Notes: sociology, the scientific study of social relationships, institutions, and societies
Sociological Perspective: the process of understanding and explaining how individuals and groups interact within society (HP).
Social Structures: the distinctive and stable arrangements of social patterns that form the society as a whole (HP).
Social Problems: societal conditions that harm segments of society (HP).
Sociological Imagination: the ability to see the details of our own lives in the context of larger social structures as opposed to merely personal choices or personal troubles (HP).
Social Change: the forces that change society’s organization and social structures (HP)
Three basic social theories emerged, providing the fundamental elements of the sociological perspective. The theories are titled Conflict, Functionalist, and Symbolic Interactionism.
Conflict, Focuses on the macro level of analysis and on class struggles and exploitation within society, institutions, and organizations.
Functionalist, Focuses on a macro-level analysis and how the parts of society serve to maintain stability. Each part serves a function within society such as the role of government, education, and religion.
Symbolic Focuses on the micro level of analysis and how society is the product of interactions between people, which occur via symbols such as language, gestures, and other subjective actions that have distinct meanings
social facts — social patterns that are external to individuals and greatly influence our way of thinking and behaving in society. These social patterns provide social constraints and exercise power over individuals.
verstehen (vûrst e hen), an empathetic approach to understanding human behavior, loosely translated as understanding or interpretation
eminist theory, a view on anti-oppression, gender relations, and gender inequality, evolved from the conflict theory and is an important contemporary sociological perspective.
applied sociology, the use of sociological theory, research, and methodologies to find solutions to problems in society
queer theory, a critical view that rejects the traditional categories of gender, sex, and sexuality in contemporary society.
postmodern social theory, a critical view rejecting the historical, scientific, and structured means of investigating and interpreting the social world.
Michel Foucault, Jean Baudrillard, and Jean-Francois Lyotard are largely responsible for promoting this new social theory that rejects the idea of positivism and the structured and systematic approaches found within traditional sociological theories
rationalization of society, the replacement of traditional values and personal connections with bureaucracy, efficiency, and a means-end approach
These are the common characteristics and functions of social structures:
-organizes behaviors of large groups of people
-capable of coercing individuals and groups
-provides norms, rules, and practices
-assigns roles and powers to individuals and groups
-encompasses large geographical areas
Harriet Martineau (1802-1876), an Englishwoman and the first female sociologist, visited the U.S. for a period of two years and later published Society in America (1837), which detailed American social structures, such as the political system, government, economy, and religion, questioned whether Americans actually demonstrated observable social patterns of behavior that matched the espoused value system.
Jane Addams: The Hull House a settlement house that provided social services primarily for immigrants in Chicago
W. E. B. Du Bois: A Civil Rights Activist and Scholar, was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University (1895) and co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Robert Merton: A Functionalist Sociologist, published Social Theory and Social Structure (Merton 1968), which partly focuses on defining and categorizing bureaucratic structures.
bureaucracy — a hierarchical authority structure that uses task specialization, operates on the merit principle, and behaves with impersonality
red tape — adherence to excessive regulation and conformity that prevents decision-making and change (C-19) — occurring in government and large corporations.
social problems, the societal conditions that harm segments of society, become less about personal feelings and more about measurable, evidence-based reality. Sociology can help you understand social problems by:
measuring objective conditions — the scope of a problem
measuring subjective concerns — people’s feelings about a problem (C-19)
evaluating the context within which the problem exists
identifying potential policy solutions to the problem
human trafficking, a situation in which a person is smuggled, abused, and forced to work against their will for the economic gain of another.
Fair Trade, an organizational movement and certification process to help producers in developing countries receive a fair price for their products with the goals of reducing poverty, providing for the ethical treatment of workers and farmers, and promoting environmentally sustainable practices.
sustainability, the idea that current and future generations should have equal or greater access to social, economic, and environmental resources because the farms and cooperatives involved seek greater equity in international trade by eliminating the intermediary broker or “middleman.”
sustainable development, development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, by offering more social resources for the marginalized growers and producers.
social inequality, the unequal distribution of power, property, or prestige in society.
the quality of an individual’s health is impacted by their financial resources. The more money a person has, the greater access they have to high-quality doctors and hospitals.
plays a role not only in the rates of teen pregnancy in poor countries and communities but also in the teens’ ability to care for their babies after they are born.
sociological imagination, the ability to see the details of our own lives in the context of larger social structures as opposed to merely personal choices or personal troubles
Personal troubles, matters experienced at the individual level, are limited to areas of the social life of which you are directly and personally aware
public issue, a matter that impacts society as a whole.
anomie, the breakdown of social values, norms, and order resulting in social instability, offers an effective tool to understand New Yorkers’ experience from a sociological perspective
social change, the forces that change the organization and the social structures of society.
globalization, the worldwide integration of our cultural, economic, and political lives that results from ever-increasing levels of business, trade, and technology.
pros: Job opportunities and global economic development.
Developments in innovation and technology, as well as knowledge sharing between businesses and countries.
Societies sharing culture and developments in innovation and technology, as well as knowledge sharing between businesses and countries.
Cons: The movement of jobs from developed nations to developing nations means more unemployment.
Economic inequality and poor working conditions, resulting from efforts to keep manufacturing costs low.
The relocation of the skilled labor force in pursuit of jobs, an increase in deadly diseases due to travel between countries, and an increase in illegal trade.
applied sociology, the use of sociological theory, research, and methodologies to find solutions to problems in society.