Presentations for the Classroom

1
Chapter 3
The Sociological Perspective

• Sociology is the scientific study of social
  structure.
• Sociologists look for the patterns in social
  relationships.
• When you understand that your own behavior is
  partly determined by the groups you belong to,
  you are using your sociological imagination.
• You can benefit from this understanding when you
  look at how and why you make certain choices.

2
Chapter 4
What is gained by using our sociological
imagination?

• an understanding of the effects of events on our
  daily lives
• an improved ability to make decisions, rather
  than just conform

3
Chapter 4b
The sociological imagination

• questions common interpretations of human social
  behavior and
• challenges conventional social wisdom

sociological imagination the ability to see the
link between society and self
Definitions sociological imagination conventional
social wisdom
4
Chapter 4c
The sociological imagination

• questions common interpretations of human social
  behavior and
• challenges conventional social wisdom

conventional social wisdom ideas people assume
are true
Definitions sociological imagination conventional
social wisdom
5
Chapter 4d
Illiteracy Rates
Nearly all American adults know how to read and
write. The map shows the percentage of
Americans over 20 years old who are illiterate.

• Is conventional social wisdom about illiteracy
  rates really wise or true? Support your answer.

6
Chapter 5
A perspective is a particular point of view or a
particular way of looking at an issue.
7
Chapter 8
Social structure is the patterned interaction of
people in social relationships.
Example Although the personal characteristics of
students and teachers vary from school to school,
students and teachers relate in similar patterned
ways.
8
Chapter 10
The Origins of Sociology

• Sociology is a young science.
• It grew out of the writings of European scholars
  who were interested in bringing back a sense of
  community to society in the late 1800s.
• After World War II, America took the lead in
  developing the field of sociology.
• The majority of all sociologists are from the
  United States.

9
Chapter 11
Time Line of Early Sociologists
?
1959
C. Wright Mills publishes Sociological
Imagination
?
1931
Jane Addams awarded Nobel Peace Prize
?
1904
Max Weber publishes The Protestant Ethic and the
Spirit of Capitalism
?
1899
W.E.B. DuBois publishes The Philadelphia Negro A
Social Study
?
1897
Emile Durkheim publishes Suicide
?
1850
Herbert Spencer publishes Social Statics
?
1848
Karl Marx publishes The Communist Manifesto,
promoting a classless society
?
1838
Auguste Comtes book, Positive Philosophy,
identifies science of sociology
?
Harriet Martineau publishes Society in America
1837
Select a sociologist, by clicking on their name,
and view their contributions..
10
Chapter 11a
Jane Addams early American sociologist

• 18601935
• social reformer
• co-founded Hull House in Chicago slums
• awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, 1931
• focused on problems caused by imbalance of power
  among social classes
• active in womens suffrage and peace movements

11
Chapter 11b
Auguste Comteearly French sociologist

• 17981857
• father of sociology
• first to advocate the scientific study of society
• positivism science based on knowledge of which
  we can be positive
• distinguished between social stability (statics)
  and social change (dynamics)

12
Chapter 11c
W.E.B. DuBoisearly American sociologist

• 18681963
• African American educator and social activist
• focused on the question of race inside and
  outside the United States
• analyzed social structure of African American
  communities
• active in Pan African movement, concerned with
  rights of all African descendents

13
Chapter 11d
Emile Durkheimearly French sociologist

• 18581917
• first used statistical methods in study of human
  groups
• first to teach university sociology course
• showed human behavior to be explained by social
  factors rather than psychological ones

14
Chapter 11e
Harriet Martineauearly English sociologist

• 18021876
• emphasized sociology as a science
• translated Comtes Positive Philosophy
• introduced feminism into sociology
• strong and outspoken supporter of both women and
  slaves

15
Chapter 11f
Karl Marxearly German sociologist

• 18181883
• guided by principle that social scientists should
  try to change the world rather than merely study
  it
• emphasized the role of class conflict in social
  change
• writings were later used as a basis for communism

16
Chapter 11g
C. Wright Millsearly American sociologist

• 19171962
• called the personal use of sociology the
  sociological imagination
• first described emergence of strong middle class
  (White Collar, 1951)
• published Power Elite, (1956)
• father of student movement of 1960s

17
Chapter 11h
Herbert Spencerearly English sociologist

• 18201903
• early proponent of Social Darwinism
• opposed social reform it interfered with process
  of natural selection
• compared society to human body composed of parts
  working together to promote its well-being

18
Chapter 11i
Max Weberearly German sociolgist

• 18641920
• developed the concept of verstehen understanding
  social behavior by putting yourself in the place
  of others
• identified rationalization as key to change from
  preindustrial to industrial society
• pioneered techniques to prevent personal biases
  in research

19
Chapter 14
A theoretical perspective is

• a set of assumptions about an area of study, in
  this case about the workings of society
• viewed as true by its supporters and it helps
  them organize their research

20
Chapter 13a
Theoretical Perspectives Functionalism
Emphasizes the contributions made by each part of
society

• Society is a relatively integrated whole.
• Society tends to seek relative stability.

• Most aspects of a society contribute to the
  societys well-being and survival.
• Society rests on the voluntary participation of
  its members.

21
Chapter 13b
Theoretic Perspective Conflict perspective
Emphasizes the role of conflict, competition,
change, and constraint within a society

• Society experiences inconsistency and conflict
  everywhere.
• Society is continually subjected to change.
• Society involvesthe constraint and coercion of
  somemembers by others.

22
Chapter 13c
Theoretical Perspective Symbolic interactionism
Focuses on the interactions among people based on
mutually understood symbols.

• People learn to interpret the meanings of symbols
  from others.
• People base their interaction on their
  interpretations of symbols.
• Symbols permit people to predict the behavior
  expected of them.

23
Chapter 15
Which perspective is the best?
There is no better theoretical perspective.

• Each perspective highlights certain areas of
  social life.
• The advantages of one perspective are the
  disadvantages of another.
• Certain issues and problems are best understood
  from a particular perspective.