SOCIOLOGY

Chapter 1: The Sociological Point of View

Section 1: Examining Social Life

Chapter Objectives

• Examine the nature of sociological inquiry or research

• Understand the research done during the early years of sociology

• List and explain the current theoretical perspectives of Sociology

Background

• We live in a complex social environment• Our view of the world is shaped by our

– daily lives– Values– Beliefs– Life styles– Historic events – Our friends– Our families

• All these factors help to mold us into the individuals we are today… we are different from one another, but many of us share the same perceptions and characteristics

What is Sociology• It is the science that studies

human society and social behavior – Sociologist are • mainly interested in social

interaction: how people relate to one another and influence one another’s behavior• Always focusing on the group

rather than on the individual– They examine the social

phenomenon which is the observable fact of event

The Sociological Perspective

• Sociologists look at everyday events in different ways to look beyond common held beliefs to the hidden messages behind human actions

• Our behavior is the result of social factors and that we have learned our behavior from others

• By adopting a sociological perspective, we can1. Increase our sense of what is possible2. See beyond our day to day world3. Think and act in different ways4. Help us find an acceptable balance between our

personal desires and demands of our social environment

How Sociology helps us

• We can gain insight into how our social environment shapes us and we can in turn shape our environment

• The ability to see the connection between the larger world and our personal lives is what is known as sociological imagination– this was termed by C. Wright Mills

Sociological Imagination

“ The sociological imagination, I remind you, in considerable part consists of the capacity to shift from one perspective to another, and in the process to built up an adequate view of a total society and of its components. It is this imagination, of course, that sets off the social scientist from the mere technician.”

C. Wright Mills

What it does!• It enables the sociologist to see the broad

social issues behind individual problems while appreciating that those broad social issues affect the lives of individuals

Social

issues

Individual lives

For example!

• Scenario: Bob, middle-aged man, unemployed for the last year

• Sociological imagination moves the sociologist beyond their concern for Bob’s unemployed status to see the social phenomenon of unemployment that affects way more than just Bob!

It gives people the ability to see the connections between the larger world and their personal problems.

SITUATION A:A 15 year old high school student becomes

pregnant by her 16 year old boyfriend.

Describe some of the social consequences for the following people or groups:

• The pregnant student• The girl’s boyfriend • The parents of the girl• The parents of the boy• School officials • Society as a whole

SITUATION B:A 17 year old high school student is caught

under the influence of drugs at school.

Describe some of the social consequences for the following people or groups:

• The student using drugs• The student’s classmates • The parents of the student on drugs • School officials • Society as a whole

Sociology’s Place in the Social Sciences

•All related disciplines that study various aspects of human social behavior are called the social sciences • They include:

#1 Anthropology

• Comparative study of various aspects of past and present cultures and is the closest to sociology

#2 Psychology

• Study that deals with the behavior and thinking of organisms

• Focuses on individual behavior rather than on group behavior

• Areas of interest are: personality, perception, motivation, learning

#3 Social Psychology

• Study of how an individual’s behavior and psychology are affected by the social environment

#4 Economics • Study of the choices people make in an effort

to satisfy wants and needs • Examine:– Process by which goods and services are

produced, distributed, and consumed– Effects of government policies on economic

growth and stability

#5 Political Science

• Examines the organization and operation of governments

• Areas of mutual interest with sociology include:– Voting patterns, concentration of

political power, formation of politically based groups

#6 History

• Study of past events • Sociologists are interested in past events in an

effort to explain current social behaviors and attitudes

Social Sciences Merge

• Over time, the divisions between the social sciences have become less distinct and borrow freely from one another in order to better understand the social forces that shape our lives

How Sociology Affects You!

• Think about how your life is influenced by the values, beliefs, lifestyles, historic events, and experiences of those around you – Ex: impact of technology on your life is sociological– Ex: impact of Internet on your life is sociological– Ex: impact of crime on your life is sociological