The Sociological Point of ViewExamining Social Life

Chapter 1, section 1

Pgs. 2-8

Life In Society

• Sociologists study areas that affect all of us– Marriage– Technology– Crime– Mental Health/Suicide– Adolescents/Teen Dating

Life in Society

• We all view our culture in different ways and that gives our society great diversity.

• At the same time, most of us share many of the same characteristics and ideas. This diversity and similarity is the main interest to sociologists.

Examining Social Life

• Sociology is the systematic study of human society.

• It is the social science that studies human society and social behavior.

• Social Sciences are the disciplines that study human social behavior in a scientific manner.– Anthropology,

economics, history, political science, psychology & sociology.

Examining Social Life

• Social Interaction: how people relate to one another and influence each other’s behavior.– Sociologists focus on

the group rather then the individual.

• Social Phenomena: observable facts or events that involve human society.– Sociologists use these

facts and events to study human behavior.

Sociological Perspective

• Sociology helps you gain a new view of yourself and the world around you.

• In order to do this you need to have a sociological perspective: that is you must look beyond commonly held beliefs to the hidden meanings behind human actions.

• Through this you will learn to see the world through the eyes of others.

Sociological Perspective

• This perspective will help you see all people as social beings.

• It shows you that your behaviors are influenced by social factors and that you have learned your behavior from others.

• It will also help you find a balance between your personal desires and the demands of your environment. You can’t always do what you want, but you also can’t always do what others want you to do. In order to grow as an individual you must find this balance.

Sociological Imagination

• Last, the sociological perspective helps you view your own life with a larger society and historical context.

• The ability to see the connection between the larger world and your personal life is what is known as the sociological imagination. These phrase was coined by C. Wright Mills.

Social Sciences

• Anthropology: the comparative study of the past and present cultures.

• Anthropology focuses on past cultures and simple or less advanced societies

• This area is the most similar to sociology in its subject matter.

• Sociology focuses on more advanced and complex societies.

Social Sciences

• Psychology: deals with the behavior and thinking of organisms.

• Areas of interest include personality, perception, motivation, and learning.

• It differs from sociology because it focuses on the individual instead of the group.

• It also draws on the tools of the natural sciences.

Social Sciences

• Combining psychology and sociology gives you social psychology.

• This is the study of how the social environment affects and individual’s behavior and personality.

• Social Psychology is a growing major at many schools and offers careers in both areas.

Social Sciences

• Economics: is the study of the choices people make in an effort to satisfy their needs and their wants.

• Examines the effects of government policies on economic growth and stability.

• Economics and sociology share interests such as the effect of economic factors on various groups.– What examples can

you think of?

Social Sciences

• Political Science: the examination of the organization and operation of governments.

• Sociology and political science share many interests

• These interests include– Voting patterns

– Concentration of political power

– Formation of politically based groups

Social Sciences

• History: is the study of past events.

• Sociologists study past events in an effort to explain current social behaviors and attitudes.

• What past and current events could be studied by sociologists?– The Great Depression

and today’s economy.