24 Questions
What is the primary focus of George Herbert Mead's studies?
How individuals interact with each other in small groups
What is the concept of 'significance' in the context of George Herbert Mead's theory?
The process of observing and assimilating others' identities
What is the 'Looking Glass Self' concept in the context of Charles Cooley's theory?
The idea that our sense of self is shaped by our social environment
What is the primary focus of Erving Goffman's theory?
The presentation of self in everyday life
Which Caribbean sociologist is known for his work on 'Plural Society'?
M.G. Smith
What is the primary focus of Rhoda Reddock's research?
Gender Issues
What is the primary focus of Patricia Mohammed's research?
Caribbean East Indian Women
Which Caribbean sociologist is known for his work on 'Development in the Caribbean'?
George Beckford
What is one of the key concepts associated with Max Weber's sociological approach?
Rationalization of the modern world
In the context of the Caribbean, what was the primary focus of sociology during the 1930s?
Guiding Caribbean development
What is the name of the book written by CLR James that took a Marxist approach to looking at history?
The Black Jacobins
Which of the following perspectives is derived from Comte and Durkheim?
Functionalism
What was a major concern of Max Weber's sociological approach?
The loss of individuality in modern society
What was the primary goal of sociology in the Caribbean during the 1930s?
To guide Caribbean development
Which of the following movements emerged in the Caribbean during the 1960s and 1970s?
Black power movement
What is the name of the commission that was mentioned as a specific period when sociology and social science was used in the Caribbean?
Moyne Commission
What is the main contribution of Emile Durkheim's study on suicide?
He found that a lack of social integration contributed to suicide
What is the primary characteristic of an egoistic suicide?
The individual feels isolated and helpless
What is an example of altruistic suicide?
A suicide bomber
What is the primary characteristic of a fatalistic suicide?
The individual lives under extreme rules and high expectations
What is an example of anomic suicide?
A person who commits suicide during economic depression
What is the main reason for egoistic suicide?
The individual is not well supported in a social group
What is the opposite of anomic suicide?
Fatalistic suicide with regulation
What is the main difference between altruistic suicide and egoistic suicide?
The level of social integration
Study Notes
George Herbert Mead
- Studied society through interactions within individuals and small groups
- Believed humans are social animals and require interaction to construct a sense of self and society
- Asked questions about how individuals experience and interpret each other, and how they construct a sense of self and society
- Key concepts: "I" and "me", significant other, generalized other, role taking, preparatory stage, play stage, and game stage
Other Symbolic Interactionist Theorists
- Charles Cooley: believed we develop a sense of self based on interaction with others and how we feel others perceive us
- Erving Goffman: believed we play roles and present a "face" for public view, using the concept of dramaturgy to explain human behavior
Caribbean Sociologists
- M.G. Smith: studied plural society
- Patricia Mohammed: studied Caribbean East Indian women
- Rhoda Reddock: studied gender issues
- George Beckford: studied development in the Caribbean
- Lloyd Brathwaite: studied social stratification and cultural pluralism
- R.T. Smith: researcher (need to refer to their work)
- Rex Nettleford: researcher (need to refer to their work)
Max Weber
- Believed sociologists should focus on ideal types to capture essential features of social reality
- Key concepts: bureaucracy, verstehen, rationalization of the modern world, and the loss of individuality
The Emergence of Sociology in the Caribbean
- Developed differently in the Caribbean compared to the first world, within the context of industrial revolution
- Used to guide Caribbean development by the first world, especially during the 1930s Moyne commission
- Emerged through the return of Caribbean citizens studying abroad, bringing back ideas and concepts
- Three basic belief systems occupied the thinking of third-world people: anti-colonialism and post-colonial nationalism, black power movement, and Marxism
Functionalism
- Derived from Comte and Durkheim, emphasizing large-scale social institutions and processes
- Emphasized social integration, with a lack of integration contributing to suicide (e.g., Emile Durkheim's study)
Emile Durkheim and Suicide
- Types of suicide: egoistic, altruistic, fatalistic, and anomic
- Egoistic suicide: occurs when social integration is low, leading to feelings of isolation and helplessness
- Altruistic suicide: occurs when social integration is too high, leading to a neglect of individual needs and goals
- Fatalistic suicide: occurs when lives are kept under tight regulation, leading to a loss of sense of self
- Anomic suicide: occurs when there is too low a degree of regulation, leading to frustration and a sense of meaninglessness
Explore how George Herbert Mead's microsociology focuses on individual and small group interactions, examining shared symbols, gestures, and nonverbal communications. Delve into the construction of self and society through human interactions.
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