Developing a Sociological

Consciousness

Sociology 10-Introduction to Sociology
Discussion Outline
Defining Sociology and the Sociological Perspective
The Sociological Imagination and Levels of Analysis
Small group discussion
The Development of Sociology
Historical Underpinnings and founders
Theoretical Perspectives

What is Sociology?
What is the concept of free-will?
Agency vs. Structure
What determines an individuals behavior?
Agency-making individual choices based on free-will

Structure-cultural and structural influences operate in
the decision making process
How society is organized
Society is patterned
1-6
Developing a
Sociological Consciousness
: scientific study of social interactions
and social organization
Rigorous and systematic
Basic or applied research
Central to world health and
science agenda
Powerful scientific tool
The Sociological Perspective
The Sociological Imagination
C. Wright Mills
Levels of Analysis
Macro sociology - Looks at the "big picture" of society
and suggests how society is affected at the institutional
level.


Micro sociology - Concerned with the social
psychological dynamics of individuals interacting in small
groups.
II. The Development of Sociology
18
th
century
Political Revolutions
Industrial Revolution
The Enlightenment
Before social science and the enlightenment, who
had the authority to say what was right and wrong
regarding social issues?



Auguste Comte (1798 1857)

The father of sociology
Argued for the empirical study of society and
social statics and dynamics
The Big Three
Karl Marx
Emile Durkheim
Max Weber

Other voices were silenced, excluded and
marginalized

Who? Why?
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
Society fundamentally divided between two classes
that clash in pursuit of their own interests

Economic determinist

**What did Marx see as the solution
to the evils of capitalism?
1-13
mile Durkheim (1858 1916)
Social integration: density of social relationships in a
collection of people

Social Solidarity

Suicide (1897/1951)
1-14

Max Weber (1864 1920)

Verstehen: study of human subjectivity

Importance of a value-free sociology
Theory
A theory is a set of statements that explains
why a particular phenomena happens
Theories can be viewed as tools or lenses through
which individuals view society and, in this case,
the family.
Theories differ
Primary Sociological Theories
Structural Functionalism-Macro Level
Conflict Theory-Macro Level
Symbolic Interactionism-Micro Level
Feminist theories-Macro/Micro Level
Functionalism
Society is a complex social system of
interdependent parts that work together to
ensure a societys survival.
Based off work of Durkheim
Functions are purposes and activities to meet
different needs that contribute to a societys
stability
Manifest Functions
Latent Functions
Crime? Schools?
Conflict Theory
Conflict theory examines the ways in which
groups disagree, struggle over power, and
compete for scarce resources.
Based off of work of Karl Marx
Marx predicted that conflict would result from
widespread economic inequality.
The haves dominate in social, political and economic
activities over the have-nots

Conflict Theory-Karl Marx
Industrialization leads to two classes: the
bourgeoisie, or the owners of the means of
production; and the proletariat, or the workers who
earn wages.
The bourgeoisie use their power to control the institutions of
society to their advantage.
What other institutions might those at the very top of the class
structure be able to control?

What did Karl Marx see as the solution to social Problems inherent in
a capitalist system?
Symbolic Interactionism
Symbolic interactionism looks at individuals
everyday behavior and communication
through symbols and shared meanings.

It is a micro-level perspective.

Interactionists see society as socially constructed
through everyday interaction and symbols

Feminist Theories
Feminist theories explain the social, economic,
and political position of women in society.
Focus is on gender issues
Maintain that women suffer injustice because of
their sex/gender.
Seeks to free women from traditionally oppressive
expectations and constraints.
The Perspectives
Functionalism
How does structure help society work?
Conflict
How are resources distributed?
Feminist
How does life reflect gender?
Interactionism
How do we construct meaning through symbols?
Gaining a broad understanding of society

Promotes and understanding of the social world and our
place in it.

Helps us to understand how our lives are shaped by
society, but also how individuals working together can
change society