Chapter 1 – The Foundations of Sociology

Question 1

What is sociology?

Answer 1

The systematic study of human society.

Question 2

What is sociological perspective?

Answer 2

Sociology’s special point of view that sees general patterns of society and the lives of particular people.

• Seeing the general in the particular (identifying general patterns in the behavior of particular individuals)
• Seeing the strange in the familiar (this strange idea that society shapes what we think or do. Example: Holding hands
• Seeing society in our everyday lives
  Example: Looking at the number of children women have, especially the differences between women who live in different countries that have different economic climate

Question 3

Describe “Seeing the general in the particular”

Answer 3

Peter Berger of 1963 describes the sociological perspective as seeing the general in the particular. By this he meant that sociologists identify general patterns in the behavior of particular individuals.

Question 4

Describe “The sociological imagination: Turning personal problems into public issues”

Answer 4

C. Wright Mills pointed to the power of the “sociological imagination” to explain everyday events.

We see that many of our problems– and successes – are not unique to us rather the result of larger social trends.

As Mills saw it, society –rather than personal failure– is the main cause of poverty and other social problems.

Turning personal problems into public issues, the sociological imagination brings people together to press for needed change.

Question 5

As Mills sees it, how are personal troubles different from public issues?

Answer 5

Mills does not see much of a difference between personal troubles and public issues. He thinks that our personal problems are a result of the larger social trends.

An example of this can be seen during the Great Depression of the 1930s when the economy collapsed and there were little to no jobs and the unemployment rate was up to 25%.

While a hardship such as unemployment does cause personal issues the reason for unemployment can be linked to a social issue.

Question 6

Why do we blame ourselves for the personal problems we face according to Mills?

Answer 6

We often overlook the intricate connections between the patterns of our own lives in the course of world history. Many of us do not possess the quality of mind essential to grasp the interplay of men in society, of biography and history, of self and the world. Being able to think this way or see things this way is having a quality called the sociological imagination.

Question 7

How are we empowered by using the sociological imagination?

Answer 7

Using the sociological imagination allows us to see the connections between our personal problems and society. This can bring similar affected people together to impose change in society

Question 8

What is the global perspective?

Answer 8

The study of the larger world in our society’s place in it.

Question 9

What is the importance of a global perspective for sociology?

Answer 9

Global awareness is a logical extension of the sociological perspective. Sociology shows us that our place in society shapes early experiences, it stands to reason that the position of our society and the larger world system affects everyone in Canada.

Question 10

How are the worlds 195 nations divided?

Answer 10

They’re divided into three broad categories according to their level of economic development. High-income countries are the nations with the highest overall standards of living.This category includes 72 countries such as the United States, Canada, Argentina, etc. Middle-income countries, nations with a standard of living about average for the world as a whole is comprised of 72 countries examples of which are Eastern Europe, some of Africa, and almost all of Latin America and Asia. Low – income countries, Nations with a low standard of living in which most people are poor is comprised of 53 nation.Most of the poorest countries in the world are in Africa, and if you are in Asia.

Question 11

What did Goffman argue In his book called the Presentation of Self in Everyday Life?

Answer 11

Goffman argued that people are like actors in a play. * Our social position and contacts creates roles for us to play * We play these roles by both consciously and unconsciously “managing the impressions” that we create. * We have a “front stage” and a “backstage” area– a place where we perform our role and a place where we get ready. * What we play a role, we are also the audience for others playing their role. * We are all comforted by successful mutual performances.

Question 12

What did Goffman think about “disreputable conditions” and stigmas?

Answer 12

Goffman’s book was in relation to stigmas such as: * Physical disabilities * Mental illness * Some diseases such as sexually transmitted diseases * A criminal record Goffman believes that people with these conditions developed and used strategies to either hide or mitigate their condition of stigma. He also figured that friends and family of those with stigmas often get stigmatized himself, and so conspired help hide the condition as well.

