Introduction to Sociology

1
Introduction to Sociology

• What is SociologyConnections to Social
  WorkBasic Insight of Sociology
• What is a SociologistNatural Curiosity (focus
  on the toosacred too repulsive too boring) and
  The Social Organization of Man
• Sociology like a Passion than a Pastime

2
Introduction to Sociology

• What is the sociological perspectivePersonal
  Experience 1. No understanding of other
  cultures. 2. Sweeping Conclusions. 3. Errors in
  Understanding.
• Leon Festingers Need to Know
• Fritz Heiders Naïve Psychology

3
Introduction to Sociology

• Perspective1. Removes us from familiar
  experiences2. Critically and objectively examine
  phenomenon3. Conscious effort to question the
  obvious
• Social Science vs. Natural Sciences

4
Introduction to Sociology

• Difference Between Social Problems and
  Sociological Ones
• First Mission of Sociology much of what may
  initially appear to be one way may not be that
  way at all in practice.
• Origins of SociologyAuguste Comte Social
  Statics and Social Dynamics

5
Introduction to Sociology

• Herbert Spencer Social Darwinism Survival of
  the fittest
• Karl Marx Optimistic view of Man
• 2 Classes Elite and Proletariat
• Means of production False Consciousness Class
  Consciousness

6
Introduction to Sociology

• Work is not rewarding in any form. Economic
  Determinism
• Emile Durkheim Social Facts Collective
  Conscience
• Max Weber The Protestant Ethic and Spirit of
  Captialism Rationalization of Social
  Relations Verstehen

7
Introduction to Sociology

• Charles Cooley and George H. Mead Self and
  symbolic interactionism
• Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology Structural
  FunctionalismConflict PerspectiveSymbolic
  Interactionism Dramaturgical Sociology Ethnometh
  odology

8
Research Methods

• Methods of KnowingLogicCommon
  AgreementDirect Personal Observation
• Things That Inhibit the Research
  Process Tradition Inaccurate Observation

9
Research Methods

• OvergeneralizationSelective Observation
• Terms in ResearchAttributeVariableParsimoniousl
  yIndependent Dependent VariablesExogenous and
  Intervening Variables

10
Research Methods

• Goals of ResearchExplorationDescriptiveAnalysis
  
• Types of Research DesignExperimentsSurveysField
  Research

11
Research Methods

• Types of Field ResearchParticipant
  ObserverParticipant as ObserverObserver as
  ParticipantComplete Observer
• Ethical Issues in Field Research

12
Culture

• Culture Shock
• Ethnocentrism
• Cultural Relativity
• Components of CultureNonmaterial
  CultureSymbolic CultureGestures

13
Culture

• Languagewords are symbols How it allows culture
  to exist
• 1. Allows experiences to be cumulative 2.
  Provides a shared past and future
• 3. Allows shared understandings

14
Culture

• Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
• Values
• Norms folkways and mores
• Subcultures/Countercultures

15
Groups

• Social Organization
• Social Positions Status and Role
• Ascribed and Achieved Statuses
• Status Symbols
• Master Status
• Problems with Statuses and RolesRole Strain/Role
  Conflict

16
Groups

• Types of Groups Primary/Secondary Dyads/Triads
• Communities Territorial
• Non-Territorial
• Reference Groups

17
Groups

• Interaction in Groups HobbsWar of all against
  all.
• Principles of Interaction Pleasure Rationality
  Reciprocity Fairness Principles
• Influence of Groups on Behavior/Group
  ConformityTrivial Asch SherifModerate
  Newcomb and LibermannSerious Zimbardo and
  Milgram

18
Zimbardo Study

• Environ Cues New Role Expect Role
  Merger Neg. Interaction
• Reward

19
Groups

• Altruism and the Bystander Effect
• Formal Organizations and Bureaucracies History
  of BureaucraciesFeudal System
• Paternalistic Organizations Loss of control
• Poor communication History of decision
  making
• Questions of Efficiency and Effectiveness
• Compared to What

20
Groups

• Parkinsons Laws 1 and 2
• Finding Responsible Decision Makers
• Trained Incapacity/Ritualism
• Organizational Survival

21
Socialization

• Feral childrenIsabelle in 1938 in Ohio
• So whats the key to this change in behavior
  Languageand stimulating interaction
• Orphanages Skeel and Dyes study. Main Finding
  Those assigned to the challenged women gained 28
  IQ points control group lost 30 IQ points.
• So how do we become human

22
Socialization

• Mead and Cooley1. We imagine how we appear to
  those around us.2. We interpret others
  reactions3. We develop a self-concept.
• Connections to self-esteem esp. among women in
  our society

23
Socialization

• MeadRole Taking The Significant Other and the
  Generalized Other
• Play Game Generalized Other Stages of Self
• Agents of SocializationFamily Peers Schools
  Media
• Resocialization

24
Deviance and Social Control

• Deviance Defined
• Theories of DevianceIndividual/BiologicalSocial
  Structural Millers Focal Concerns Mertons
  Theory of Anomie

25
Deviance and Social Control

• Social ProcessSutherlands Differential
  Association
• Labeling Theory Process of LabelingAct (Primary
  Deviance) Status Degradation Ceremony Label
  (Master Status) Retrospective Interpretation
  Internalization (Secondary Deviance) Deviant
  Subculture/Career
• Can Label be Removed

26
Crime