Session2 intsocisy20142015

Understanding Sociology

What is your understanding of

SOCIOLOGY?

• Sociology– Sociology studies human society and social behavior

through social interaction and social phenomena

– Social Interaction – how people relate to one another and influence each other’s behavior

– Social Phenomena – observable events in human society

• Anthropology– Anthropology is the comparative study of past and present

cultures

• Psychology– Psychology studies behavior and mental processes

• Sociology– Sociology studies human society and social behavior

through social interaction and social phenomena

– Social Interaction – how people relate to one another and influence each other’s behavior

– Social Phenomena – observable events in human society

• Anthropology– Anthropology is the comparative study of past and present

cultures

• Psychology– Psychology studies behavior and mental processes

Sociology and Other Social Sciences

•Economics– Economics studies choices people make to

satisfy their needs and wants

•Political Science– Political science studies principles,

organization, and operation of government

•History– History studies people and events of the past

•Economics– Economics studies choices people make to

satisfy their needs and wants

•Political Science– Political science studies principles,

organization, and operation of government

•History– History studies people and events of the past

Sociology and Other Social Sciences

WHAT SOCIOLOGISTS DO? Market research Advertising Government official Pre-law Becoming a sociology professor Planner Social Science Researcher Social Impact Assessor

WE CAN STUDY SOCIOLOGY EVERY WHERE….

WHEN ARE BEING CRITICAL….

EVEN THE MUNDANE THINGS….

http://www.sociology.org/content/2006/tier2/johnpaul_the_urinal_game.pdf

URINAL GAME (PAUL, 2006)

Sociology of Space

DEFINITION

“Sociology is the study of social behavior and human groups” (Schaeffer, 2011).

Sociology is a branch of social science that deals with the study of society, groups, processes,

norms (laws, practices, patterns of behavior; a belief of what is acceptable; unwritten or written

rules on how to behave), and organizations.

WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?

Sociology Focuses on: How social relationships influence people’s attitudes and behavior How major social institutions affect us How we affect other individuals, groups, and organizations

© 2006 ALAN S. BERGER 10

CONSIDER THIS:

WHAT IS A SALIVA AND ITS FUNCTION: It softens food, lubricates the throat and mouth and

begins digestion. 

Has enzymes to begin breaking down food

Saliva also helps prevent tooth decay. Without saliva, food particles that get caught between the teeth would stay there much longer, causing plaque and cavities to develop much more quickly.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_function_of_saliva#ixzz1vsZci8UB

IS SALIVA DIRTY?

“It all depends on what they have recently had in their mouth. However human being get the saliva in their mouth via the blood stream, any thing that goes through the blood stream is subject to the influence of the immune system.”

“ A normal healthy human as a result produces saliva that is just about sterile. As is also the case with urine, semen, tears and vaginal secretion etc.”

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Do_humans_have_dirty_saliva#ixzz1vsZwr7cu

CONSIDER THIS:

Our behavior or the way we act on so something depends on what the society dictates us.

Our understanding, belief, idea of something is also contextual. It depends on the situation.

And the situation is defined by us.

DEFINITION

“A social science involving the study of the social lives

of people, groups, and societies.”

(American Sociological Society)

DEFINITION

“Sociology is the study of how society is organized and how we experience life.” (collective experience)

(British Sociological Association)

Why people group themselves?

Why people organize? Are there social forces/phenomenon that move people to organize?

How people interact with each other and how these interactions impact on individuals.

DEFINITION

“Sociology is also the study of social interaction.”

FOCUS OF SOCIOLOGY (SCHAEFFER, 2011)

Impacts of relationships on people’s attitude and behavior.

Photo courtesy of http://www.openideo.com/open/impact/inspiration/social-network-analysis

FOCUS of Sociology FOCUS of Sociology (Schaeffer, 2011)(Schaeffer, 2011)

How societies develop and change.

SOCIOLOGY AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

█ Science: Body of knowledge obtained by methods based on systematic observation

– Natural science: Study of physical features of nature and the ways they interact and change

– Social science: Study of social features of humans and the ways they interact and change

Source: Schaeffer, 2011 (McGraw Hill)

Other examples of social science disciplines?

ADDITIONAL NOTES ON SOCIOLOGY

The discipline is holistic and is related to everything else.

FOCUS OF SOCIOLOGY

Actors, Roles, Rules, and Relationships.

Let us take our classroom as an example! What are the 3Rs and an A present?

