CONSIDER:If sociology is the study of groups—how

they are formed and how they change—and with the actions of individuals within these groups, THEN

What topics will be addressed in the study of sociology? (Please Answer)

What is studied in sociology?Given the list of topics that may be studied in sociology, what questions might be asked about these topics?

YOUR TASK:In groups, create a list of questions that may be asked about your topic in relation to the study of sociology?

What is Sociology?Sociology – the study of groups—how they are

formed and how they change—and with the actions of individuals within these groups

Groups – can range from individual family to an entire society

Social Structure – the patterned interaction of people in social relationships

Categories of people will interact in the same patterned way or relationship regardless of time or location

When studying groups, sociologists are attempting to answer 4 basic questions:

1. How much of human behavior is inherited?

2. How much of human behavior is learned?

3. How much is human behavior determined by the individual?

4. How much is human behavior determined by the group?

In the study of sociology, how is information gathered?Social facts are any social activity or

situation that can be observed and measured.

• Examples of social facts could be:attendance at sporting events, crime patterns, patterns of religious affiliation, marriage rates, unemployment and underemployment rates, patterns of educational level reached

ConformityWhat is conformity?

acting according to certain accepted standards

ConformityWhy do people conform?

Emotional response, such as joy or fear

Acceptance into groupShared values with group

Sociology and ConformityHow understanding conformity contribute to the study of sociology?

Sociological AssumptionsPeople do not make decisions in isolation rather they value the attitudes of the group

People base decisions on the norms and values of groups

People will conform to match group behavior.

What is the purpose of studying sociology?

How does group behavior influence individual behavior , or cause an individual to conform?

How does the group change behavior over time?

How can the group be used to change or influence individual behavior?

How do events effect individual’s daily lives?How do events and group behavior help a

person make decisions about his/her own life?

Theoretical PerspectivesTheoretical perspective a set of assumptions accepted as true, or an area of study

The way you interpret and understand the meaning of an image or event

In sociology, theoretical perspectives are assumptions on how society should be studied

FunctionalismDefinition:

Approach that emphasizes the contributions made by each part of society

Example: Family, economy and religion are “parts” of a society and each contributes to other “parts” of society

How does theory explain change in society?A change in one part of society can lead to

change in another part of societySociety tends to return to a state of stability

after some upheaval has occurred

Conflict Perspective

Symbolic InteractionismDefinition

the approach that focuses on the interactions among people based on mutually understood symbols

How does theory explain change in society?Symbolic Interactionism Assumption #1 we learn the

meaning of a symbol from the way we see others reacting to it

Symbolic Interactionism Assumption #2 we base our behavior or interaction based on the meanings of symbols

Symbolic Interactionism Assumption #3 we use the meanings of symbols to imagine how others will respond to our behavior