SOC1100 Lecture Session 2 (1) PDF

SOC 1100 The Study of Society (SESSION 2) What is sociology? ► The sociological perspective and social imagination ► Classical and contemporary theories in...

SOC 1100 The Study of Society (SESSION 2) What is sociology? ► The sociological perspective and social imagination ► Classical and contemporary theories in sociology; a basic overview Assigned Readings 1. Giddens, Anthony, and et al. (2018), Introduction to Sociology (11th Edition), pgs. 3-20. 2. Haralambos, M., Holborn, M., & Heald, R. (2013). Sociology Themes and Perspectives (8th ed.). Pgs. 2-19. Andrew Hicks Department of Sociology Faculty of Social Sciences University of Guyana Theoretical Perspectives: Functionalism  Functionalism sees society as a system of highly interrelated parts that work together harmoniously  The image that functionalists use to understand society is a living organism  Each part of society works together for the benefit of the whole much like a living organism Structural-Functional  Definition: ◼ Framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability ◼ Sociologists  Emile Durkheim, Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer Harriet Martineau (1802-1876)  Authored one of the earliest analyses of culture and life in the United States entitled Theory and Practice of Society in America  Translated Comte’s Positive Philosophy into English Harriet Martineau Herbert Spencer (1820-1903)  Authored the first sociology text, Principles of Sociology  Most well known for proposing a doctrine called “Social Darwinism” Suggested that people who could not compete were poorly adapted to the environment and inferior This is an idea commonly called survival of the fittest Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)  Durkheim moved sociology fully into the realm of an empirical science  Most well known empirical study is called Suicide, where he looks at the social causes of Emile Durkheim suicide  Generally regarded as the founder of functionalist theory Functionalism and the social structure  Points to note on about the Social Structure: ◼ any relatively stable pattern of social behaviour ◼ gives our lives shape (families, school, work, community) Functionalism and the social structure  Examines Social Functions ◼ the consequences of any social pattern for the operation of society as a whole ◼ all social structures keep society going  similar to the way the human body operates Robert K. Merton  Manifest Functions: ◼ recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern  Latent Functions: ◼ unrecognized and unintended consequences of any social pattern Functionalism and the social structure  Social Dysfunction: ◼ any social pattern that may disrupt the operation of society Summary  Main goal is to figure out “what makes society tick”  critics say it ignores inequalities of social class, races, and gender Theoretical Perspectives: Conflict Theory  Conflict theory is grounded in the work of Karl Marx  Society is understood to be made up of conflicting interest groups who vie for power and privilege  This dynamic results in continuous social change, which is the normal state of affairs  Conflict theory focuses heavily on inequality and differential distribution of power and wealth Karl Marx (1818-1883)  Marx is the father of conflict theory  Saw human history in a continual state of conflict between two major classes: Bourgeoisie—owners of the means of production (capitalists) Proletariat—the workers  Predicted that revolution would occur producing first a socialist state, followed by a communist society Social-Conflict Theory  Definition: ◼ a framework for building theory that sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change The social conflict perspective  Investigate how social class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and age are linked to society’s unequal distribution of money, power, education, and social prestige  Focus on how social patterns benefit some and hurt others…  Can be used to bring about societal change that reduces inequality Max Weber (1864-1920)  Much of Weber’s work was a critique or clarification of Marx  His most famous work, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism directly challenged Marx’s ideas on the role of religion in society  Weber was also interested in bureaucracies and the process of rationalization in society  Social conflict is not necessarily dysfunctional… Feminism and the Gender-Conflict Approach  Definition: ◼ a point of view that focuses on inequality and conflict between women and men ◼ closely linked to feminism  support of social equality for women and men  Helps make us aware of the ways life places men in positions of power over women ◼ at home, at work, in the media ◼ also, shows importance of women to the development of society Race-Conflict Approach  Definition: ◼ point of view that focuses on inequality and conflict between people of different racial and ethnic categories  Points out contributions made by people of color to the development of sociology Review of Social-Conflict Approaches  Critics: ◼ ignores shared values and interdependence ◼ cannot claim scientific objectivity ◼ paints society in broad strokes Theoretical Perspectives: The Interactionist Perspective  Focuses on how individuals make sense of and interpret the world  This perspective tends to focus on the “micro- order” of small groups  Has given rise to several specific approaches: ◼ Symbolic Interactionism developed by George Herbert Mead ◼ Ethnomethodology developed by Harold Garfinkel ◼ Dramaturgy developed by Erving Goffman Symbolic-Interaction Approach  Definition: ◼ framework for building theory that sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals ◼ The constructivist approach…. ◼ Max Weber  understand a setting from the point of view of the people in it  Society amounts to people interacting  Shows how individuals actually experience society Macro-level Orientation  Definition: ◼ a broad focus on social structures that shape society as a whole ◼ Big picture ◼ Includes the structural-functional approach and the social- conflict approach Micro-level Orientation  Definition: ◼ a close-up focus on social interactions in specific situations ◼ includes the symbolic-interaction approach  Comparing Theoretical Perspectives Perspective Scope of Point of View Focus of Analysis Analysis Structural- Macro 1. Various parts of society Functional and Functionalism Level are interdependent dysfunctional 2. Social systems are aspects of highly stable society 3. Social life governed by consensus & cooperation Conflict Macro 1. Society accommodates 1. How social Theory Level between competing inequalities interest groups produce conflict 2. Society unstable and 2. Who benefits prone to change from social 3. Social life conflict-laden arrangements Interactionist Micro-Level 1. Actions have How people symbolic meanings make sense of 2. Meanings can vary their world Applying the Approaches: The Sociology of Sports  The Functions of Sports ◼ A structural-functional approach directs our attention to the ways in which sports help society operate ◼ Sports have functional and dysfunctional consequences _ REFLECT ON and DISCUSS THIS…. Sports and Conflict  Social-conflict analysis points out that games people play reflect their social standing.  Sports have been oriented mostly toward males.  Big league sports excluded people of color for decades.  Sports in the United States are bound up with inequalities based on gender, race, and economic power.  What pattern-relationships manifest in local or regional sports…? Sports as Interaction  Following the symbolic-interaction approach, sports are less a system than an ongoing process.  All three theoretical approaches—structural-functional, social- conflict, and symbolic-interaction—provide different insights into sports. No one is more correct than the others.