Examining Social Life

Chapter 1 – Section 1

– Sociology • studies human society and social

behavior– Social Science

• study human social behavior and functions of human society

– Social interaction • study of how people relate and

influence each others behavior– Social phenomena

• study of facts or events that involve human society

The Sociological Perspective

– Sociological perspective• A look at social life in a scientific way,

rather than common-sense explanation

– Sociological imagination• Ability to see connection between larger

world and personal life

Sociology’s Place in the Social Science

– Anthropology• Study of past and present

– Economics• Study of choices people make to satisfy

their needs and wants

– Psychology• Study of behavior and thinking

organisms

– Social Psychology• Study of how the social environment

affects the behavior and personality of individuals

– Political Science• Extermination of the organization and

operation of governments

– History• Study of past events

Sociology: Then And Now

Chapter 1 – Section 2

• Sociology as academic discipline

• Developmental Factors

– Social and Political changes

– Growth of Urban Population

The Early Years

• Sociology developed primarily in France, Germany and England

Auguste Comte (1798-1857)

• Founder of Sociology

– Social Statics

– Social Dynamics

Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)

• Influenced by the views of Darwin– Society is a set of

independent parts that work together to a certain system

– Social changes needed towards stability and perfection

• Social Darwinism

– “Survival of the fittest”

– Most popular in France and Britain

Karl Marx (1818-1883)

• Society is divided into two classes– Bourgeoisie– Proletariat

• Class conflict– Classless society

Émile Durkheim (1858-1917)

• Applied method of science to sociology

• Function – is the consequence that an element of society produces to maintain its social order

Max Weber (1864-1920)

• Focused on the influence of the group on the individual

– Verstehen

– Ideal Type

Current Perspectives

• Theory– Guide and helps interpret new

findings

• Theoretical Perspective– Set of assumptions about the nature

of social life

Functionalist Perspective

• Based on ?– Set of interrelated parts to produce a

stable society

– Dysfunctional

– Manifest function

– Latent function

Conflict Perspective

• Focus on forces in society that promote competition and change

– Decision making in families– Race relations– Workplace disputes

Interactionist Perspective

• Focus on interaction between individuals in society

– Symbols

– Symbolic Interaction