01 - Intro to Sociology
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This document provides an introduction to the key concepts of sociology. It defines sociology as the scientific study of social structure and human social behavior, with a focus on groups rather than individuals. The sociological perspective looks at behavior through this lens. Key terms defined include perspective, social structure, and sociological imagination. The document outlines how sociology is a social science that studies patterns of group behavior and seeks social rather than individual explanations for events. It discusses the influence of social groups and conformity, and the importance of developing sociological imagination to understand social forces that shape lives.
01 - Intro to Sociology
- 1. Sociology The Nature of Sociology
- 2. Objectives • Students will identify key terms of sociological perspective. • Students will discuss aspects of social structure that exist in their lives.
- 3. Vocabulary • perspective: a particular point of view. • sociology: the scientific study of social structure (human social behavior). • sociological perspective: a view that looks at behavior of groups, not individuals. • social structure: the patterned interaction of people in social relationships. • sociological imagination: the ability to see the link between society and self.
- 4. Through one’s own lens • Individuals tend to view the world through their own perspective. • Babies are usually brighter and better looking to their parents than they are to others. • Our culture seems ‘normal’; others seem ‘foreign’
- 5. Sociology • Sociology is the scientific study of human behavior. • However the focus is on groups rather than on individuals • This involves a sociological perspective
- 7. The Social Sciences • Sociology is part of a larger group of sciences that deals with the study of human behavior • This includes:
- 8. Anthropology • Investigation of culture, the customary beliefs and material traits of groups.
- 9. Psychology • Investigates human mental and emotional processes.
- 10. Economics • Study of the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services.
- 11. Political Science • Study of the organization, administration, history and theory of government.
- 12. History • Examines the past events in human societies.
- 13. Sociologist: Method • Focus is not on behavior of individuals • Patterns of behavior shared by members of a group or society. • Sociologists attempt to explain events without relying on personal factors. • Look for social, rather than personal explanations
- 14. Importance of Patterns • Patterns give clues to sociologists on what to examine and to watch. • Patterned interaction of people in social relationships: social structure • It is impossible to perfectly predict an individuals behavior within a group. But patterns can emerge.
- 16. Conformity • Groups come in many sizes - from a single family to all of a given society. • These groups can have enormous influence on how members of a group think, behave and feel in similar ways. • Individual habits reflect group attitudes and beliefs. • Reflect values of that group
- 17. Sociological Imagination • Knowing how social forces affect our lives can prevent us from being prisoners of those forces. • Ability to see the relationship between events in their personal lives and events in society.
- 18. Why is that important? • Changes in the needs of a given society will be reflected in the values of that society and change the pressures. • Challenges the notion of ‘conventional social wisdom’ as time moves on.