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SOCIOLOGY
RICHARD T. SCHAEFER

1 Understanding
Sociology

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1. UNDERSTANDING
SOCIOLOGY
What is Sociology?
What is Sociological Theory?
The Development of Sociology
Major Theoretical Perspectives
Developing a Sociological Imagination
Sociology in the Global Economy
Applied and Clinical Sociology
McGraw-Hill 2007 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?
Sociology
Systematic study of social behavior and
human groups

Influence of social relationships

How those relationships influence
behavior
How societies develop and change

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WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?
The Sociological Imagination

Awareness of relationship between an

individual and the wider society (C.
Wright Mills)
Ability to view ones society as an
outsider, rather than from perspective of
our limited experiences and cultural
biases
Goes beyond personal experiences and
observations
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WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?
Sociology and the Social Sciences
Science: body of knowledge
obtained by methods based on
systematic observation
Natural Science: study of physical
features of nature and ways they
interact and change
Social Science: study of social
features of humans and ways they
interact and
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WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?
Sociology and the Social Sciences
Emphasizes the influence that society has on people's attitudes and
behavior and the ways in which people interact and thereby shape
society

Sociology and Common Sense

Sociologists test and analyze
information they use

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WHAT IS SOCIOLOGICAL
THEORY?
Theory

Set of statements that seeks to

explain problems, actions, or
behavior
Effective theories have explanatory
and predictive power
Theories never a final statement about
human behavior

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THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SOCIOLOGY
Early Thinkers
Auguste Comte (17981857)

Coined sociology to apply to the science

of human behavior
Harriet Martineau (18021876)
Studied social behavior in Britain and U. S
Emphasized impact economy, law, trade,
health, and population could have on
social problems

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THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SOCIOLOGY
Early Thinkers
Herbert Spencer (18201903)

Studied evolutionary change in society

mile Durkheim (18581917)
Developed fundamental thesis to help
explain all society
Anomie: loss of direction felt in a society
when social control of individual behavior
has become ineffective
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THANK YOU!!!

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THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SOCIOLOGY
Max Weber (18641920)
To fully comprehend behavior, we
must learn subjective meanings
people attach to their actions, called
Vertehen
Ideal Type: construct or model for
evaluating specific cases

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THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SOCIOLOGY
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
Society fundamentally divided
between two classes that clash in
pursuit of their own interests
Worked with Engles
Emphasized group identification and
associations that influence ones place in
society
Argued working class should overthrow
the existing class system
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THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SOCIOLOGY
Modern Developments
Charles Horton Cooley (18641929)

Increased understanding of groups of

relatively small size
Jane Addams (18601935)
Combined intellectual inquiry, social
service work, and political activism

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THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SOCIOLOGY
Modern Developments
Robert Merton (19402003)

Created theory of deviant behavior

Emphasized sociology should use macro-
level and micro-level approaches

Macrosociology:
Microsociology:concentrates onoflarge-scale
stresses study small
phenomena or entire civilizations
groups, often through experimental means

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THANK YOU!!!

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MAJOR THEORETICAL
PERSPECTIVES
Functionalist Perspective
Emphasizes ways parts of a society are structured to maintain its
stability

Manifest
Latent Functions:
Functions: institutionsor
unconscious
Dysfunctions:
are open, element
stated, or process
conscious
unintended functions that may
of a society that may actually
reflect hidden purposesintended,
functions that involve of an
disrupt the
recognized, social system
consequences orofdisrupt
an
institution
it stability
aspect of society

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MAJOR THEORETICAL
PERSPECTIVES
Conflict Perspective
Assumes social behavior is best
understood in terms of conflict or
tension between competing groups
The Marxist View: conflict not merely
a class phenomenon, but part of
everyday life in all societies

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MAJOR THEORETICAL
PERSPECTIVES
Conflict Perspective
An African American View: W. E. B.
DuBois
Conducted research to assist the struggle
for a racially egalitarian society
Believed knowledge essential to
combating prejudice and achieving
tolerance and justice
In-depth studies of urban life

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MAJOR THEORETICAL
PERSPECTIVES
Feminist Perspective
Views inequity in gender as central to
all behavior and organization
Sometimes allied with conflict theory

Also focuses on macro-level

relationships, just as interactionists do

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MAJOR THEORETICAL
PERSPECTIVES
Interactionist Perspective
Generalizes about everyday forms of
social interaction to understand
society as a whole
Sociological framework for viewing
humans as living in a world of
meaningful objects
Nonverbal communication: can include many
gestures, facial expressions, and postures

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MAJOR THEORETICAL
PERSPECTIVES
Interactionist Perspective
George Herbert Mead (18631931)

Erving Goffman (19221982)

Dramaturgical approach:
people seen as theatrical
performers

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MAJOR THEORETICAL
PERSPECTIVES
Table 1-1 Comparing Major Theoretical Perspectives

Table to be continued on next slide

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MAJOR THEORETICAL
PERSPECTIVES
Table 1-1 Comparing Major Theoretical Perspectives

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MAJOR THEORETICAL
PERSPECTIVES
The Sociological Approach
Gain broadest understanding of
society by drawing on all major
perspectives, noting where they
overlap or where they diverge
Each perspective offers unique
insights into the same issue
A researchers work always will be
guided by his or her theoretical
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APPLIED AND CLINICAL

SOCIOLOGY
Applied Sociology: discipline of sociology with
specific intent of yielding practical applications for
human behavior and organizations

Clinical Sociology: dedicated to altering social

relationships or to restructuring social institutions

Basic Sociology: seeks more profound knowledge of

the fundamental aspects of social phenomenon

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 Slide 26

THANK YOU!!!

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