “humanities” and Philosophy split into “science” and “humanities” and

“social sciences,” and social sciences into “disciplines”:“social sciences,” and social sciences into “disciplines”:• Cultural AnthropologyCultural Anthropology• PsychologyPsychology• Political SciencePolitical Science• EconomicsEconomics• SociologySociology

The current crisis of this set up is manfiested The current crisis of this set up is manfiested by the return of the various pre-modern by the return of the various pre-modern theologically-driven “fundamentalisms” and theologically-driven “fundamentalisms” and the inabilities to encompass the the inabilities to encompass the truthtruth, the , the goodgood, and the , and the beautifulbeautiful

What is then “sociology”?What is then “sociology”?

The scientific study of social life, The scientific study of social life, social change, and the social causes social change, and the social causes and consequences of human and consequences of human behavior behavior • Essentially—why and how people and Essentially—why and how people and

groups interact with one another, are groups interact with one another, are organized, and deal with conflict and organized, and deal with conflict and changechange

• This must be approached This must be approached historicallyhistorically, , theoreticallytheoretically, , andand empiricallyempirically: this : this presents formidable challengespresents formidable challenges

Sociologists study groups of all Sociologists study groups of all sizes in various time frames sizes in various time frames

DyadsDyads Small groupsSmall groups Large groups & institutionsLarge groups & institutions Nations and continental cultural zones.Nations and continental cultural zones. The global society: the capitalist modern The global society: the capitalist modern

world systemworld system Time framesTime frames can be now, years, decades, can be now, years, decades,

centuries, or millenniacenturies, or millennia• Most, unfortunately, study only the Most, unfortunately, study only the presentpresent and and

near presentnear present, and usually within their own , and usually within their own national state or compared to another. This is national state or compared to another. This is chronocentrism & parochialismchronocentrism & parochialism

The underlying assumptions The underlying assumptions of sociologyof sociology

People are social (cooperate, bond)People are social (cooperate, bond) People spend most of their lives in People spend most of their lives in

groups of one kind or anothergroups of one kind or another Interactions between people and Interactions between people and

groups are reciprocal and constantgroups are reciprocal and constant Conflict and change are inevitableConflict and change are inevitable All groups have certain organizing All groups have certain organizing

characteristicscharacteristics

Groups are characterized by:Groups are characterized by:

Recurrent social patternsRecurrent social patterns Ordered behaviorOrdered behavior Shared experiences among membersShared experiences among members Common understandingsCommon understandings

Sociology vs. Common SenseSociology vs. Common Sense

We all have reasonable assumptions We all have reasonable assumptions (common sense ideas) based on (common sense ideas) based on logical deduction, past experiences, logical deduction, past experiences, and stereotypesand stereotypes

However, sociologists intentionally However, sociologists intentionally set up scientific studies to set up scientific studies to disprovedisprove common sense assumptionscommon sense assumptions

True or False?True or False?

Because of the rapid rise in divorce Because of the rapid rise in divorce and unwed childbearing, more and unwed childbearing, more American children live in single American children live in single parent households than ever beforeparent households than ever before

FALSEFALSE

Actually, roughly the same numbers Actually, roughly the same numbers live in single parent households live in single parent households today because more parents were today because more parents were widowed in the pastwidowed in the past

True or False?True or False?

Most people on welfare don't want to work and looking for a handout

FALSEFALSE

Most people remain on welfare for less than two years, using it to get through a crisis. And for those on the welfare rolls, most are children, elderly, sick or disabled, or single mothers with infant children. Less than 2% are "able-bodied" males- and many of them are looking for work. Only 1/3 of the poor are on welfare.

True or False?True or False?

Most Roman Catholics oppose birth control

FALSEFALSE

About 80% of U.S. Roman Catholics favor birth control.

True or False?True or False?

The civil rights laws of the 1960's have considerably narrowed the gap between black and white family incomes in the United States

FALSEFALSE

The ratio of black to white family income has consistently been around 55-60% since the 1960's. In fact, some reports indicate a widening of the gap. The processes of discrimination that produce and/or perpetuate such inequalities are apparently more subtle than those addressed by the laws.

True or False?True or False?

The American Dream practically does not exist any more. It’s nearly impossible to climb much higher on the ladder of social status than your parents did.

TRUETRUE Social mobility in the United States is very

low for a variety of reasons. Since 1980, the rich have gotten richer and the poor have gotten poorer with even less opportunity for movement than before. Individuals like Oprah and Bill Gates, however, make us think this is common.

And for immigrants, especially those that are unauthorized or undocumented, the going has gotten much tougher, though the American Dream remains a potent motivator to endure and resist persecution, exploitiation, and oppression, as in the past.

OTHER COMMON MYTHSOTHER COMMON MYTHS There is very little sexism in the US anymore.

This is not an issue that our generation needs to worry about.

The world’s population is exploding everywhere. In a few years, we’ll be in the midst of a overpopulation crisis.

Undocumented immigrants are a net economic drain on the receiving countries, and are responsible for increased unemployment, crime, and sickness.

Americans are better informed than anybody else in the world due to its free press.

