Sociology 1/22/2013. Chapter 1: The Sociological Imagination

Transcription

1 Chapter 1: The Sociological Imagination What is Sociology? Types of Sociological Practice Sociological Imagination Interdependence Sociological Theory Sociology & Social Policy Sociology systematic study of the relationship between the individual and society and of the consequences of difference (p4) Sociological Imagination C. Wright Mills (1959) The Sociological Imagination. Relationship between wider society (macro/history) and individual (micro/biography) Examples are all around you.. 1

2 Sociological Imagination Relationship between wider society (macro/history) and individual (micro/biography) These long term processes history, geography, also shape our culture and ways we live passed down through generations. Global Family Portrait: Outsider s perspective (Menzel 1994) 2

3 If we *really* look at these images as outsiders, we see various ways that history influences biography: Cultural variation in family form Type of transport, food, shelter, lifestyle in each culture; Why does Mali family have so many pots? Why is Iceland family so musical?? Sociological Imagination Put social relations in context; Helps in identifying possible responses; Connect with others in similar circumstance; Mills: both a magnificent and terrible lesson. Q: why? 3

4 Chapter 1: The Sociological Imagination Interdependence Hamburger as miracle (p5+) What is Sociology? Types of Sociological Practice Sociological Imagination Interdependence Sociological Theory Sociology & Social Policy 4

5 This interdependence characterizes society our social environment social milieux Society consists of the persistent patterns of relationships and social networks within which we operate Taken for granted Shared knowledge/expectations Provides social structure Analogous to building Framework that supports social processes Social structure shapes social interaction Encourage/discourage certain activities in certain spaces Not to say that individuals don t have AGENCY The freedom to choose and to act (p7) But consider how those choices and actions are shaped by society. 5

6 Powerful example Revisit of older social experiment Importance of ethical considerations (Ch2) Wouldn t receive ethics clearance for social science project Consider within this video clip the: Ways history shapes biography Consider Hernando Washington Chapter 1: The Sociological Imagination What is Sociology? Types of Sociological Practice Sociological Imagination Interdependence Sociological Theory 6

7 Sociological Theory In general, a theory is framework used to comprehend, explain events; In Sociology, a set of statements that seeks to explain problems, actions, or behavior sociologists systematically gather our stories together through research and make sense of them with theory Demographic Transition Theory Theory: a set of statements that seeks to explain problems, actions, or behavior Within theoretical framework, questions asked are shaped by perspective from which one operates 3 core perspectives in SOCY Functionalist Conflict Interactionist 7

8 Functionalist Perspective Focus on ways society structured to maintain stability Society is balance of parts, each serving a function can liken to human body Cultural consensus, social order even if inequalities exist May ask: Why does a particular social arrangement exist? Why? Why? Why? Gans Poverty from Functionalist Perspective? Ensures less desirable jobs will get done; Helps ensure status of those not poor; Increases useful life of goods; Uphold legitimacy of social norms; Provide wealthy target for charitable work. 8

9 Thursday Other theoretical perspectives Move into Ch 2: Sociological Research -- ethics 9