Chapter 1:Chapter 1: A Sociological A Sociological

Compass Compass

Melanie HatfieldMelanie Hatfield

Soc 100Soc 100

What is Sociology???What is Sociology???

Sociology: the systematic study of human Sociology: the systematic study of human behavior in social context.behavior in social context.

The organization of the social world opens The organization of the social world opens some opportunities and closes others, some opportunities and closes others, thus constraining our freedom and thus constraining our freedom and helping to make us what we are.helping to make us what we are.

By examining the operation of these By examining the operation of these powerful social forces, sociology can help powerful social forces, sociology can help us to know ourselves, our capabilities and us to know ourselves, our capabilities and limitations. limitations.

The Sociological The Sociological Perspective:Perspective:

The sociological explanation of The sociological explanation of suicidesuicide As many argue, suicide appears to be the As many argue, suicide appears to be the

supremely antisocial and nonsocial act.supremely antisocial and nonsocial act. At the end of the 19th century, French At the end of the 19th century, French

Sociologist, Emile Durkheim Sociologist, Emile Durkheim demonstrated that suicide is more than demonstrated that suicide is more than just an individual act resulting from a just an individual act resulting from a psychological disorder.psychological disorder.

He showed that suicide rates are He showed that suicide rates are strongly influenced by social forces.strongly influenced by social forces.

The Sociological The Sociological Explanation of Explanation of SuicideSuicide

(cont.)(cont.) Durkheim first examined the relationship Durkheim first examined the relationship

between rates of suicide and rates of between rates of suicide and rates of psychological disorders for different psychological disorders for different groups.groups.

The idea that a psychological disorder The idea that a psychological disorder causes suicide would be supported only causes suicide would be supported only if suicide rates were high where if suicide rates were high where psychological rate were high and were psychological rate were high and were low where rates of psychological low where rates of psychological disorder were low.disorder were low.

His analyzations did not support this. His analyzations did not support this.

The Sociological The Sociological Explanation of Explanation of SuicideSuicide

(cont.)(cont.) So what accounts for suicide?So what accounts for suicide? Durkheim argued that suicide rates vary Durkheim argued that suicide rates vary

because of differences in the degree of because of differences in the degree of social social solidaritysolidarity in different groups. in different groups.

Social solidaritySocial solidarity is defined as: (1) The is defined as: (1) The degree to which group members share beliefs degree to which group members share beliefs and values and (2) the intensity and frequency and values and (2) the intensity and frequency of their interaction. of their interaction.

The higher the level of social solidarity, the The higher the level of social solidarity, the more firmly anchored individuals are to the more firmly anchored individuals are to the social world and less likely to commit suicide social world and less likely to commit suicide if adversity strikes (to a point).if adversity strikes (to a point).

Durkheim’s Theory of Suicide

The Sociological The Sociological Explanation of Explanation of SuicideSuicide

(cont.)(cont.) Durkheim found that:Durkheim found that: Married adults were half as likely as Married adults were half as likely as

unmarried adults to commit suicide unmarried adults to commit suicide Women were less likely to commit Women were less likely to commit

suicide than men suicide than men Jews were less likely to commit Jews were less likely to commit

suicide than Christians suicide than Christians Elderly people were more prone than Elderly people were more prone than

young and middle-aged people to young and middle-aged people to commit suicidecommit suicide

Suicide Rate by Age Cohort and Sex in the US in 2005

The Sociological The Sociological ImaginationImagination

Sociologists call stable patterns of Sociologists call stable patterns of social relations social relations social structuressocial structures. .

C. Wright Mills called the ability to C. Wright Mills called the ability to see the connection between see the connection between personal troubles and social personal troubles and social structures thestructures the sociological sociological imaginationimagination

Social Structures Three levels of social structure that surround and Three levels of social structure that surround and

permeate us:permeate us:1.1. Microstructures: Microstructures: patterns of intimate social patterns of intimate social

relations.relations.2.2. Macrostructures: Macrostructures: patterns of social relations that lie patterns of social relations that lie

outside and above your circle of intimates and outside and above your circle of intimates and acquaintances. acquaintances. PatriarchyPatriarchy, which is the traditional system of economic and , which is the traditional system of economic and

political inequality between women and men in most societies.political inequality between women and men in most societies.

3.3. Global structures: Global structures: patterns of social relations that lie patterns of social relations that lie outside and above the national level.outside and above the national level.

““Sociological Imagination,”Sociological Imagination,” coined by C. Wright coined by C. Wright Mills, refers to the ability to see the connection Mills, refers to the ability to see the connection between personal troubles and social structures. between personal troubles and social structures.

Origins of the Sociological Origins of the Sociological ImaginationImagination

The sociological imagination was born in the The sociological imagination was born in the context of context of three modern revolutionsthree modern revolutions that that pushed people to think about society in new pushed people to think about society in new ways.ways.