Question 13

What is the textbook definition of sociology?

Answer 13

The systematic study of human society. *Seeing the general in the particular *Seeing the strange in the familiar *Seeing society in our everyday lives We study society using these theories. *Statement of how and why specific facts are related *We test theories by seeing if reality behaves the way we expected

Question 14

What are the five broad theoretical approaches?

Answer 14

* Structural–functional * Conflict – Social – Gender – Race * Symbolic interaction

Question 15

Explain the theoretical approach: structural functional

Answer 15

* identify the patterns of behavior (Social structures) * Identifies what purpose these structures serve to maintain a society For example: - The family teaches newborn infants how to speak, interact, and behave in small groups. – Schools teach slightly older children some skills and how to conform and bigger groups. – Both of these social structures serve the function (Amongst others) of socializing youth.

Question 16

Explain the theoretical approach: conflict.

Answer 16

* Look for points of cleavage and the exercise of power in society. * Does this on the basis of socially created groups. * Look at systems of power and domination.

Question 17

Explain the theoretical approach: symbolic interaction

Answer 17

* Looks at society as a product of the everyday interactions of people.

* Analyzes processes of interaction and interpretation.

Question 18

Describe Erving Goffman’s theoretical metaphor for studying society

Answer 18

Goffman’s theoretical metaphor describes that people are like actors in a play that have a backstage area in which they prepare to present themselves and a front staging area where they do present themselves as well as acts as an audience for those that they are surrounded by. It suggests that we play these roles by both consciously and unconsciously “managing the impressions” that we create.

Question 19

In your own words and in one sentence for each approach, describe the three main approaches to sociology.

Answer 19

* Structural – functional - Identify social structures and the purpose that they serve to maintain the society. Example: The family teaches newborn infants had to speak, interact, and behave and small groups. The family is an example of the social structure. * Conflict - On the basis of socially created groups conflict approach look for points of cleavage in the exercise of power in society. It looks at systems of power and domination. * Symbolic interaction - Look at society as the product of the everyday interactions of people and analyzes processes of interaction and interpretation.

Question 20

What is sociological theory?

Answer 20

A theory consists of transforming complex observations into understanding. It is a statement of how and why specific factor related.

• The role of sociological theory is to explain social behavior in the real world
• We test series by seeing if reality be in the way we expected

Question 21

What two fundamental questions do sociologists face in building theory?

Answer 21

1. What issues should we study?
2. How should we connect the facts?

* In the process of answering these questions, Sociologists look to one or more theoretical approaches.

Question 22

In answering the two fundamental questions that sociologists must ask:

1. What issues should we study?
2. How should we connect the facts?

What theoretical approaches must they look to?

Answer 22

1. Structural – functional approach
2. Social – conflict approach (Social, gender, race)
3. Symbolic – Interaction approach

Question 23

Expand on structural– functional approach

Answer 23

Identify patterns of behavior and social structures and identified for purpose the structure serve to maintain a society.

The main goal of the sociologists who use this approach is to figure out what makes society tick.

• Points to social structure, which is any relatively stable pattern of social behavior.Gives our lives shape– In families, the workplace, the classroom, and the community. Just as the structural parts of human body function independently to help the entire organism survive, social structures work together to preserve society.
• Also, it looks for a structure social functions, which is the consequences of any social pattern for the operation of society as a whole.From a simple handshake to complex religious rituals: functions to keep society going

However, in recent years, its influence has declined because by focusing on social stability and unity, structural functionalism ignores any qualities of social class, race, and gender, which caused tension and conflict. It is considered to be a conservative approach

Question 24

Expand on social– conflict approach

Answer 24

This approach emphasizes inequality and change in a a society, comparatively to a structural-functional approach which highlights solidarity and stability.

• Sociologists investigate how factors such as social class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and age are linked to societies inequal distribution of money, power, education, and social prestige
• Conflict between dominant and disadvantaged categories of people. How one group is more powerful than another

Question 25

Expand on symbolic– interaction approach

Answer 25

This approach looks at society is nothing more than the shared reality that people construct as they interact with one another.