The sociological perspectiveThe sociological perspective

Personal experiences can be best Personal experiences can be best understood by examining them in the understood by examining them in the broader social contextbroader social context• E.g., Why do some individuals get E.g., Why do some individuals get

punished more harshly for the same punished more harshly for the same crimes than others do? crimes than others do?

• What social factors might be related to What social factors might be related to issues like teenage pregnancy or issues like teenage pregnancy or marriage at a later age? Or divorce?marriage at a later age? Or divorce?

The sociological imaginationThe sociological imagination

C. Wright Mills came up with it in 1959.C. Wright Mills came up with it in 1959. A willingness to recognize the relationship A willingness to recognize the relationship

between individual experiences (“private between individual experiences (“private troubles”) and public issues & trends.troubles”) and public issues & trends.

Combine biography with history to reveal Combine biography with history to reveal the meaning of all social transformations the meaning of all social transformations and give a proper perspective to all and give a proper perspective to all individual experiences.individual experiences.

Questions sociologists askQuestions sociologists ask

Sociologists ask questions that can be Sociologists ask questions that can be located historically, measured objectively located historically, measured objectively and tested repeatedlyand tested repeatedly

They do not study philosophical or moral They do not study philosophical or moral issues issues per seper se

They do not focus on moral judgments They do not focus on moral judgments about social issues but on their various about social issues but on their various causes and effects. causes and effects.

Applied sociologists perform research to Applied sociologists perform research to help solve social problems in particular help solve social problems in particular contextscontexts

Why study sociology?Why study sociology?

Better understand social situations and Better understand social situations and diverse perspectivesdiverse perspectives

Be able to collect data and evaluate Be able to collect data and evaluate problemsproblems

Understand the intended and unintended Understand the intended and unintended consequences of social policiesconsequences of social policies

Reveal the complexities of social lifeReveal the complexities of social life Learn more about ourselves and our Learn more about ourselves and our

biasesbiases Develop useful job skillsDevelop useful job skills

The social world modelThe social world model

Social unitsSocial units—interconnected parts of —interconnected parts of the social worldthe social world

Social structureSocial structure—people and groups —people and groups that bring order to our lives and hold that bring order to our lives and hold social units togethersocial units together

Social institutionsSocial institutions—provide the rules, —provide the rules, roles, and relationships to direct and roles, and relationships to direct and control human behaviorcontrol human behavior• All are interconnectedAll are interconnected

The social world model (con’t)The social world model (con’t)

Social processes—Social processes—the actions taken the actions taken by people in social unitsby people in social units

Process of socialization—Process of socialization—how we how we learn the social expectations for learn the social expectations for members of society members of society

Process of change—Process of change—every social unit every social unit is continually changingis continually changing

The environment—The environment—the setting the setting surrounding each social unitsurrounding each social unit

Levels of analysisLevels of analysis

The social world can be studied from The social world can be studied from a variety of levelsa variety of levels• Micro-levelMicro-level (individuals and small (individuals and small

groups)groups) Importance: micro interactions form the Importance: micro interactions form the

basis of all social organizationsbasis of all social organizations

• Meso-levelMeso-level (intermediate sized units) (intermediate sized units) Importance: helps explain the processes and Importance: helps explain the processes and

institutions in a societyinstitutions in a society

Levels of analysis (con’t)Levels of analysis (con’t)

• Macro-levelMacro-level (focus (focus on entire nations, on entire nations, global forces, and global forces, and international international trends)trends)

Importance: Helps Importance: Helps understand how understand how larger social forces larger social forces shape everyday lifeshape everyday life

• Each level adds Each level adds depth to a topicdepth to a topic

WhichWhich level (micro, meso, or level (micro, meso, or macro) would you use to examine macro) would you use to examine each of the following questions?each of the following questions?

How do couples divide housework How do couples divide housework responsibilities?responsibilities?

Which factors determine the percentage of Which factors determine the percentage of women in political power in a certain women in political power in a certain country?country?

Does the size of the sports stadium matter Does the size of the sports stadium matter for students who are choosing a college?for students who are choosing a college?

• AnswerAnswer: All three questions could be : All three questions could be studies from each of the three levelsstudies from each of the three levels

• The three levels are not truly mutually The three levels are not truly mutually exclusive!exclusive!

SummarySummary Sociologists use research methods to objectively Sociologists use research methods to objectively

study social interactions and organizationsstudy social interactions and organizations The sociological perspective and sociological The sociological perspective and sociological

imagination allow us to understand individual imagination allow us to understand individual situations in the context of broader social forcessituations in the context of broader social forces

All social units are held together by a social All social units are held together by a social structure, which is connected to social institutions. structure, which is connected to social institutions. These factors mutually influence one another in a These factors mutually influence one another in a linked system from the very small to the whole linked system from the very small to the whole world - at least in the past couple of centuries.world - at least in the past couple of centuries.

Social phenomena can be examined from multiple Social phenomena can be examined from multiple levels of analysis, each re-inforces the others and levels of analysis, each re-inforces the others and are not mutually exclusive.are not mutually exclusive.

Finally, where do sociologists Finally, where do sociologists work?work?