IntroductionIntroduction to to SociologySociology

Henry L. TischlerHenry L. Tischler

Prepared by Charles E. Faupel

Chapter 1:Chapter 1:

The Sociological PerspectiveThe Sociological Perspective

What to Expect in This What to Expect in This Chapter...Chapter... Defining the Sociological PerspectiveDefining the Sociological Perspective

• The Sociological ImaginationThe Sociological Imagination• Sociology and Common SenseSociology and Common Sense• Sociology and ScienceSociology and Science

Sociology and the Social SciencesSociology and the Social Sciences The Development of SociologyThe Development of Sociology Theoretical Perspectives in SociologyTheoretical Perspectives in Sociology

Personal experience Awareness of friends Systematic studywith drug use and associates’ patterns of a random of drug use sample of drug users

Defining the Sociological Defining the Sociological PerspectivePerspective

““Sociology is the scientific study of Sociology is the scientific study of human society and social interactions.”human society and social interactions.”

What makes sociology “scientific?”What makes sociology “scientific?”

Levels of Understanding Drug Use

The Sociological The Sociological ImaginationImagination

C. Wright Mills coined the term C. Wright Mills coined the term “sociological imagination” to “sociological imagination” to refer to refer to “...“...the vivid awareness the vivid awareness of the relationship between of the relationship between private experience and the private experience and the wider society.”wider society.”

C. Wright Mills

Sociology and Common Sociology and Common SenseSense

Common sense assumptions are usually based on very Common sense assumptions are usually based on very

limited observation.limited observation.

Moreover, the premises on which common sense Moreover, the premises on which common sense

assumptions are seldom examined.assumptions are seldom examined.

Sociology seeks to:Sociology seeks to:• use a broad range of carefully selected observations; anduse a broad range of carefully selected observations; and

• theoretically understand and explain those observations.theoretically understand and explain those observations.

While sociological research might confirm common While sociological research might confirm common

sense observation, its broader base and theoretical sense observation, its broader base and theoretical

rational provide a stronger basis for conclusions.rational provide a stronger basis for conclusions.

The Scientific Method

Sociology and ScienceSociology and Science

Science is Science is “...a body of “...a body of systematically arranged systematically arranged knowledge that shows knowledge that shows the operation of general the operation of general laws.”laws.”

As a science, sociology As a science, sociology employs the employs the scientific scientific methodmethod

Formulate hypotheses

Choose research design

Gather Data

Analyze Data

Review of literature

Sociology and the Social Sociology and the Social SciencesSciences

The Development of The Development of SociologySociology Sociology emerged as a separate Sociology emerged as a separate

discipline in the nineteenth centurydiscipline in the nineteenth century This was a time of great social This was a time of great social

upheaval due largely to the French upheaval due largely to the French and Industrial Revolutionsand Industrial Revolutions

Several early sociologists shaped Several early sociologists shaped the direction of the disciplinethe direction of the discipline

Auguste Comte (1798-Auguste Comte (1798-1857)1857)

Responsible for coining the term Responsible for coining the term “sociology”“sociology”

Set out to develop the “science of Set out to develop the “science of man” that would be based on man” that would be based on empirical observationempirical observation

Focused on two aspects of society:Focused on two aspects of society:• Social Statics—Social Statics—forces which produce forces which produce

order and stabilityorder and stability• Social Dynamics—Social Dynamics—forces which forces which

contribute to social changecontribute to social change

Harriet Martineau (1802-Harriet Martineau (1802-1876)1876)

Authored one of the earliest Authored one of the earliest analyses of culture and life in analyses of culture and life in the United States entitled the United States entitled Theory and Practice of Society Theory and Practice of Society in Americain America

Translated Comte’s Translated Comte’s Positive Positive PhilosophyPhilosophy into English into English

Harriet Martineau

Herbert Spencer (1820-Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)1903)

Authored the first sociology text, Authored the first sociology text, Principles of SociologyPrinciples of Sociology

Most well known for proposing a Most well known for proposing a doctrine called “Social Darwinism”doctrine called “Social Darwinism”• Suggested that people who could not Suggested that people who could not

compete were poorly adapted to the compete were poorly adapted to the environment and inferiorenvironment and inferior

• This is an idea commonly called This is an idea commonly called survival of the fittestsurvival of the fittest

Karl Marx (1818-1883)Karl Marx (1818-1883)

Marx is the father of Marx is the father of conflictconflict theorytheory Saw human history in a continual Saw human history in a continual

state of conflict between two major state of conflict between two major classes:classes:• Bourgeoisie—Bourgeoisie—owners of the means of owners of the means of

production (capitalists)production (capitalists)• Proletariat—Proletariat—the workersthe workers