• Sociologists analyze processes of interaction and interpretation
• Does not deny the existence of macro–level social structures (Structures that shape society as a whole) Example: “The family” and “social class”

Question 26

GENERAL REVIEW

SOCIOLOGY

⇔

SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES

THEORETICAL APPROACHES

STRUCTIONAL-FUNCTIONAL
SOCIAL-CONFLICT
SYMBOLIC-INTERACTION

To be able to do sociology, you must develop a sociological perspective.

⇒ Seeing the general in that particular

⇒ Seen the strange in the familiar

⇒Seeing society in everyday life

To answer fundamental questions and to understand how and why specific factor related, Sociologists used the three theoretical approaches mentioned above. Structural-functional, social-conflict, symbolic- interaction.

Question 27

General review

Structural-functional <— Macro-level social structure, whole society Lincoln

1. Looks at the social structure (stable pattern of social behavior) and how the structure maintains a society.
2. Social structure is similar to how your body works together to keep you alive, it makes society functional.
3. Also looks at social functions, which are any social patterns (religion, shaking hands) that operate in society.

Social stability plus unity

Question 28

General review

Social conflict approach <– Macro-level - social structure shapes society as a whole

1. Looks at any qualities and changes in society.
2. Observe how factors such as race, gender, age, social class, ethnicity, sexual orientation are linked to societies unequal distribution of money, power, and education.
3. Conflict between dominant/disadvantaged categories of people.

Inequality plus change.

Question 29

General review

Symbolic interaction approach <— Macro-Level - Social interaction in specific situations

1. Building theory that sees society as a result of everyday interactions of individuals
2. Society is seen as nothing more than the shared reality that people construct as they interact with one another

Individual’s perspective plus society’s interaction with others.

Question 30

What is the main idea of the structural-functional approach?

Answer 30

The main idea of the structural-functional approach is its vision of society is stable and orderly. The main goal of the sociologists who use this approach, then, is to figure out what makes society tick.

Question 31

How does micro-level analysis differ from macro-level analysis? Provide an explanation of a social pattern at each level

Answer 31

Macro-level orientation is a broad focus on social structures that shape society as a whole

Example: How housing differs from rich to poor neighborhoods.

Micro-level orientation is a closer focus on social interaction and specific situations

Example: Exploring urban life in this way occurs at street level, where you might watch children invent games on a school playground or observe pedestrians respond to homeless people they pass on the street.

Question 32

Structural-functional approach (classical approach)

What is the level of analysis? Macro-level

What image of society does the approach have? Societies a system of interrelated parts that is relatively stable.Each part works to keep society operating in an orderly way. Members have general agreement about what is morally right.

What core questions does he approach ask? How is society held together? What are the major parts of society? How are these parts linked? What does each part due to help society work?

Question 33

Social conflict approach (classical approach)

What is the level of analysis? Macro-level

What image of society does the protest? Society is a system of social inequality. Society operates to benefit some categories of people and to harm others. Social inequality causes conflict that leads to social change.

What core questions does the approach ask? What factors give rise to social inequality? How do advantage people protect their privileges? How do disadvantaged people challenge the system to see change?

Question 34

Symbolic interaction approach (Classical approach)

What is the level of analysis? Micro-level

What image of society does the approach have? Society is an ongoing process.People I interact in countless settings using symbolic communications.The reality that people experience is variable and changing.

What court questions does the approach ask? How do people experience society? How do people shape the reality they experience? How do behavior and meaning change from person-to-person and from one situation to another?

Question 35

Feminist approach (Recent approaches)

What is the level of analysis? Micro and macro levels

What image of society does the approach have? A gender-based hierarchy where men dominate women in all realms of social life (Including the family, religion, the polity, the economy, and education).

