Sociology -- the scientific study of human social relationships

Sociology -- the

scientific study of human social

relationships

WHAT IS

SOCIAL?

Social -- interaction between two or more people

Asocial -- not social, not interacting with others

Either by choice …

… or by being left out

Anti-social -- negative interaction or avoidance of interaction

KEEP OUT

Pseudo-social -- appears to be social, but isn’t

Early Sociologis

tsA Brief Review

Theorists of Sociology

Comte Durkheim Marx

Spencer Weber

Auguste Comte

• Considered the founder of Sociology

• Coined the term “sociology”

Comte coined term “Sociology”

– Socious- companion (Latin)

– Logos- study of (Greek)


Auguste Comte-• French Philosopher, interested in

finding solutions to the chaos of the French Revolution

Comte believed that sociologists should be

concerned with two main concepts:

Order & Change

Comte• Social Statics

constantsnon-changing principleslife and deathman v. nature

Comte

– change

– attitudes and acceptable behaviors

Social Dynamics

Auguste Comte

• Practiced “cerebral hygiene”

Comte§ Positivis

m- all science should be value free and objective

Karl Marx

• Not really a sociologist, but a social philosopher

Karl Marx

• Believed that class conflict led to social change

• Influenced the modern conflict theory


Karl Marx (1818-1883)

not a sociologist but had a profound affect on sociology (and history)

Marx-

•importance of economics in everyday life and in history

Economic Determinism

Marx-

Concerned with class conflict

• Worker v. Capitalist

Marx• Felt that any historical change would involve conflict between the workers and capitalists

Marx-• society similar to

a human body- each part performs a function

• many parts make up the whole

Organic Totalitity

Herbert Spencer

• Was strongly influenced by Charles Darwin

• Believed no steps should be taken to correct society’s problems

Herbert Spencer

• Coined the phrase “Survival of the Fittest”

• His theory is called “Social Darwinism”

Herbert Spencer

• Society is made up of interdependent parts

Emile Durkheim

• First sociologist to systematically apply the scientific method to the study of society

Emile Durkheim

• Greatly influenced the modern Functionalist theory

Emile Durkheim-

• Thought only the overt should be studied

• Not- thoughts, feelings or emotions

• Believed that everything has numerous functions

Emile Durkheim- functions

• Manifest Function- the intended or primary purpose of an object

– transportation

• Latent Function- the unintended purpose of an object

– status symbol

Max Weber

• Studied the effects of society on the individual

• Influenced the modern Inter-actionist theory

Max Weber

• Verstehen -- essentially seeing a situation through someone else’s eyes

Max Weber-

• Interested in groups within society, not just society as a whole

Max Weber- Verstehen

§ understanding the meaning others attach to their actions

… And now for

something new ...

Sociological Imagination

C. Wright MillsNo social study is complete until it deals with the “intersection” of History and Biography

Biography

H

tis

ry

This “intersection” is the connection between the larger world (history) ...

… and our personal lives (biography)


… can therefore be defined as the ability to perceive the connection between your per-sonal life and the larger world around you.


Mills said that the researcher must follow three lines of questioning to utilize sociological imagination:

What is the structure of the society as a whole?

•What are its essential components?

•How are they interrelated?

•How does this society differ from others?

Where does this society stand in human history?

•How is it changing?

•How is it affected by the historical period in which it exists?

What varieties of people prevail in this society?

•What are the men and women in this society like?

•Who are the “winners” and how are these people selected or formed in this society?

Theorist EvaluationTheorist Evaluation

• Q. Which theorist developed the idea of “Social Darwinism”?


• Q. Which theorist developed the idea of “Social Darwinism”?

• A. Herbert Spencer


• Q. Who coined the term “sociology”?


• Q. Who coined the term “sociology”?

• A. Auguste Comte


• Q. Which theorist emphasized class conflict?


• Q. Which theorist emphasized class conflict?

• A. Karl Marx


• Q. Which theorist is responsible for the idea of verstehen?


• Q. Which theorist is responsible for the idea of verstehen?

• A. Max Weber


• Q. Which theorist applied the scientific method to sociology?


• Q. Which theorist applied the scientific method to sociology?

• A. Emile Durkheim

… And now for the

Sociological Theoretical

Perspectives ...

Functionalist Perspective:

Asks the question: “What is the use or purpose of A or B?”

Function -- the positive consequence of an element of society

stabilizes society

Dysfunction -- the negative consequence of an element of society

destabilizes society

Example: Cars

Function? Dysfunction?

Manifest function -- the intended and recognized function

Latent function -- the unintended and unrecognized function

Cars …

Manifest function?

Latent function?

Conflict Perspective:

Asks the question: “How is A pitted against B, and why?”


Society is divided between “haves” and “have-nots”

Conflict leads to social change


Looks at who has power and who does not.

How did those in power get it and how do they keep it?


Who does not have power and how are they trying to get it? What obstacles stand in their way from succeeding?

Interactionist Perspective:

Asks the question: “How is A related to B?”


Looks at how individuals relate to one another.


An area if interest is understanding the meaning that people attach to their own and others’ actions.

Symbolic Interaction

Social Phenomenon -- an act or occurrence in human society that can be observed and studied

Notes:

Variable -- a characteristic that can change from one individual (or group) to another (opposite of “constant”)

Correlation -- when a change in one variable is associated with a change in another variable

A B

Causation -- when a change in one brings about a change in another variable.

A B

Ex:

Smoking &

Lung Cancer

This is a direct or a positive correlation

Ex: Amount of Homework & Stress

Does one cause the other?

Ex: Exercise & Heart Disease

This is an inverse or a negative correlation

Ex: Hospitalization & Death

Does one cause the other?

Hospitalization

Death

NO! A third variable causes both!

Serious Illness

When a third variable causes both, this is called a spurious

correlation.

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Sociology -- the scientific study of human social relationships