Sociology 1020
Chapter 1
Definition of Sociology – The study of social behaviour and relationships. Explains why members of some groups behave differently than members of other groups.
Modern development of sociology is due to the:
• Industrial Revolution and French revolution
Both lead to changes and growth of trade and cities as well as a new organization of work.
Early Sociologists
Auguste Comte – credited by some as the “founder” of sociology. Sociologists would be “priests” to guide society.
Emile Durkheim—society was like the human body: various segments work for the whole.
Karl Marx—societies are founded on power, coercion and conflict
Functionalism
Function: social arrangements exist because they benefit society.
Equilibrium: stability based on balance among parts and consensus.
Dysfunctions: problems that occur
Development: progress through differentiation to develop new forms and their integration.
Conflict Theory
Power: holds society together
Conflict: society’s natural state
Bourgeoisie: (owners of capital) dominate
Proletariat: (workers)
Revolution was the means of change
Symbolic Interactionism Micro (small-scale) perspective
- Emphasizes subjective over objective
- Behaviour and attitudes depend on how people construct their social world
Agents: individuals have goals and pursue them
Mead: people interact by strings of symbols, e.g., Language
Blumer: people act toward things on the basis of meanings those things have for them
Game Theory: what one chooses depends on what others choose
Feminist Theories
- Focus on women and gender
- More activist: raises consciousness
- Interdisciplinary taking leadership roles
- Accept a broader range of approach to research
- Mix different sociological approaches
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
One of the major concerns of sociology is:
a) explain individual sources of behaviour b) the difference
Definition of Sociology – The study of social behaviour and relationships. Explains why members of some groups behave differently than members of other groups.
Modern development of sociology is due to the:
• Industrial Revolution and French revolution
Both lead to changes and growth of trade and cities as well as a new organization of work.
Early Sociologists
Auguste Comte – credited by some as the “founder” of sociology. Sociologists would be “priests” to guide society.
Emile Durkheim—society was like the human body: various segments work for the whole.
Karl Marx—societies are founded on power, coercion and conflict
Functionalism
Function: social arrangements exist because they benefit society.
Equilibrium: stability based on balance among parts and consensus.
Dysfunctions: problems that occur
Development: progress through differentiation to develop new forms and their integration.
Conflict Theory
Power: holds society together
Conflict: society’s natural state
Bourgeoisie: (owners of capital) dominate
Proletariat: (workers)
Revolution was the means of change
Symbolic Interactionism Micro (small-scale) perspective
- Emphasizes subjective over objective
- Behaviour and attitudes depend on how people construct their social world
Agents: individuals have goals and pursue them
Mead: people interact by strings of symbols, e.g., Language
Blumer: people act toward things on the basis of meanings those things have for them
Game Theory: what one chooses depends on what others choose
Feminist Theories
- Focus on women and gender
- More activist: raises consciousness
- Interdisciplinary taking leadership roles
- Accept a broader range of approach to research
- Mix different sociological approaches
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
One of the major concerns of sociology is:
a) explain individual sources of behaviour b) the difference
Links: Family Change • 1st transition (1870-1950) brought smaller families, and change in economic costs and benefits of children, along with new cultural environment – making it more appropriate to control family size. • 2nd transitions (1960-present) Perspectives on Family Change