1.1. The The Scientific RevolutionScientific Revolution (1550) suggested (1550) suggested that a science of society was possible.that a science of society was possible.

2.2. The The Democratic Revolution Democratic Revolution (1750)(1750) suggested suggested that people could intervene to improve society.that people could intervene to improve society.

3.3. The The Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution (1780s) presented (1780s) presented social thinkers with a host of pressing social social thinkers with a host of pressing social problems crying out for solution.problems crying out for solution.

They responded by giving birth to the They responded by giving birth to the Sociological Imagination.Sociological Imagination.

Sociological Theoretical Sociological Theoretical Schools and Their TheoristsSchools and Their Theorists FunctionalismFunctionalism

DurkheimDurkheim ParsonsParsons MertonMerton

Conflict TheoryConflict Theory MarxMarx WeberWeber Du BoisDu Bois C. Wright MillsC. Wright Mills

Symbolic Symbolic InteractionismInteractionism WeberWeber MeadMead GoffmanGoffman

Feminist TheoryFeminist Theory MartineauMartineau AddamsAddams

Features of Features of FunctionalismFunctionalism

1.1. Human behavior is governed by social Human behavior is governed by social structures.structures.

2.2. Theories show how social structures Theories show how social structures maintain or undermine social stability.maintain or undermine social stability.

3.3. Theories emphasize that social Theories emphasize that social structures are based on shared values. structures are based on shared values.

4.4. Suggests that reestablishing equilibrium Suggests that reestablishing equilibrium can best solve most social problems.can best solve most social problems.

Talcott ParsonsTalcott Parsons

A leading proponent of A leading proponent of functionalism.functionalism.

Argued that society is integrated Argued that society is integrated and in equilibrium when:and in equilibrium when: the family raises new generationsthe family raises new generations the military defends societythe military defends society schools teach students the skills schools teach students the skills

and values they need to function as and values they need to function as adultsadults

religions create a shared moral religions create a shared moral code among peoplecode among people

Robert MertonRobert Merton

Leading functionalist in the USLeading functionalist in the US Proposed that social structures may Proposed that social structures may

have different consequences for have different consequences for different groups.different groups. Some of those consequences may be Some of those consequences may be

disruptive or dysfunctional. disruptive or dysfunctional. Some functions are manifest, others Some functions are manifest, others

are latent.are latent.

Conflict TheoryConflict Theory

1.1. Focuses on macro-level structures, such Focuses on macro-level structures, such as “class relations”.as “class relations”.

2.2. Shows how major patterns of inequality Shows how major patterns of inequality produce stability in some circumstances produce stability in some circumstances and change in others.and change in others.

3.3. Stresses how members of privileged Stresses how members of privileged groups try to maintain advantages while groups try to maintain advantages while subordinate groups struggle to increase subordinate groups struggle to increase theirs. theirs.

4.4. Leads to the suggestion that eliminating Leads to the suggestion that eliminating privilege will lower the level of conflict privilege will lower the level of conflict and increase total human welfare.and increase total human welfare.

Karl MarxKarl Marx

Ideas revolves aroundIdeas revolves around class conflict, class conflict, defined defined as the struggle between classes to resist and as the struggle between classes to resist and over come the opposition of other classes.over come the opposition of other classes.

Marx argued that owners of industry, or Marx argued that owners of industry, or capitalists, focus on attempting to improve the capitalists, focus on attempting to improve the efficiency of work and earning higher profits.efficiency of work and earning higher profits.

This causes capitalists to concentrate workers This causes capitalists to concentrate workers in larger establishments, keep wages as low as in larger establishments, keep wages as low as possible, and invest little in improving working possible, and invest little in improving working conditions.conditions.

Marx felt that workers would eventually Marx felt that workers would eventually become aware of their exploited class, become aware of their exploited class, referred to as referred to as class consciousness.class consciousness.

Max WeberMax Weber

Weber pointed out flaws in Marx’s ideas.Weber pointed out flaws in Marx’s ideas. He noted that the rapid growth of the He noted that the rapid growth of the

service sector of the economy, with its many service sector of the economy, with its many nonmanual workers and professionals.nonmanual workers and professionals.

He argues many members of these He argues many members of these occupational groups stabilize society occupational groups stabilize society because they enjoy higher status and because they enjoy higher status and income than manual workers employed in income than manual workers employed in the manufacturing sector. the manufacturing sector.

Weber showed that politics and religion are Weber showed that politics and religion are also important sources of historical change.also important sources of historical change.

W.E.B. Du BoisW.E.B. Du Bois The first African American to receive a The first African American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard Ph.D. from Harvard He was a founder of the National Association He was a founder of the National Association

for the Advancement of Colored People for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and of the country’s second (NAACP) and of the country’s second Department of Sociology at Atlanta University Department of Sociology at Atlanta University in 1897. in 1897.