What corporations does the approach ask? What factors give rise to gender-based inequality?What are the effects of male domination of men and on women?How can such a structure be overturned?

Question 36

Postmodernist approach (Recent approaches)

What is the level of analysis? Micro and macro levels

What image of society does the approach have? Shifting patterns of social order, institutions, and personal relations, about which truths and assumptions are subject to change.

What core questions does the approach ask? How does power permeate social relations are society and change what circumstances? How do we understand societies or interpersonal relations, while rejecting the theories and methods of the social sciences and our assumptions about human nature?

Question 37

The sociological perspective-explain how the social logical perspective different from common sense?

Answer 37

The sociological perspective reveals the power of society to shape individual lives.

• What we commonly think of as a personal choice - whether or not to go to college, how many children we will have, even the decision and her own lives-is affected by social forces.
• Peter Berger described the sociological perspective as “Seeing the general in the particular.”
• C. Wright Mills called this point of view the “sociological imagination,” and “claiming it transforms personal troubles into public issues.
• The experience of being an outsider or of living through a social crisis can encourage people to use the social logical perspective.

Question 38

The importance of a global perspective.

State several reasons for the importance of a global perspective in today’s world.

Where we live - in a high-income country like Canada, a middle-income country such as Brazil, or low-income countries such as Mali - shapes the lives we lead.

Societies throughout the world are increasingly interconnected.

• New technology allows people around the world to share popular trends.
• Immigration around the world increases the racial and ethnic diversity of Canada.
• Trade across national boundaries has created a global economy.

Many social problems that we face in Canada are far more serious in other countries. Learning about life in other societies helps us learn about ourselves.

Question 39

Applying the sociological perspective

Identify the advantages of sociological thinking for developing public policy, for encouraging personal growth, and for dancing in a career.

Research by sociologist plays an important role in shaping public policy.

On a personal level, using the sociological perspective helps to see the opportunities and limitations in our lives and empowers us to be active citizens.

A background in sociology is excellent preparation for success in many different careers

Question 40

Sociological theory

Summarize sociology of major theoretical approaches

A theory states how facts are related, weaving observations and insight and understanding. Sociologists use three major theoretical approaches to describe the operation of society.

Macro-level orientation

The structural-functional approach explores how social structures– patterns of behavior, such as religious rituals or family life– worked together to help society operate.

• Auguste Comte, Emile Durkheim, and Herbert Spencer helped develop the structural-functional approach.
• Thomas Merton Pointed out that social structures have both manifest functions and latent functions; he also identified social functions as patterns that may disrupt the operation of society.

The social conflict approach shows how inequality creates conflict and causes change.

• Karl Marx helped develop the social conflict approach
• The gender conflict approach, linked to feminism, focuses on ways in which society places men in positions of power over women. Harriet Martineau is regarded as the first woman sociologist.
• The race conflict approach focuses on the advantages– Including higher income, more schooling, and better health– that’s a side to give to white people over people of color.

Micro-level orientation

The symbolic interaction approach studies how people an everyday interaction, construct reality.

• Max Weber claim that peoples beliefs and values shape society is the basis of the social interaction approach.
• Social exchange analysis states that social life is guided by what each person stand to gain or lose from an attraction.

Question 41

Applying the approaches: the sociology of sports

Apply sociology major theoretical approaches to the topic of sports.

The functions of sports

The structural-functional approach the house for top society function smoothly.

• Manifest functions of sports include providing recreation, a means of getting in physical shape, and a relatively harmless way to let off steam.
• Latent functions as sports include building social relationships and creating thousands of jobs

Sports and conflict

The social conflict approach looks at the links between sports and social equality.

• Historically, sports have benefited men more than they have women
• Some sports are accessible mainly to affluent people
• Racial discrimination exists in professional sports

Sports as interaction

The social interaction approach looks at the different meanings and understandings people have sports

• Within the team, players affect each other’s understanding of the sport.
• The reaction of the public can affect how players perceive their sport