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The Sociological PerspectiveSociology is the scientific study of social

structure.

Sociologists look for the patterns in social relationships.

When you understand that your own behavior is partly determined by the groups you belong to, you are using your sociological imagination.

You can benefit from this understanding when you look at how and why you make certain choices.

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What is gained by using our sociological imagination?

an understanding of the effects of events on our daily lives

an improved ability to make decisions, rather than just conform

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Definitions:sociological imagination

conventional social wisdom

sociological imagination: the ability to see the link between society and self

sociological imagination: the ability to see the link between society and self

The sociological imagination questions common interpretations of human

social behavior and

challenges conventional social wisdom

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Definitions:sociological imagination

conventional social wisdom

conventional social wisdom: ideas people

assume are true

conventional social wisdom: ideas people

assume are true

The sociological imagination questions common interpretations of human

social behavior and

challenges conventional social wisdom

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Illiteracy Rates

“Nearly all American adults know how to read and write.” The map shows the percentage of Americans over 20 years old who are illiterate.

Is conventional social wisdom about illiteracy rates really wise or true? Support your answer.

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A perspective is a particular point of view or a particular way of looking at an issue.

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Social structure is the patterned interaction of people in social relationships.

Example: Although the personal characteristics of students and teachers vary from school to school, students and teachers relate in similar patterned ways.

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The Origins of SociologySociology is a young science.

It grew out of the writings of European scholars who were interested in bringing back a sense of community to society in the late 1800s.

After World War II, America took the lead in developing the field of sociology.

The majority of all sociologists are from the United States.

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1837 Harriet Martineau publishes Society in America

1848 Karl Marx publishes The Communist Manifesto, promoting a classless society

1897 Emile Durkheim publishes Suicide

1904 Max Weber publishes The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

1959C. Wright Mills publishes Sociological Imagination

1838 Auguste Comte’s book, Positive Philosophy, identifies science of sociology

1931Jane Addams awarded Nobel Peace Prize

W.E.B. DuBois publishes The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study

1850

1899

Herbert Spencer

publishes Social Statics

Time Line of Early Sociologists

Select a sociologist, by clicking on their name, and view their contributions..

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Jane Addams – early American sociologist1860–1935

social reformer

co-founded Hull House in Chicago slums

awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, 1931

focused on problems caused by imbalance of power among social classes

active in women’s suffrage and peace movements

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Auguste Comte–early French sociologist1798–1857

father of sociology

first to advocate the scientific study of society

positivism– science based on knowledge of which we can be “positive”

distinguished between social stability (statics) and social change (dynamics)

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W.E.B. DuBois–early American sociologist1868–1963

African American educator and social activist

focused on the question of race inside and outside the United States

analyzed social structure of African American communities

active in Pan African movement, concerned with rights of all African descendents

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Emile Durkheim–early French sociologist1858–1917

first used statistical methods in study of human groups

first to teach university sociology course

showed human behavior to be explained by social factors rather than psychological ones

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Harriet Martineau–early English sociologist1802–1876

emphasized sociology as a science

translated Comte’s Positive Philosophy

introduced feminism into sociology

strong and outspoken supporter of both women and slaves

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Karl Marx–early German sociologist1818–1883

guided by principle that social scientists should try to change the world rather than merely study it

emphasized the role of class conflict in social change

writings were later used as a basis for communism

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C. Wright Mills–early American sociologist1917–1962

called the personal use of sociology “the sociological imagination”

first described emergence of strong middle class (White Collar, 1951)

published Power Elite, (1956)

father of student movement of 1960s

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Herbert Spencer–early English sociologist1820–1903

early proponent of Social Darwinism

opposed social reform; it interfered with process of natural selection

compared society to human body; composed of parts working together to promote its well-being

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Max Weber–early German sociolgist1864–1920

developed the concept of verstehen– understanding social behavior by putting yourself in the place of others

identified rationalization as key to change from preindustrial to industrial society

pioneered techniques to prevent personal biases in research

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A theoretical perspective is:a set of assumptions about an area of study, in

this case about the workings of society

viewed as true by its supporters and it helps them organize their research

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Theoretical Perspectives: Functionalism

Emphasizes the contributions made by each part of societySociety is a relatively integrated whole.

Society tends to seek relative stability.

Most aspects of a society contribute to the society’s well-being and survival.

Society rests on the voluntary participation of its members.

FUNCTIONALISM

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Theoretic Perspective: Conflict perspective

Emphasizes the role of conflict, competition, change, and constraint within a society

Society experiences inconsistency and conflict everywhere.

Society is continually subjected to change.

Society involvesthe constraint and coercion of somemembers by others.

CONFLICTPERSPECTIVE

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Theoretical Perspective: Symbolic interactionism

Focuses on the interactions among people based on mutually understood symbols.People learn to interpret the meanings of symbols

from others.

People base their interaction on their interpretations of symbols.

Symbols permit people to predict the behavior expected of them. SYMBOLIC

INTERACTIONISM

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Which perspective is the best?There is no “better” theoretical perspective. Each perspective highlights certain areas of social

life.

The advantages of one perspective are the disadvantages of another.

Certain issues and problems are best understood from a particular perspective.