In this chapter we

1
Chapter 1. Sociological Perspective
In this chapter we will learn
1. The major concepts of Sociology 2. The
benefits of learning and applying
Sociological Perspective 3. The origins of
Sociology and main Sociologists 4. Three
important Theories/Paradigms 5. Apply these
three paradigms as the framework to
analyze social phenomena domestically and
globally 6. Some Vocabularies of
Sociology
2
3 major inquiries
1. What is sociology?-Sociological
Perspective/Sociological Imagination
2. Why do we study Sociology/ What are the
benefits of studying Sociology
3. How to study Sociology? Sociological
research methods.
3
What is sociology? Systematic/scientific study
social interactions of social behavioral patterns
and human groups. It primarily focuses on 1. The
influence of social relationships upon
humans attitudes and behavior 2. How
societies/social structures are established
and change. The application 1. Sociological
Perspective which is seeing the general
in the particular and seeing the strange in
the familiar to understand human society 2.
Sociological imagination see individual in
larger social context.
C. Wright Mills
4
Why do we study Sociology-Objectives 1. Help
us access the truth of commonly held
assumption 2. Prompts us to access both the
opportunities and the constrains that
characterize our lives 3. Empowers us to
participate actively 4. Helps us recognize human
variety and confront the challenges of living
in a diverse world
5
How do we study Sociology?
The 3 major Sociological
Theories/Paradigms 1.The
Structural-Functional Paradigm
2.Social-conflict Paradigm
3.Symbolic-interaction Paradigm
A. Dramaturgical analysis
B. Social Exchange theory
6
1.The Structural-Functional
Paradigm a. Level Macro
b. Image of Society A
system of interrelated parts that is
relatively stable because each part
has a particular function in society
as a whole. Influential Sociologists
August Comte, Emile Durkheim,
Herber Spencer, Talcott Parsons,
and Robert Merton Manifest
function, Latent Function and
dysfunction.
7
2.Social-conflict Paradigm a. Level
Macro b. Image of Society A system
based on social inequality each
part of society benefits some categories
of people more than others social
inequality leads to conflict which, in
turn, leads to social change. Influential
Sociologists Karl Marx, W. Du Bois
8
False consciousness
9
3. Symbolic-Interaction Paradigm a. Level
Micro b. Image of Society An ongoing process
of social interaction in specific settings
based on symbolic communications
Individual perceptions of reality are
variable and changing. Influential
Sociologists Max Weber, George Herbert Mead,
George Homans, Peter Blau, and Iving Goffman
10
A. Dramaturgical Analysis a. Level Micro b.
Image of Society We resemble actors on a stage
as we play out various roles.
B. Social Exchange Paradigm a. Level Micro b.
Image of Society Social interaction is guided
by what each person stands to gain or lose
from others.
11
Exchange Example-To marry OR not to Marry
Units of Pleasure
Units of Pleasure
If I marry
If I dont marry
!. A secure sex life 2. But no playing the
field 3. The joy of children 4. The expense
of children 5. Companionship in old age 6.
Responsibilities, ties, burdens The
utility of marrying
1. Freedom to enter new relationship 2.
Loneliness 3. No children, nor
grandchildren 4. But no responsibilities 5.
No ties to hold me in one job, one
place 6. But no roots, no one who really
cares whether I live or die The utility
of marrying
1. 500 2. -300 3. 1000 4. 400 5. -500 6.
300 300
1. 1000 2. -300 3. 700 4. -500 5. 400 6.
-600 700
700 is greater than 300, Therefore-------
12
Concepts and Glossary 1.Positivism/ an approach
to understanding the world based on science,
e.g., empiricism 2.Social Structure relatively
stable patterns of social behavior. 3. Social
function the consequences of any social pattern
for the operation of society 4. Manifest
functions the recognized and intended
consequences of a social pattern 5. Latent
functions the unrecognized and unintended
consequences of a social pattern 6. Social
dysfunction the undesirable consequence of any
social pattern of the operation of society
13
Summary 1.Society affects every aspect of our
lives. Studying Sociology with the global
awareness helps us better understand ourselves
and other people. 2.Sociology arose in
reaction to rapid social change in Europe during
the 18th and 19th centuries. In particular, the
rise of an industrial economy, the explosive
growth of cites, and the emergence of new
political ideas focused peoples attention on how
society operates. In 1838, Auguste Comte coined
Sociology as the name of this young
discipline which applied scientific methods to
understand what society is instead of as the
earlier social thinkers focusing on what
society ought to be. 3.Social marginality
enables people to perceive the effects of
society. Social crisis foster individuals
sociological thinking. 4. A theory weaves
observations into insight and understanding.
