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