Foundations - Day One PDF

September 9, 2024 Foundations - Day One 1. Thinking Sociologically What is Sociology? Sociology: The systematic study of human behaviour in social context Systematic = Scientific Research Scientific methods, how we approach studying society. Human Behavi...

September 9, 2024 Foundations - Day One 1. Thinking Sociologically What is Sociology? Sociology: The systematic study of human behaviour in social context Systematic = Scientific Research Scientific methods, how we approach studying society. Human Behavior = Agency Agency: The ability of individuals to make decisions and take actions within their lives. Examples: deciding to sleep in instead of going to class, marrying someone of your choosing. Social Context = Social Structures Social Structures: Enduring patterns and institutions that organize social life. Examples: the legal system, the economic system, the government. Sociology (Redefined): Scientific research focused on the relationship between agency and social structures Structure and Agency - Social Structures constrain individuals’ free will (agency) - Individuals use their agency to form and change social structures Policies to form and change social structures. Happens in small ways. Example: voting, protests. - The ability to exercise one’s free will (agency) varies across individuals - Based on the socio-demographic categories that individuals occupy Difference between minor and adult. Once an adult, more agency. Sociological Imagination The quality of the mind that enables a person to see the connection between human agency and social structures. Coleman's Boat  - Top of boat, values necessary to secure place in afterlife - Influence on agency, determined how they behave in the world - Engaged in particular economic behaviour - Lead to capitalist economic system 2. Sociological Theory Theory: A tentative explanation of some aspect of social life that states how and why certain facts are related - Theories are tested using Research: The process of systematically observing reality to assess the validity of a theory - Testing relationships between different aspects of Coleman's boat ★ The 4 theories are not necessarily competing, just focusing on different parts. Different aspects of the same problem to build a complete picture. _______________________ Functionalism Focus: How social structures maintain social stability - People fulfil roles within society, which enable it to remain stable - Society becomes less stable when people cannot/do not fulfil their roles - Therefore, the best way to solve most social problems is by ensuring that social structures facilitate role fulfilment Example: Organs within the body have certain roles, if one fails then the rest have a hard time functioning. Coleman's boat & Decreasing life expectancy: covid 19 disrupted social structures, people now consuming more media. Why declining life expectancy? Because we’ve lost these social structures. May lead people to have negative mental health, detached from society, negative coping mechanisms. ___________________________ Conflict Theory Focus: Social divisions that impede greater harmony - Different social groups have different interests - Different social groups also have different amounts of Power: The ability of individuals in social relationships to impose their will on others regardless of resistance - Social groups with greater power pursuing their interests, often comes at the expense of social groups with less power Colemans boat & declining life expectancy: Big pharmaceutical companies want profit, they hide the addictiveness of opioids from doctors. Doctors prescribe opioids to people unaware of the repercussions. _____________________________ Symbolic Interactionism Focus: How social interaction among individuals shapes behaviour and creates meaning Examples: slang Coleman's boat & life expectancy: covid 19 denial within social networks, not following covid protocols. Leads to a higher death rate. ______________________________ Feminist Theory Focus: The gendered dimensions of social life and inequality - Gender inequalities emerge from interactions - Gender inequalities also emerge from the Patriarchy: The traditional system of economic and political inequality between women and men in most societies Coleman's Boat & Life expectancy: Societal expectations of men as providers, many people lost their jobs so more negative mental health and harmful coping behaviours. _________________________ Functionalism Key words: stability, function, equilibrium, solidarity Conflict Theory Key words: conflict, power, dominance, privilege Symbolic Interactionism Key words: interaction, communication, meaning, norms, values Feminist Theory Key words: conflict, power, dominance, privilege (but combined with gender)