Sociology

The study of people in groups Groups in the process of selfformation through the actions of individuals through the actions and forces of the groups themselves

The Study of People in Groups

The Scientific study of groups and group formation Groups, as collections of people in the process of self-definition

Scientific Study of Groups

Involves Methods of Study
Involves Theories of Study

METHODS of STUDY
Observation (obtrusive and unobtrusive) Surveys Experiments Historical Comparison Cross-Cultural Comparison Archival Research

Suspending Judgement
A key attitude in the study of society is the research approach called cultural relativism This is in contrast to the common approach, which views other cultures and societies from the point of view of ones own values and beliefs-- otherwise known as ethnocentrism

Theories of Study
Functionalism (and variations)
structuralism

Social Conflict Theory

Symbolic Interactionism

Gender Theory (Feminist Theory)

Functionalism
Social groups and society are viewed like living organisms groups and group processes are studied as parts of a functioning whole aspects and behaviors of society may have obvious (manifest) functions or hidden (latent) functions

Functionalism: Durkheim
Emile Durkheim: French Sociologist (1858-1917) Considered one of the fathers of modern sociology

Social Conflict Theory

Society is created from the ongoing conflict between key groups According to some theorists, these groups are the main economic classes of society these are made up of those who own the main wealth of society, and those who own little but their ability to labor

Social Conflict Theory:Marx

The main theorist representing this approach is Karl Marx (1818-1883) He saw society as being built out of the conflicting interests of the owner class and the working class In his view, the ensuing struggle between classes would lead to a classless society

Symbolic Interactionism
Symbols are the basis of social life Individuals and societies develop through peoples interaction through symbols Individuals develop a sense of themselves as they learn to use symbols Individuals develop a sense of themselves as they learn to see themselves the way they believe others see them

Symbolic Interactionists
Charles Horton Cooley (1864-1929)
George Herbert Mead (1863-1947)

Erving Goffman
The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life

Culture and Society

Material and Non-Material Culture Culture as Webs of Meaning ...As Blueprint of/for society Made up, as well, of norms, values, mores and folkways The culture of a society is passed on from one generation to the next

Culture and Society

The culture of any group is passed on from one generation to the next through ongoing, lifelong processes of socialization A related concept is enculturation Social members may even be resocialized in their lifetime if they do not conform to the values, mores, norms etc. of their group

Socialization
Socialization (enculturation) is a life-long process, that begins at birth We are first socialized by those who are closest to us in our early months and years This first development is called primary socialization Later we are socialized through our wider society, and this is called secondary socialization

Groups
Sociology is the study of groups of people in process of self-definition as groups A group is a collection of people (but not all collections of people are groups!) Sociology studies, among other things, how individuals impact and shape groups Sociology studies, as well, how groups impact and shape individuals

Groups: Common Terms

aggregate
category voluntary and involuntary groups reference groups peer groups primary and secondary groups

Groups: More Terms

status
achieved ascribed

roles in-group out-group

Formal Organizations
Formal organizations are usually largescale groups that have a planned focus and a clearly defined structure Such organizations are often referred to as bureaucracies Max Weber studied bureaucracies as ideal organizations of complex, modern society

Bureaucracies
According to Weber, bureaucracies represented the ideal organization of large-scale, modern society ....with such characteristics as the complex division of labor ...with a hierarchical structure of authority ...and a complex system of clear and predictable rules

Social Inequality
A persistent character of groups throughout the world is that of stratification
Stratification is the unequal division of societies

This division can be based on a variety of factors including:

Stratification:
Class...
Race...

Gender...
Power... Prestige...

Class: Marx
According to Marx (and other social conflict theorists) class is the division of societies into several main groups, including: ...those who own the productive wealth of society ...those who own only their labor (the workers)

Class: Marx
In this theory, this was the fundamental difference between the classes of industrial society ...and this division would eventually disappear as workers struggled for the power of the owner class

Class: Weber
According to Weber, the stratification of society was based on a broader range of factors, including ....wealth ....power ....prestige And one could have any one of these to be in a higher class..... (examples?)

