the sociological perspective how is the sociological perspective a new and exciting way of seeing...
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THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
HOW is the sociological perspective a new and exciting way of seeing the
world?
Why study Sociology?
• To assess the truth of "common sense"
• To see opportunities & constraints in our lives
• To be active participants in our society
• To help us live in a diverse world...
• To secure a job after college
–PETER BERGER (1963)
A. “Seeing the general in the particular.”
I. Sociological Perspective: looking for general patterns in the behavior of particular people.
B. SEEING THE STRANGE IN THE FAMILIAR
• How does social class background shape the kind of job you expect to have after graduation?
• What effect will your background have on your decision to go to college?
"THE CORNERS OF LIFE WE OCCUPY IN SOCIETY"
SOCIAL LOCATION EXAMPLES: JOB, INCOME, EDUCATION, GENDER, RACE-ETHNICITY
C. SEEING PERSONAL CHOICE IN SOCIAL CONTEXT
Is the size of a family really a matter of personal choice?
EMILE DURKHEIM
• Research on suicide showed rate strongly influenced by social integration (social ties)
• Increased suicide risk:
• Protestant
• Male
• Unmarried
• Wealthy
• Conclusion: greater wealth & freedom weakens social ties
PRIVATE CHOICES ARE SHAPED BY SOCIETY
D. SEEING SOCIOLOGY IN EVERYDAY LIFE
SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
• Seeing the connection between society and your individual life
• Ex. Great Depression
• Those out of work blamed the economy for the high unemployment
• THUS...Sociological thinking can bring about social change!
C. WRIGHT MILLS (1963)
II. ORIGINS OF SOCIOLOGY
A. RAPID SOCIAL CHANGE GIVES WAY TO SOCIOLOGY
1. Rise of industrial economy
• Traditions weakened as workers become part of large & anonymous labor force
2. Growth of cities
• Rapid urbanization leads to new Msocial problems (ex. crime, homelessness, unemployment)
3. Political change
• American & French Revolutions encouraged people to rethink social life
• New ideas introduced (ex. Inalienable rights)
4. Imperialism
• Exposure to radically different cultures and ways of life
• Began to ask, "why do cultures differ?"
5. Success of natural sciences
• Use of the scientific method - objective, test theories
• Secrets revealed - logical step since tradition no longer gives answers
B. EARLY SOCIOLOGISTS
1. Auguste Comte (1838)
• Named sociology
• Goal: to understand how society really works
• Positivism: a way of understanding based on science
2. Herbert Spencer
• Societies evolve through social unrest = natural
• No one should intervene in evolution of society = no social reform (Darwin's "survival of the fittest")
3. Karl Marx
• Class conflict will bring about social change
• Sociology's purpose is to make society better
4. Emile Durkheim
• Used scientific method to study of society
• Study only observable aspects
• Identified social facts (ex. patterns of behavior that characterize a group - ex. More births on Tuesday)
• Research should lead to solutions for social problems
5. Max Weber
• Research should be value-free & objective
• Research should be replicated
• Sociologists should practice "Verstehen" - see through the eyes of others (subjective meanings) & go beyond social facts