Transcript PowerPoint Presentation prepared by Terri Petkau, Mohawk College CHAPTER ONE Introducing Sociology Robert J.

PowerPoint Presentation
prepared by
Terri Petkau, Mohawk College
CHAPTER ONE
Introducing Sociology
Robert J. Brym
INTRODUCTION
• Will examine:
 The sociological perspective
 Durkheim’s theory of suicide and suicide
in Canada today
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 Sociological imagination
 Origins of sociology, and
 Main sociological theories*
1-3
SOCIOLOGY
• Sociology:
 Systematic study of human behaviour in
social context
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• Emerged during Industrial Revolution:
 Era of massive social transformation
accompanied by new social problems*
1-4
THE SOCIOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVE
• Sociological perspective examines
association between social events and
social relations
 Classic 19th century example 
Durkheim’s analysis of suicide:
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 Examined association between suicide
rates and social relations
 Demonstrated that suicide rates are
strongly influenced by social forces*
1-5
SUICIDE RATES,
SELECTED COUNTRIES
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1-6
DURKHEIM’S FINDINGS
• Some categories of people (men,
Christians, the unmarried, seniors) had
higher rates of suicide than others
(women, Jews, the married, the young
and middle-aged)
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 Married adults half as likely as unmarried
adults to commit suicide
 Jews less likely to commit suicide than
Christians*
1-7
DURKHEIM’S THEORY
OF SUICIDE
• Social solidarity: Degree to which group member
share beliefs and values, and intensity and
frequency of interaction
• Demonstrated variation in social solidarity in
different groups:
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 Those weakly integrated into social groups are
more likely to commit suicide
 As level of social solidarity increases, suicide rate
declines
 But beyond a certain point, rate begins to rise
again*
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DURKHEIM’S TYPOLOGY
OF SUICIDE
•
Three types of suicide:
1. Anomic suicide: Occurs in low social solidarity
settings, where norms governing behaviour are
vaguely defined
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2. Egoistic suicide: Results from lack of integration of
individual into society because of weak social ties
to others
3. Altruistic suicide: Occurs in high social solidarity
contexts, where norms tightly govern behaviour*
1-9
DURKHEIM’S THEORY OF
SUICIDE
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1-10
IMPLICATIONS OF
DURKHEIM’S ANALYSIS OF
SUICIDE
• Social forces exist as distinct level of
reality that is:
External to individuals
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Constrains individual behaviour*
1-11
SUICIDE IN CANADA
TODAY
• Substantial increase in suicide since 1960s
among those between ages of 15 and 64
 Yet youth suicide negligible in Durkheim’s study
• Factors in increase today in youth suicide:
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 Level of social solidarity lower today for young
people than decades ago
 Young people less rooted in society, and less
likely to share moral standards*
1-12
SUICIDE BY AGE AND
SEX, 2004
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1-13
FROM PERSONAL
TROUBLES TO SOCIAL
STRUCTURES
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•
Social structures: Relatively stable
patterns of social relations
•
Are social structures at micro-,
macro-, and global levels…*
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SOCIAL STRUCTURES
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i.
Microstructures: Overarching patterns of intimate
social relations formed during face-to-face
interaction (e.g., families, friendships, work
associations)
ii.
Macrostructures: Overarching patterns of social
relations outside one’s circle of intimates and
acquaintances (e.g., class relations, bureaucratic
organizations, power systems)
iii. Global structures: Patterns of social relations
outside and above national level (e.g., United
Nations, European Union, NAFTA region)*
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THE SOCIOLOGICAL
IMAGINATION
• C. Wright Mills’ concept of sociological
imagination:
 Ability to see connection between personal
troubles and social structures
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• Reflected departure from views of ancient
and medieval times that considered:
 Society as controlled by God and nature
 Reliance on speculation rather than
evidence*
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ORIGINS OF THE
SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION
• Scientific Revolution (circa 1550): Encouraged
evidence-based conclusions about society
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• Democratic Revolution (circa 1750): Suggested
people were responsible for creating society; thus,
human intervention capable of solving social
problems
• Industrial Revolution (circa 1780): Created host of
social problems; attracted attention of social
thinkers*
1-17
ORIGINS OF SOCIOLOGY
• Comte (1838): Coined term “sociology”
 Sought to understand social world using
scientific method of research
 But also had vision of ideal society
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• Tension between analysis and ideal
reflected in works of important early
figures in sociology: Marx, Durkheim, and
Weber*
1-18
ORIGINS OF SOCIOLOGY
• Values: Ideas about right and wrong, good and bad
 Inform what issues are considered important
 Help sociologists formulate and favour certain
theories
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• Theories: Tentative explanations of some aspect of
social life that state how and why certain facts are
related
• Research: Process of systematically observing
reality in order to “test” theories*
1-19
MAIN THEORETICAL
TRADITIONS IN SOCIOLOGY
1. Functionalism
2. Conflict theory
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3. Symbolic interactionism
4. Feminist theory*
1-20
1. FUNCTIONALISM
• Stresses human behaviour is governed by
relatively stable patterns of interaction
• Focuses on how social structures either maintain
or undermine social stability
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• Argues social structures are based mainly on
shared values
• Suggests re-establishing equilibrium as a solution
to most social problems*
1-21
2. CONFLICT THEORY
• Focuses on large, macro-level structures (e.g.,
relations between or among classes)
• Shows how major patterns of inequality produce
social stability in some circumstances and social
change in others
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• Stresses how members of privileged groups seek
to maintain advantages, while subordinate groups
struggle to increase theirs
• Typically recommends eliminating privilege as
means of reducing social conflict and increasing
sum of human welfare*
1-22
3. SYMBOLIC
INTERACTIONISM
• Focuses on face-to-face interaction in micro-level
social settings
• Emphasizes need for understanding subjective
meanings that people attach to social
circumstances
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• Argues that people help create their social
circumstances, not merely react to them
• Increases understanding and tolerance of
difference by validating unpopular and unofficial
viewpoints*
1-23
4. FEMINIST THEORY
• Focuses on various aspects of patriarchy: System
of male domination in society
• Suggests male domination and female
subordination are determined by structures of
power and social convention rather than biology
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• Examines operation of patriarchy in both micro and
macro social settings
• Recommends eliminating patterns of gender
inequality*
1-24
MAIN THEORETICAL
TRADITIONS IN SOCIOLOGY
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1-25
TODAY’S SOCIAL
SETTING
• Today’s social setting is characterized by:
 Postindustrialism: Technology-driven shift from
manufacturing to service industries and attendant
consequences of that shift for all of society
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 Globalization: Process by which formerly separate
economies, states, and cultures become tied
together; also characterized by people becoming
increasingly aware of their growing
interdependence*
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SOCIOLOGICAL ISSUES IN
THE POSTINDUSTRIAL ERA
1. Autonomy versus constraint: Individuals are more
free to construct identities but are limited by new
technologies (e.g., surveillance technologies)
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2. Prosperity versus inequality: Are new economic,
political, and educational opportunities, yet
persistence of economic and political inequality
3. Diversity versus uniformity: Increased tolerance
of diversity amidst strong push for conformity in
many spheres of life**
1-27
SUPPLEMENTARY SLIDES
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1-28
JOBS COMMONLY HELD BY
CANADIANS WITH DEGREES
IN SOCIOLOGY
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1-29
THE ELIZABETHAN
WORLDVIEW (CIRCA 1600)
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