Introduction to the Study of Sociology

Primary Question

• What is sociology and why is it important and beneficial?

• What is the concept of free-will?

Agency vs. Structure– What determines an individuals behavior?

• Agency-making individual choices based on free-will

• Structure-cultural and structural influences operate in the decision making process– How society is organized– Society is patterned

What is Sociology?

The Sociological Perspective

• Sociology• The Sociological Imagination– C. Wright Mills

• Is sociology simply common sense?

Common Sense

• Is subjective• Ignores facts• Is contradictory• Varies across groups and cultures• Is based on myths and misconceptions

Sociology and the Social Sciences

• What is Science?• What is the difference between natural and

social sciences?– What are some other social sciences and what do

they study?

Sociological Perspective

• The sociological imagination helps us to understand how the social structure affects our lives

• The structure of society refers to the way that a society is organized– Institutions– Social Groups– Statuses– Roles

Social Institutions

• An established and enduring pattern of social relationships– The five traditional social institutions are • Family • Religion• Politics• Economics• Education

Culture is defined as the meanings and ways of life that characterize a society including beliefs, values, norms, sanctions, and symbols.

Elements of Culture

Levels of Analysis

• Macro sociology - Looks at the "big picture" of society and suggests how social problems are affected at the institutional level.

• Micro sociology - Concerned with the social psychological dynamics of individuals interacting in small groups.

• What is a theory?

Theory

• A theory is a set of statements that explains why a particular phenomena happens– Theories can be viewed as tools or lenses through

which individuals view society and, in this case, the family.

– Theories differ

Benefits of the Sociological Perspective

• Gaining a broad understanding of society• Promotes and understanding of the social

world and our place in it. • Helps us to understand how our lives are

shaped by society, but also how individuals working together can change society– Disclaimer: Sociology addresses serious problems

that face society, and often leads to disturbing discoveries about our society and ourselves.