2 sociology is the scientific study of human activity
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Sociology is the scientific study of human activity.
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. . . d
o with, to
and for o
ne
another
Human activity—the things people ….
. . . think and
do as a result of
others’ influence
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Social forces are anything humans create that influences or pressures people to interact, behave, respond, or think in certain ways.
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Social forces
Human activity (the way it is organized)
Opportunities
Disadvantages
Sense of self
Relationships with others and larger environment
How do sociologists think about
any human activity?
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Example of an “invention” as a social force: the mobile phone
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Revolutionary feature of the mobile phoneit frees people from being in a specific physical space when they communicate with others.
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Social Force: Mobile Phone
Human activity (the things we do, think, and act!)
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What kinds of human activities have changed as a result of the mobile
phone?
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Human activity (the way it is organized) Opportunities
Disadvantages
Sense of self
Relationships with others and environment
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What opportunities and disadvantages come with the mobile phone?
May not be able to fully engage in an activity
Immediate access to others (not present), no matter the setting
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How is sense of self shaped by the mobile phone?
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What about relationships with others and the surrounding environment?
In a survey of 439 doctors who perform
cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery 55.6% reported using
their mobile phones while performing
surgery to send or check text messages,
access e-mail, check postings
on social networking
sites or otherwise use the internet
Ability to picture ourselves in society & realize how society effects our experiences and choices
In 1959 wrote the book Sociological Imagination which coined the term —the sociological imagination—that stresses being able to connect individual experiences and societal relationships
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What meaning do you assign to this empty roll of toilet tissue?
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Which photograph best reflects the meaning you assign to the empty
roll of toilet tissue?
18Cuba U.S.
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What social forces contribute to different ways of thinking about and
responding to empty toilet paper rolls?
Resource-rich country
Consumption-oriented culture (capitalism)
Ability to access resources from foreign sources
Resource-poor country
Thrift-oriented cultureU.S. embargo since 1960
Collapse of Soviet Union
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How does attitude toward resources and corresponding behavior affect sense of
self?
Sense of self revolves around consumption
Sense of self revolves around ingenuity
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Question: How do sociologists make sense of the patterns they observe?
Answer: Three sociological perspectives
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Symbolic Interactionism
• Micro level• How do individuals interpret their world?• Meaningful symbols• Social interaction in small groups
– Shared rules of interaction– Language
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Structural Functionalism
• Macro level• Society is a vast network of interrelated parts• What are the parts of US society?• How do they function for the maintenance of
society?– Stability– Harmony– Evolution
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Conflict Theory• Macro level• Social behavior is best understood in terms
of conflict or tension between competing groups
• Social change is the result of this social conflict
• Feminist theory– Relationship between gender, social class and
minority status
25Peter Berger