• Interactionist perspective– –

Various Perspectives

• Interactionist perspective– –

Various Perspectives

Beliefs, definedThree kinds of beliefsAttitude, defined◦

The link between beliefs, attitudes, and value

From Beliefs to Values

Three definitions◦Sociological

◦Synonymous with “attitude”◦Similar to an attitude, but more basic

What is a “Value,” then

Value orientations

Values serving individual interests vs. values serving collective interests◦

Terminal vs. Instrumental Values

Openness to change vs. conservation

Value orientations, continued

Value hierarchy◦

Overt, or hiddenValue congruence and conflictWhat values are not!◦ ◦

the importance of VALUES

PhysicalAmeliorativeMoralThese are not mutually exclusive!

Three types of Social ProblemsIn the value conflict perspective

Social problems as value conflictAnother view of social problems as a process:◦ ◦ ◦

Social problems emerge from a mix of objective conditions and subjective definitions

Social Problems and Values

“personal” problems vs. “social problems”

The Sociological ImaginationBiological and Psychological influences

“Objective reality” “Subjective reality”

◦The Social Construction of Society

Sociology and Social Problems

The role of “meaning”The role of “language”The role of “social learning”

How social “things” are socially constructed◦gender, race, status, money, college degree

◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qgWH89qWks◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir1UABBe1v4

Social Constructionism

“…all human knowledge is socially constructed through our language, which means that all social problems are socially constructed.” (Best 2008:16)

A Key Assumption for this course

The importance of meaning

Hey, these people I live with feed me, love me, provide me with a nice warm, dry house, pet me, and take good care of me... They must be Gods!

The importance of meaning

Hey, these people I live with feed me, love me, provide me with a nice warm, dry house, pet me, and take good care of me... I must be God!

Who defines something as a social problem?◦ ◦

What do they (try to) do about it?How does it “spread?”How does it impact those affected?

The Social Problems Process

Transformation process◦

Legitimization process◦

Stages of a Social Problem

Conflict stage◦

Outside the system, or change

the system?◦

Stages of a Social Problem

Making arguments Issues and ConclusionsReasons and EvidenceStated and Unstated Assumptions

Fallacies of logic

The importance of Critical Thinking

Karl Marx’s view: ◦

Max Weber’s view: ◦

Our working definition:◦“At its most basic, class is one way societies sort themselves out” (pg. 8)

Social Class

The four most commonly used criteria to measure class:◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

Other ways we measure class?

Social Class

Social Mobility◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

Quote, page 14 Causes of the drop in mobility

◦ ◦

From Class to Inequality

Rising inequality and class differences has led to negative changes in:◦ ◦ ◦ ◦

From Class to Inequality

As a way to talk about social class

As a way to talk about the economic distribution in America

As a way to discriminate

Inequality

How much do they have, anyway?

Ask the GINI !

How much do they have, anyway?

How much do they have, anyway?

Tax Cuts, Us and Them