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
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