Sociologists use theoretical paradigms to
construct theories.
14
How would we look at terrorism from sociological
paradigms or sociological imagination- for
example, the 911 catastrophe of hijacking and
destructive events on world trade center and
Pentagon?
Terrorism random acts of violence or the threat
of such violence used by an individual or group
as a political strategy.
15
Like revolution, terrorism is a political act
beyond the rules of established political
systems. According Paul Johnson, terrorism has 4
distinguishing characteristics. 1. Terrorists try
to paint violence as a legitimate political
tactics, despite that fact that such acts are
condemned by many nations. Terrorists also by
pass (or are excluded from ) established channels
of political negotiation. Terror is, therefore a
weak organizations strategy to harm a stronger
foe. Ex. 1998 U.S. embassies were attacked.
(7,000 attacks since 1985) 2. Terrorism is
employed not just by groups but also by
government against their own people-state
terrorism. 3. Democratic societies reject
terrorism in principle, but they are especially
vulnerable to terrorists because they afford
extensive civil liberties to their people and
have less extensive police networks. 4.
Terrorism is always a matter of definition.
16
Hostage taking and outright killing provoke
popular anger, but responding to such acts is
difficult. Before taking action, a government
must identify those responsible. However, because
most terrorist groups are shadowy organizations
with no formal connection to any established
state, a reprisal may be difficult or impossible.
As, terrorism expert Brian Jenkins warns, the
failure to respond encourages other terrorist
groups, who begin to realize that this can be a
pretty cheap way to wage war. At the same time,
a forcible military reaction to terrorism may
risk confrontation with other governments.
17
Religion
Education
Politics
Organization
Socialization
Family
Terrorism
Media
Economy
Competition/cooperation, conflict, social
stratification and social change
Cultural, structural and situational factors
affecting such experiences
18
How would we look at sport from sociological
perspective/imagination- for example, Football?
1. The relationships between sport and other
spheres of social life, such as family,
education, politics, the economy, the media,
and religion
2. The social organization, group behavior, and
social interaction patterns that exist within
sport settings
3. The cultural, structural, and situational
factors affecting sport and sport experiences
4. The social processes that occur in conjuction
with sport, processes such as socialization,
competition, corporation, conflict, social
stratification, and social change.
19
Religion
Education
Politics
Organization
Socialization
Sport- Football
Family
Media
Economy
Competition/cooperation, conflict, social
stratification and social change
Cultural, structural and situational factors
affecting sport and sport experiences
20
One more example Analyzing the concept and
practice of Jobs Three theoretical paradigms in
action. Similarly, apply three paradigms to
investigate the following phenomena 1. The
functions of Jobs 2. Jobs and Conflict 3. Jobs as
Interaction
21
A glance at our Global Village

• If we could shrink the
  Earths population to a
  village of precisely 100 peoplewith
  all existing human ratios remaining the
  same, it would look like this
• 1. There would be 57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 14
  from the Western Hemisphere (North and South)
  and 8 African.
• 2. 51 would be female 49 would be male
• 3. 70 would be non-Christian 30 Christian
• 4. 70 would be non-white 30 white
• 5. 50 of the entire worlds wealth would be in
  the hands of only
• 6. people, and all 6 would be citizens of the
  United States.
• 6. 80 would live in substandard housing.
• 7. 70 would be unable to read. 8. 50 would suffer
  from malnutrition.
• 9. 1 would be near death, 1 would be near birth.
• 10.Only 1 would have a college education, and no
• one would own a computer.