1. INTRODUCINGSOCIOLOGYDefining the Discipline and Its
History
2. What is sociology?Per Kendall, sociology is the systematic
study of human society and social interaction Multiple scopes of
analysis (macro, micro) Based on scientific research, not common
sense, hunches, personal convictions, etc.It is possible to
systematically to study groups of peoples because: People are
social beings People act in routine, predictable ways (most of the
time)
3. Do people act in predictable ways?When you woke up this
morning, how did you choose to dress?Clearly the deck is stacked in
favor of people acting inpredictable ways and thus a scientific
study of society ispossible!
4. Sociology helps us debunk socialmythsAnswer true or false to
the following statements:1. The South was less segregated in 1950
than it was in 18902. States that have legalized gay marriage have
much higher divorce rates3. The reasons that people commit suicide
cannot be measured by anything individualistic ones (ex. a sense of
personal despair)4. Countries with an established church (i.e. the
Catholic Church in Spain, the Church of England) have higher rates
of religious devotion than countries without a history of an
official state church.
5. The answer to all these isFALSE!!!1. Jim Crow Laws didnt
take effect until the early 1900s. Until then, it was quite common
for white males to get haircuts, for example, from black barbers.2.
5 out of the 10 states/jurisdictions with the lowest divorce rates
are part of 9 jurisdictions that recognize/perform gay marriage
(Link to article)3. Certain social groups are more likely to commit
suicide and suicide is more prevalent in times of social change4.
The US has never had an official state church, yet church
attendance is far higher than in Western European countries (many
of whom still have a state church)
6. Why sociology over casualobservation? Common sense is not at
all common, nor does it make sense Our observations are biased by
our own assumptions and experiences What seems like individual
choices might actually be socially conditioned responses (ex. What
we wear) Things are not what they seem -Famed sociologist Peter
Berger
7. The Study of the PainfullyObvious? Link
8. Locating Sociology Among theSciencesGeology SociologyPhysics
Psychology Anthropology Political ChemistryScienceBiology History
Physical Sciences Hybrids Social Sciences
9. Sociology and BiblicalRevelationWe are created in Gods image
(Gen. 1:27) andthus, sociology teaches about ourselves andGod.
Sociology is practical for ministers in thatit helps us: Understand
society Understand group dynamics Equips to do research on people
Helps us sift between social myths and realitywhen making sense of
social changes Separate data from interpretation
10. Sociology and Biblical Revelation,pt.2 Sociology has many
common assumptions ofthe biblical worldview, but diverges greatly
inothers. Emphasison structures, institutions, andprocesses, rather
than ultimate meaning or theexistence of God Sociologists do,
however, study world faiths todetermine their social and
subjectivesignificance While most sociologists are value-free in
theirresearch, their pre-existing assumptions affectthe types of
questions they ask and how they
11. Sociologys Original Sin Combination of Scientific
Revolution (17thcentury) and 18th century political
revolutions(USA, France) upended existing assumptionsof society In
this environment, French philosopherAuguste Comte proposed that
society wasgoverned by scientific laws (statics anddynamics) Coined
the term sociology from Latin socius(social) and Greek logos (study
of) Sociologists would be high priests of this newreligion
12. Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) French sociologist who
pioneeredthe structuralist approach tosociology Believed that
social factsgoverned society Made a lasting contribution
tosociological thought in his studiesof religion and suicide
Performed the first truesociological study
13. Karl Marx (1818-1883) Father of communism and
greatlyinfluenced the conflict theory withinsociology Believed all
societies could be dividedinto the oppressed and oppressors
Believed that the workers wouldeventually overtake the rich and set
upa socialist state All social institutions (religion,
family)ultimately supported the means ofproduction
14. Max Weber (1864-1920) Father of the symbolic
interactionistperspective in sociology-a bottom-up approach to
studying society Most famously know for his workThe Protestant
Ethic and the Spirit ofCapitalism Believed the world was
movingtowards an iron cage of rationality Was said to have debated
the ghostof Marx
15. W.E.B. DuBois (1868-1963) First American-American to
receivea PhD from Harvard and firstAmerican-American sociologist
Known for his publication of ThePhiladelphia Negro and The Soulsof
Black Folk-integrating the African-American experience of
double-consciousness into formal sociology Co-founder of the NAACP
in 1909
16. Talcott Parsons (1902-1979) Most influential sociologist of
20thcentury-advocated the functionalistperspective Saw society as
well-oiled machinethat seeks equilibrium and stability Each person
and institution serves afunction that makes society worktogether
and dysfunctional parts willbring down the whole
17. C. Wright Mills (1916-1962) Advocated a conflict
perspective(like Marx) but did not see ahappy ending for society
Coined the term sociologicalimagination-the idea thatseemingly
personal troubles arelinked to social trends Believed that a power
elite,comprised of military, political,and economic elites, ruled
thenation