HOLT, RINEHART HOLT, RINEHART ANDAND WINSTON WINSTONHOLT, RINEHART HOLT, RINEHART ANDAND WINSTON WINSTON1

THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPSTHE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPSSOCIOLOGYSOCIOLOGY

CHAPTER 1

The Sociological Point of View

Section 1: Examining Social LifeSection 1: Examining Social Life

Section 2: Sociology: Then and NowSection 2: Sociology: Then and Now

HOLT, RINEHART HOLT, RINEHART ANDAND WINSTON WINSTONHOLT, RINEHART HOLT, RINEHART ANDAND WINSTON WINSTON2

THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPSTHE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPSSOCIOLOGYSOCIOLOGY

Objectives: Describe what sociology is and explain what it Describe what sociology is and explain what it

means to have a sociological imagination.means to have a sociological imagination. Explain how sociology is similar to and Explain how sociology is similar to and

different from other social sciences.different from other social sciences.

Section 1: Examining Social Life

HOLT, RINEHART HOLT, RINEHART ANDAND WINSTON WINSTONHOLT, RINEHART HOLT, RINEHART ANDAND WINSTON WINSTON3

THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPSTHE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPSSOCIOLOGYSOCIOLOGY

Sociology and a Sociological Imagination SociologySociology is the social science that studies is the social science that studies

human society and social behaviorhuman society and social behavior A A sociological imaginationsociological imagination is the ability to see is the ability to see

the connection between the larger world and the connection between the larger world and one’s personal lifeone’s personal life

Section 1: Examining Social Life

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THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPSTHE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPSSOCIOLOGYSOCIOLOGY

Comparing Sociology to Other Social Sciences SIMILAR:SIMILAR: examines the relations between examines the relations between

society and culture, the individual economics, society and culture, the individual economics, politics, and past events which are all the focus politics, and past events which are all the focus of one or more of the social sciencesof one or more of the social sciences

DIFFERENT:DIFFERENT: sociologists are mainly sociologists are mainly interested in social interaction and tend to interested in social interaction and tend to focus on the group rather than the individualfocus on the group rather than the individual

Section 1: Examining Social Life

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THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPSTHE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPSSOCIOLOGYSOCIOLOGY

Objectives:

Describe how the field of sociology Describe how the field of sociology developed.developed.

Explain how the focuses of the three main Explain how the focuses of the three main theoretical perspectives in sociology differ.theoretical perspectives in sociology differ.

Section 2: Sociology: Then and Now

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THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPSTHE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPSSOCIOLOGYSOCIOLOGY

The Development of Sociology

The rapid social and political changes that took place in The rapid social and political changes that took place in Europe as a result of the Industrial RevolutionEurope as a result of the Industrial Revolution

Rapid growth of urban populations produced a multitude of Rapid growth of urban populations produced a multitude of social problemssocial problems

Over time, it became more difficult to ignore the effect of Over time, it became more difficult to ignore the effect of society on the individualsociety on the individual

Sweeping political, social, and economic changes caused some Sweeping political, social, and economic changes caused some scholars to question the traditional explanations of life and scholars to question the traditional explanations of life and attempted to prove their beliefs using a variety of methodsattempted to prove their beliefs using a variety of methods

Section 2: Sociology: Then and Now

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THE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPSTHE STUDY OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPSSOCIOLOGYSOCIOLOGY

Three Main Theoretical Perspectives Differ in Focus FUNCTIONALISTSFUNCTIONALISTS – see society as a set of interrelated parts – see society as a set of interrelated parts

that work together to produce a stable social system; focus on that work together to produce a stable social system; focus on functions and dysfunctionsfunctions and dysfunctions

CONFLICT THEORISTSCONFLICT THEORISTS – focus on forces in society that – focus on forces in society that promote competition and change; see social change as an promote competition and change; see social change as an inevitable feature of societyinevitable feature of society

INTERACTIONISTSINTERACTIONISTS – focus on how individuals interact in – focus on how individuals interact in society and on the meanings individuals attach to their own society and on the meanings individuals attach to their own and to other’s actionsand to other’s actions

Section 2: Sociology: Then and Now