Introduction to Sociology

is an invitation to learn a new way of looking at familiar patterns of social life Miss Tahira Sarwar

Sociological Imagination: Turning Personal Problems into Public Issues

When a society becomes industrialized, a peasant becomes a worker, a feudal lord is liquidated or becomes a businessman. When classes rise or fall, a man is employed or unemployed; when the rate of investment goes up or down, a man takes new heart or goes broke. When wars happen, an insurance salesman becomes a rocket launcher; a store clerk, a radar man; a wife lives alone; a child grows up without a father.. Neither the life of an individual nor the history of society can be understood without understanding both

What is Sociology?
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop and refine a body of knowledge about human social activity. For many sociologists the goal is to conduct research which may be applied directly to social policy and welfare, whilst others produce purely academic theory closer to that of philosophy. Subject matter ranges from the micro level of individual agency and interaction to the macro level of systems and the social structure.

Origins of Sociology
the birth of sociology was itself the result of powerful social forces
Striking transformations during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries greatly changed European society. Three changes were especially important in the development of sociology i. The rise of factory-based industrial economy ii. The explosive growth of cities iii. New ideas about democracy and political rightsthere was a shift in focus from moral obligations to God and their rulers to the idea that people should pursue their own self interest, and concepts like individual liberty and individual rights evolved. French Revolution brought regeneration of human race.

Evolution of Sociology
A lot of Western Political theorists and philosophers including Plato, Vico, Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau have treated political problems in a broader social context. In 18th century Scottish thinkers made inquiries in to the nature of society. Adam Smith explored the economic causes of social organization and social change. Adam Ferguson considered non economic causes of social cohesion. In 19th century concept of state separated from that of state and it developed in to a separate study. The term sociology was coined (1838) by August Comte. He tried to analyze all aspects of cultural, political and economic life and to identify the underlying principles of society at each stage of human social development.

Evolution of Sociology
Herbert Spencer applied the principles of Darwinian Evolution to the development of human society. Carl Marx emphasized the economic basis of the organization of society and its division in to classes and found the main agent of social progress is in the class struggle. Modern sociologist: i. Emile Durkheim: pioneered in use of statistical material and empirical evidence. ii. Max Weber: a theorist, generalized about social organizations and the relation of belief systems, including religion to social action Theoretical sociology moved in three directions in 20th Century i. Conflict Theory ii. Structural-Functional Theory iii. Symbolic Interaction Theory

Sociological Theory
A theory is a statement of how and why specific facts are related. The job of sociological theory is to explain social behavior in real world. A theoretical paradigm is a basic image of society that guides thinking and research.

Structural-Functional Paradigm
It is a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. this paradigm points to social structure any relatively stable pattern of social behavior, which shapes our life. It looks for structures social functions or consequences for the operation of society as a whole. All social structurefrom a simple handshake to complex religious ritual functions to keep society going. Just like human body..social structures work to preserve society. August Comte framed this paradigm while Talcott Parsons worked lately on it. Criticism: views society as stable and orderly and ignores social inequalities like race, gender etc.

The Social-Conflict Paradigm

It is a framework that sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change. Heavily relies on the work of Carl Marx. Investigates how factors such as social class, race, ethnicity, gender and age are linked to the unequal distribution of money, power, education and social prestige. Rejects the idea that social structure promotes the operation of society as whole, rather points out how social patterns benefit some while depriving others. Examplify Criticism: Since focus is on inequality it ignores how shared values and mutual interdependence unify members of society.

The Symbolic-Interaction Paradigm

Micro Level Orientation

It is a framework that sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals. Bases on the work of Max Weber. How does society result from the ongoing experiences of tens of millions of people? Everyday life experiences, any observation during the day.. Society is nothing more than the shared reality that people construct as they interact with one and another.

Sociological Perspective
Sociology is the systematic study of human society. Features: Seeing the general in the particular Seeing the strange in the familiar Seeing individuality in social context

Seeing the General in the Particular

Sociologists seek out general patterns in the behavior of particular people. All individuals are unique and society plays an important role in shaping them. In addition, any society acts differently on various categories of people (rich vs poor, men vs women etc.) This helps to think that how society shapes our particular experiences sociologically

Seeing the strange in familiar

The point is that looking sociologically means challenging the familiar idea that we live our lives in terms of what we decide, considering instead the initially strange notion that society shapes our experiences. And our decisions are mostly influenced by society and the people living around. Example: choice of a profession, you fit all the social categories you can go for any job

Seeing individuality in social context

An individual must be considered as a separate entity and basic unit for any kind of social change. Example: to see the power of society to shape individual choices, consider the number of children women have US less than 2; India 3; SA4; Cambodia5; SA6 and in Niger 7 Why such variation? Women in less developed countries have less education, economic stability, awareness and role in decision making.

Seeing individuality in social context

Study of suicide: what could be more personal than taking ones own life? Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) showed social forces are at work even in this apparent act of self-destruction. Carried a study in France and found out that men, wealthy people and the unmarried had significantly higher suicide rates than did women. He explained in terms of Social Integration: categories of people with strong social ties had low suicide rates, more individualistic categories had high suicide rates. In male dominated societies men have more freedom but it weakens social ties and boosts risks of suicide. Same for rich.. This study still is found true in America. Whites have greater incidence of suicide than African Americans.

Global perspective and its importance

With huge information blast as the farthest reaches of the Earth are getting closer to each other, its important to have a Global Perspective the study of the larger world and our societys place in it. Global awareness is a logical extension of the sociological perspective. Sociology shows that our place in society profoundly affects our life experiences and our society in larger world system affects individuals. High income countries Middle income countries Low income countries

Applying the sociological perspective

Sociology and Social Marginality everyone feels like an outsider at times. For some categories of people being an outsider is a routine than being in dominant group. The greater peoples social marginality, the better able they are to use the sociological perspective. Putting yourself in other persons shoes. Sociology and Social Crisis social change fosters socio-biological thinking, sociological thinking can bring about social change

Benefits of the Sociological Perspective

Helps us assess the truth of common sense sociological approach, asks whether commonly held beliefs are actually true and, to the extent they are not, why they are so widely held. See the opportunities and constraints in our lives sociology helps us size up our world so we can pursue our goals more effectively. Empowers us to be active members of society-- for some, this may mean supporting society as it is, others may attempt changing the entire world in some way.