In In The Philadelphia Negro, The Philadelphia Negro, Du bois illustrates Du bois illustrates that social problems that African Americans that social problems that African Americans face were not due to some “natural” face were not due to some “natural” inferiority, but to white prejudice.inferiority, but to white prejudice.

He believed that the elimination of white He believed that the elimination of white prejudice would create more equality prejudice would create more equality between blacks and whites.between blacks and whites.

C. Wright MillsC. Wright Mills

Laid the foundation for modern Laid the foundation for modern conflict theory in the U.S. in the conflict theory in the U.S. in the 1950s. 1950s.

One of his most important books is One of his most important books is the the Power ElitePower Elite, where he argues , where he argues that power is highly concentrated in that power is highly concentrated in American society, which is therefore American society, which is therefore less of a democracy than we are less of a democracy than we are often lead to believe.often lead to believe.

Symbolic InteractionismSymbolic Interactionism

1.1. Focus on interpersonal communication in Focus on interpersonal communication in micro-level social settings.micro-level social settings.

2.2. Emphasis on social life as possible only Emphasis on social life as possible only because people attach meanings to things.because people attach meanings to things.

3.3. Stress the notion that people help create Stress the notion that people help create their social circumstances and do not merely their social circumstances and do not merely react to them. react to them.

4.4. Validation of unpopular and nonofficial Validation of unpopular and nonofficial viewpoints by focusing on the subjective viewpoints by focusing on the subjective meanings people create in small social meanings people create in small social settings. settings.

Feminist TheoryFeminist Theory

1.1. Focuses on patriarchy. Focuses on patriarchy. 2.2. Holds that male domination and Holds that male domination and

female subordination are determined female subordination are determined by power and social convention.by power and social convention.

3.3. Examines the operation of patriarchy Examines the operation of patriarchy in micro- and macro-level settings.in micro- and macro-level settings.

4.4. Patterns of gender inequality should Patterns of gender inequality should be changed for the benefit of all be changed for the benefit of all members of society. members of society.

The Research CycleThe Research Cycle

Ethics in Sociological Ethics in Sociological ResearchResearch

Researchers must respect their Researchers must respect their subjects’ rights to:subjects’ rights to: Safety Safety PrivacyPrivacy ConfidentialityConfidentiality Informed consentInformed consent

Steps of an ExperimentSteps of an Experiment

1.1. Selection of subjects. Selection of subjects.

2.2. Random assignment of subjects to Random assignment of subjects to experimentalexperimental and and controlcontrol groups. groups.

3.3. Measurement of dependent variable in Measurement of dependent variable in experimental and control groups.experimental and control groups.

4.4. Introduction of independent variable to Introduction of independent variable to experimental group. experimental group.

5.5. Remeasurement of dependent variable Remeasurement of dependent variable in experimental and control groups. in experimental and control groups.

6.6. Assessment of experimental effect.Assessment of experimental effect.

SurveysSurveys

SurveysSurveys ask people questions about ask people questions about their knowledge, attitudes, or behavior their knowledge, attitudes, or behavior either in a face-to-face interview either in a face-to-face interview telephone interview, or paper-and-pencil telephone interview, or paper-and-pencil format.format.

Sample: the part of the population of Sample: the part of the population of research interest that is selected for research interest that is selected for analysis.analysis.

Population: the entire group which the Population: the entire group which the researcher wishes to generalize. researcher wishes to generalize.

Field Research

Field researchField research is based on the observation of is based on the observation of people in their natural settings.people in their natural settings.

Problems with direct observation:Problems with direct observation: Reactivity – the presence of the researcher may Reactivity – the presence of the researcher may

itself affect the behavior of the people being itself affect the behavior of the people being observed.observed.

The The meaningmeaning of the observed behavior may remain of the observed behavior may remain obscure to the researcher.obscure to the researcher.

Participant observationParticipant observation research is when research is when researchers observe a social setting researchers observe a social setting systematically systematically andand take part in the activities of take part in the activities of the people they are studying.the people they are studying.

Analysis of Existing Analysis of Existing Documents And Official Documents And Official

StatisticsStatistics A nonreactive research method that A nonreactive research method that

involves the analysis of diaries, involves the analysis of diaries, newspapers, published historical newspapers, published historical works, and statistics produced by works, and statistics produced by government agencies, all of which government agencies, all of which are created by people other than the are created by people other than the researcher for purposes other than researcher for purposes other than sociological research.sociological research.

Postindustrial RevolutionPostindustrial Revolution

The technology-driven shift from The technology-driven shift from manufacturing to service industries manufacturing to service industries and the consequences of that shift and the consequences of that shift for virtually all human activities.for virtually all human activities.

GlobalizationGlobalization

The process by which formerly The process by which formerly separate economies, states, and separate economies, states, and cultures are becoming tied together cultures are becoming tied together and people are becoming and people are becoming increasingly aware of their growing increasingly aware of their growing interdependence. interdependence.

A Sociological CompassA Sociological Compass