Poverty Among the Stratified

Poverty is a persistent feature of stratification throughout the world
While many would argue about its very definition And many would argue about its real cause(s)

Relative and Absolute Poverty

Much of poverty in the world is what could be termed relative poverty....
While much of the world lives in absolute poverty... ...the latter being a state in which ones very survival is threatened by the lack of resources (eg. food, clothing, medical care etc.)

Causes of Poverty
Why does poverty persist in the world?
Functionalist view....

Social-conflict theory...
Social-interactionist theory...

Gender/Feminist theory...

Other Divisions: Race and Ethnicity

Race and ethnicity are also dividing factors in our society (and our wider world) Race is the social definition of people based one biological characteristics Ethnicity is the social definition of people based on cultural ties (like language, dress, customs, beliefs, etc.)

Race: Key Terms

Prejudice Discrimination Racism Social definition of Race Institutional Racism Minority Status

Race: More Key Terms

Genocide (ethnic cleansing) Expulsion Segregation (apartheid) Assimilation Amalgamation Cultural pluralism

Other Divisions: Gender

Sex: biological characteristics
xy/xx, hormones, primary and secondary sex characteristics

Gender: the social definition of groups based on biological characteristics.... (sound familiar? see the variation of this theme under race)

Gender: Nature vs. Nurture

How much of what we are as masculine
and feminine is

.....learned through socialization...

.....or built-in to us through our genes,

hormones and brain-structure?

Gender: biological destiny?

How much of the stratification of our society along gendered lines is natural-based on our biological make-up.... ....and how much is the result of social definition of opportunities etc. based on biological makeup....?

Gender: biological destiny?

the glass ceiling... female job-ghettos the feminization of poverty Are these natural divisions of the world?

Social Institutions
Society is in process of self-definition... As social practices of groups become familiar, accepted and expected they become what sociology calls institutions This refers to organized practices and relationships of society, rather than to physical places...

Social Institutions Include...

...family ...religion ...economics and politics ...education

Family: The way we never were...

The sociological study of family:
historical comparison...
Kodachrome...the good-old days...

cross-cultural comparison...
family values around the world...

family today: the ideal vs. the real

Religion= Primitive Science?

The enlightened view of religion...
science replacing religion the emergence of rational explanation of the world

Classifying the worlds cultures : from savagery to civilization? Sociologists get involved.....
Durkheim et. al

Religion vs. Science?

Is there necessarily any conflict between religion and science? examples of conflict in history....
the earth is the center of the universe there is no such thing as a vacuum God created man on the 7th day... not through evolution....

Religion vs. Science?

Why did such scientific assertions challenge religion? Do they necessarily undermine, or contradict religious beliefs and tradtitions? Today, does the sociological study of religion necessarily mean the rejection of religion?

Sociology and Religion: Which theory would say...

Religion dulls people to the reality of class conflict... Religion should be studied for the things it does for the cohesion of society... Religion should also be studied for its gendered character in history and contemporary society...

Deviance and Social Control

Remember... Sociology is the study of..... Groups in self-definition set boundaries...
who belongs who does not

This is done by the way people talk, dress, behave etc.

Deviance and Social Control

Deviance is relative to values of the wider society.... How is this so?
or.... if a deviant fell in the woods, and nobody was around to hear this....

Deviant behavior and beliefs often find their way, eventually, into mainstream society:
or... underwear as outerwear....

Deviance and Social Control

Deviant behavior today may also have been accepted social practice in the past... spare the rod and avoid the DCYF no smoking! you @#@!@!##@ opium under the Pastors porch...

Which theory would....

...See deviance as the definition of the powerful in a society? ...See deviance as learned through processes of seeing oneself in relation to others and their expectations? ...See deviance as having some positive functions in society, as well as being a sign of the malfunction or dysfunction of society?

A Rap on Deviance
The latent and manifest functions of parental advisorystickers But isnt Rap just missing a C? Rap... In context of history.... A conflict of power in history and contemporary society?

U.S. Income Distribution

43 42 41 40 39 38 37 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 Top 5th

U.S. Income Distribution

45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 Top 5th Fourth 5th

U.S. Income Distribution

45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 Top 5th Fourth 5th Third 5th

U.S. Income Distribution

45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 Top 5th Fourth 5th Third 5th Second 5th

U.S. Income Distribution

45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 Top 5th Fourth 5th Third 5th Second 5th Bottom 5th