• 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