SOCIOLOGY IN SAYINGS

Birds of the same feathers flock together.

Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are.

INSERT VIDEO What is SOCIOLOGY?

How is Sociology and

Psychology Different?

LET US EXAMINE SUICIDE

HOW IS SOCIOLOGY DIFFERENT?

Psychology- Individual Behavior

Sociology-Group Behavior

SOCIOLOGY AND COMMON SENSE

Common sense assumptions are usually based on

very limited observation.

Moreover, the premises on which common sense

assumptions are seldom examined.

Sociology seeks to:

• use a broad range of carefully selected observations; and

• theoretically understand and explain those observations.

While sociological research might confirm common

sense observation, its broader base and theoretical

rational provide a stronger basis for conclusions.

Photo courtesy of: Cardiff University School of Social Sciences

LADY K

LADY K: The 'American Idol' winner struggled with bulimia for six months until friends discovered her secret and begged her to get help.

POSSIBLE CAUSE FACTORS

Poor self image Low self-esteem History of trauma or abuse Major life changes Appearance oriented professions

Source: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/bulimia_signs_symptoms_causes_treatment.htm

HOW SOCIOLOGISTS EXAMINE SOCIETY?

Rely on critical thinking, which C. Wright Mills calls, SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION

WHAT IS SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION?

“An awareness of the relationship between and individual and the wider society, both today and in the past” (Schaeffer, 2011).

The connection between history (past) and biography (your current personal experiences and context.

SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION

ABILITY TO VIEW One's OWN WORLD as an OUTSIDER!

SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION

ABILITY TO VIEW One's OWN WORLD as an OUTSIDER!

SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION

It allows us to go beyond personal experiences and observation to understand broader public issues.

DIVORCE

A personal problem between husband and wife.

Divorce may influence family (family in transition).

Divorce may deconstruct the traditional notion of family.

DIVORCE QUESTIONS THE VERY CONCEPT OF MARRIAGE

To live happily ever after.

Love is the very foundation of marriage.

But why divorce happens?

“Consider unemployment. When, in a city of one hundred thousand, one man is unemployed, that is his personal trouble, and for its relief, we may properly look to the character of the man and his skills. But when in a nation of fifty million employees, fifteen million men are unemployed, that is an issue, and we may not hope to find its solution within the range of opportunities open to any one individual. The very structure of opportunities has collapsed”

C. Wright Mills (1959) 

OTHER SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES

DEBUNKING- “Debunking is a process of questioning actions and ideas that are usually taken for granted.” (Peter Berger)

Aha Attitude

Healthy skepticism regarding common notions

AHA ATTITUDE

DIG THE HOLE

SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION

Is also an examination of the effects of social forces on people’s personal and social lives.

 What are social forces? (racism, gender inequality, population growth or decline, globalization, poverty, change in education, etc)

Social forces are processes, realities, and notions/concepts of something that are considered an “in thing”.

Insert video on sociological imagination.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqvnVAL8-1g

SOCIOLOGICAL THINKING

See the strange from the familiar-to detach oneself from what is common. We challenge familiar ideas.

SOCIOLOGICAL THINKING

Seeing the general in the particular.

EXAMPLE

For many years, scholars thought that Japan is a homogenous society.

But this is no longer the case.

Cultural diversity has existed in Japan even before it opened its door to foreigners.

Foreigners are increasing in Japan.

OTHER EXAMPLES

Women tend to be chattier than men

Military marriages more likely to end in separation or divorce

BENEFITS OF SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE (MACIONIS, 2005)

1. It helps us assess the truth of common sense. (We continuously ask whether or not our common belief are actually/still true).

2. It helps us see the opportunities and constraints in our lives.

3. It empowers us to be active participants in our society.

BENEFITS OF SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE (MACIONIS, 2005)

4. It helps us live in a diverse world.

THE ORIGINS OF SOCIOLOGY

Three major developments in the 17th and 18th century:

1.Emergence of industrial economy (factories)

2.Proliferation of cities in Europle.

3.Political changes and concerns of individual liberty and rights.

© 2010 ALAN S. BERGER 64

PRACTICING SOCIOLOGY

© 2006 ALAN S. BERGER 65

• Applied sociology: use of the discipline of sociology with the intent of yielding practical applications for human behavior and organizations

• Clinical sociology: dedicated to facilitating change by altering social relationships or restructuring social institutions

EXERCISE

• Video (child smoking)