Predicted that revolution would Predicted that revolution would occur producing first a socialist occur producing first a socialist state, followed by a communist state, followed by a communist societysociety

Emile Durkheim (1858-Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)1917)

Durkheim moved sociology Durkheim moved sociology fully into the realm of an fully into the realm of an empirical scienceempirical science

Most well known empirical Most well known empirical study is called study is called SuicideSuicide, where , where he looks at the social causes of he looks at the social causes of suicidesuicide

Generally regarded as the Generally regarded as the founder of founder of functionalist theoryfunctionalist theory

Emile Durkheim

Max Weber (1864-1920)Max Weber (1864-1920)

Much of Weber’s work was a critique Much of Weber’s work was a critique or clarification of Marxor clarification of Marx

His most famous work, His most famous work, The Protestant The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of CapitalismEthic and the Spirit of Capitalism directly challenged Marx’s ideas on directly challenged Marx’s ideas on the role of religion in societythe role of religion in society

Weber was also interested in Weber was also interested in bureaucracies and the process of bureaucracies and the process of rationalization in societyrationalization in society

The Development of The Development of Sociology in the United Sociology in the United StatesStates

American sociology had its beginnings at the University American sociology had its beginnings at the University of Chicago in the early 20of Chicago in the early 20thth century century

The early emphasis was on empirical study of The early emphasis was on empirical study of communities and neighborhoodscommunities and neighborhoods

Later, East Coast schools such as Columbia and Later, East Coast schools such as Columbia and Harvard Universities began sociology departments, Harvard Universities began sociology departments, producing scholars such as W.E.B. Dubois, Talcott producing scholars such as W.E.B. Dubois, Talcott Parsons, and Robert MertonParsons, and Robert Merton

Home page of the University of the Chicago Sociology Dep’t

Theoretical Perspectives: Theoretical Perspectives: FunctionalismFunctionalism

Functionalism sees society as a Functionalism sees society as a system of highly interrelated system of highly interrelated parts that work together parts that work together harmoniouslyharmoniously

The image that functionalists use The image that functionalists use to understand society is a living to understand society is a living organismorganism

Each part of society works Each part of society works together for the benefit of the together for the benefit of the whole much like a living organismwhole much like a living organism

Theoretical Perspectives: Theoretical Perspectives: Conflict TheoryConflict Theory

Conflict theory is grounded in the work of Karl Conflict theory is grounded in the work of Karl MarxMarx

Society is understood to be made up of Society is understood to be made up of conflicting interest groups who vie for power conflicting interest groups who vie for power and privilegeand privilege

This dynamic results in continuous social This dynamic results in continuous social change, which is the normal state of affairschange, which is the normal state of affairs

Conflict theory focuses heavily on inequality Conflict theory focuses heavily on inequality and differential distribution of power and and differential distribution of power and wealthwealth

Theoretical Perspectives: Theoretical Perspectives: The Interactionist The Interactionist PerspectivePerspective

Focuses on how individuals make sense of Focuses on how individuals make sense of and interpret the worldand interpret the world

This perspective tends to focus on the “micro-This perspective tends to focus on the “micro-order” of small groupsorder” of small groups

Has given rise to several specific Has given rise to several specific approaches:approaches:– Symbolic InteractionismSymbolic Interactionism developed by George developed by George

Herbert MeadHerbert Mead– EthnomethodologyEthnomethodology developed by Harold Garfinkel developed by Harold Garfinkel– DramaturgyDramaturgy developed by Erving Goffman developed by Erving Goffman

Comparing Theoretical PerspectivesComparing Theoretical PerspectivesPerspectivePerspective Scope of Scope of

AnalysisAnalysisPoint of ViewPoint of View Focus of Focus of

AnalysisAnalysisStructural-Structural-FunctionalismFunctionalism

Macro Macro LevelLevel

1.1. Various parts of society Various parts of society are interdependentare interdependent

2.2. Social systems are Social systems are highly stablehighly stable

3.3. Social life governed by Social life governed by consensus & consensus & cooperationcooperation

Functional and Functional and dysfunctional dysfunctional aspects of aspects of societysociety

Conflict Conflict TheoryTheory

Macro Macro LevelLevel

1.1. Society accommodates Society accommodates between competing between competing interest groupsinterest groups

2.2. Society unstable and Society unstable and prone to changeprone to change

3.3. Social life conflict-ladenSocial life conflict-laden

1. How social 1. How social inequalities inequalities produce conflictproduce conflict2. Who benefits 2. Who benefits from social from social arrangementsarrangements

InteractionistInteractionist Micro-LevelMicro-Level 1.1. Actions have Actions have symbolic meaningssymbolic meanings

2.2. Meanings can varyMeanings can vary

How people How people make sense of make sense of their worldtheir world