The Sociological The Sociological PerspectivePerspective
Seeing the general in the particularSeeing the general in the particular Seeing the strange in the familiar Seeing the strange in the familiar
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Chapter OneChapter One
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Overall Goals of Chapter OneOverall Goals of Chapter One
Gain a working knowledge of the three major sociological theories
Understand the impact of the global perspective
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What Is Sociology?What Is Sociology?““...The ...The systematic study of human society ”
SystematicSystematic• Scientific discipline that focuses attention on Scientific discipline that focuses attention on
patterns of behavior. patterns of behavior. Allows for proof or disproof..
Human societyHuman society• Group behavior is primary focus; how groups Group behavior is primary focus; how groups
influence individuals and vice versa. influence individuals and vice versa. Impact of groups on choices.
At the “heart of sociology” - At the “heart of sociology” - Peter BergerPeter Berger
• The sociological perspective which offers a unique The sociological perspective which offers a unique view of society. Patterns.view of society. Patterns.
• Seeing the general in the particular. Seeing the general in the particular. • Seeing the strange in the familiarSeeing the strange in the familiar..
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Applying the Sociological PerspectiveApplying the Sociological Perspective
1.1. Helps assess the truth of common senseHelps assess the truth of common sense
2.2. Helps assess opportunities and Helps assess opportunities and constraints in our lives (personal growth)constraints in our lives (personal growth)
3.3. Empowers us to be active participants in Empowers us to be active participants in our society (change public policy)our society (change public policy)
4.4. Helps us learn how to live in a diverse Helps us learn how to live in a diverse world (the global perspective)world (the global perspective)
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Importance of Global PerspectiveImportance of Global Perspective
Where we live makes a great difference in Where we live makes a great difference in shaping our livesshaping our lives
Societies throughout the world are increasingly Societies throughout the world are increasingly interconnected through technology and interconnected through technology and economicseconomics
Many problems that we faced in the united Many problems that we faced in the united states are more serious elsewherestates are more serious elsewhere
Thinking globally is a good way to learn more Thinking globally is a good way to learn more about ourselvesabout ourselves
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AnswerAnswer: Princess Diana's death.: Princess Diana's death.
An An EnglishEnglish princess with an princess with an EgyptianEgyptian boyfriend crashes in a boyfriend crashes in a FrenchFrench tunnel, driving tunnel, driving a a GermanGerman car with a car with a DutchDutch engine, driven engine, driven by a by a BelgianBelgian who was drunk on who was drunk on ScottishScottish whisky, (check the bottle before you change whisky, (check the bottle before you change the spelling), followed closely by the spelling), followed closely by ItalianItalian Paparazzi, on Paparazzi, on JapaneseJapanese motorcycles; motorcycles; treated by an treated by an AmericanAmerican doctor, using doctor, using BrazilianBrazilian medicines. medicines.
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What is a simple definitionWhat is a simple definition of of Globalization?Globalization?
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Global DisparitiesGlobal Disparities
EducationEducation MarriageMarriage Personal choicePersonal choice Career choicesCareer choices Choices about faithChoices about faith LawsLaws Public PolicyPublic Policy Income and earning powerIncome and earning power
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C. Wright Mills’ Sociological ImaginationC. Wright Mills’ Sociological Imagination
The power of the sociological perspective The power of the sociological perspective lies not just in changing individual lives lies not just in changing individual lives but in transforming societybut in transforming society
Society, not people’s personal failings is Society, not people’s personal failings is the cause of social problemsthe cause of social problems
The sociological imagination transforms The sociological imagination transforms personal problems into public issuespersonal problems into public issues
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Sociological TheorySociological Theory Theory: a statement of how and why facts are Theory: a statement of how and why facts are
related. Explains social behavior to the worldrelated. Explains social behavior to the world
Theoretical paradigm: a set of fundamental Theoretical paradigm: a set of fundamental assumptions that guide thinkingassumptions that guide thinking
Three major approaches to sociologyThree major approaches to sociology• Structural-functional (macro)• Social-conflict (macro)• Symbolic-interaction (micro)
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Structural–Functional ParadigmStructural–Functional Paradigm The basics:The basics:
A macro-level orientation, concerned with broad A macro-level orientation, concerned with broad patterns that shape society as a wholepatterns that shape society as a whole
Views society as a Views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability to promote solidarity and stability
Key elements: Social structure refers to any relatively stable Social structure refers to any relatively stable
patterns of social behavior found in social patterns of social behavior found in social institutionsinstitutions
Social function refers to the Social function refers to the consequences for the operation of society as a whole
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Who’s Who in the Who’s Who in the Structural-Functional ParadigmStructural-Functional Paradigm
Auguste Comte Importance of social integration during rapid change
Emile Durkheim Helped establish sociology as a university discipline
Talcott Parsons Identify tasks that every society must perform
Robert K. Merton Manifest functions: recognized intended consequences Latent functions: unrecognized unintended consequences Social dysfunctions are undesirable consequences
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Social-Conflict ParadigmSocial-Conflict Paradigm The basics:
A macro-oriented paradigm Views society as an arena of inequality that generates
conflict and social change Power-based
Key elements: Society is structured in ways to benefit a few at the
expense of the majority Factors such as race, sex, class, and age are linked to
social inequality Dominant group vs. Minority group relations
• Incompatible interests and major differences
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Who’s Who in the Who’s Who in the Social-Conflict ParadigmSocial-Conflict Paradigm
Karl MarxKarl Marx The importance of social class in inequality The importance of social class in inequality
and social conflictand social conflict W.E.B. DuBoisW.E.B. DuBois
Race as the major problem facing the Race as the major problem facing the United States in the twentieth centuryUnited States in the twentieth century
Harriet MartineauHarriet Martineau Position of women and their educationPosition of women and their education
Jane AddamsJane Addams Hull House for immigrantsHull House for immigrants
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Symbolic Interaction ParadigmSymbolic Interaction Paradigm The basics:
A micro-level orientation, a close-up focus on social interactions in specific situations
Views society as the product of everyday interactions of individuals
Key elements: Society is the shared reality that people
construct as they interact with one another Society is a complex, ever-changing mosaic
of subjective meanings Meaning people attach to behavior
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Who’s Who in the Who’s Who in the Symbolic-Interaction ParadigmSymbolic-Interaction Paradigm Max WeberMax Weber
Understanding a setting from the people in itUnderstanding a setting from the people in it George Herbert MeadGeorge Herbert Mead
How we build personalities form social How we build personalities form social experienceexperience
Erving GoffmanErving Goffman Dramaturgical analysisDramaturgical analysis
George Homans & Peter BlauGeorge Homans & Peter Blau Social-exchange analysisSocial-exchange analysis
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Critical EvaluationCritical Evaluation
Structural-FunctionalStructural-Functional Too broad, ignores inequalities of social class, race Too broad, ignores inequalities of social class, race
& gender, focuses on stability at the expense of & gender, focuses on stability at the expense of conflictconflict
Social-ConflictSocial-Conflict Too broad, ignores how shared values and mutual Too broad, ignores how shared values and mutual
interdependence unify society, pursues political interdependence unify society, pursues political goalsgoals
Symbolic-InteractionSymbolic-Interaction Ignores larger social structures, effects of culture, Ignores larger social structures, effects of culture,
factors such as social economic class, gender, & factors such as social economic class, gender, & racerace
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