The Sociological Perspective Seeing the general in the particular Seeing the strange in the familiar...

The Sociological The Sociological PerspectivePerspective

Seeing the general in the particularSeeing the general in the particular Seeing the strange in the familiar Seeing the strange in the familiar

Macionis Sociology Macionis Sociology

Chapter OneChapter One

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Overall Goals of Chapter OneOverall Goals of Chapter One

Gain a working knowledge of the three major sociological theories

Understand the impact of the global perspective

Macionis, Sociology, Chapter OneMacionis, Sociology, Chapter One

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What Is Sociology?What Is Sociology?““...The ...The systematic study of human society ”

SystematicSystematic• Scientific discipline that focuses attention on Scientific discipline that focuses attention on

patterns of behavior. patterns of behavior. Allows for proof or disproof..

Human societyHuman society• Group behavior is primary focus; how groups Group behavior is primary focus; how groups

influence individuals and vice versa. influence individuals and vice versa. Impact of groups on choices.

At the “heart of sociology” - At the “heart of sociology” - Peter BergerPeter Berger

• The sociological perspective which offers a unique The sociological perspective which offers a unique view of society. Patterns.view of society. Patterns.

• Seeing the general in the particular. Seeing the general in the particular. • Seeing the strange in the familiarSeeing the strange in the familiar..

Macionis, Sociology Chapter OneMacionis, Sociology Chapter One

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Applying the Sociological PerspectiveApplying the Sociological Perspective

1.1. Helps assess the truth of common senseHelps assess the truth of common sense

2.2. Helps assess opportunities and Helps assess opportunities and constraints in our lives (personal growth)constraints in our lives (personal growth)

3.3. Empowers us to be active participants in Empowers us to be active participants in our society (change public policy)our society (change public policy)

4.4. Helps us learn how to live in a diverse Helps us learn how to live in a diverse world (the global perspective)world (the global perspective)


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Importance of Global PerspectiveImportance of Global Perspective

Where we live makes a great difference in Where we live makes a great difference in shaping our livesshaping our lives

Societies throughout the world are increasingly Societies throughout the world are increasingly interconnected through technology and interconnected through technology and economicseconomics

Many problems that we faced in the united Many problems that we faced in the united states are more serious elsewherestates are more serious elsewhere

Thinking globally is a good way to learn more Thinking globally is a good way to learn more about ourselvesabout ourselves


AnswerAnswer: Princess Diana's death.: Princess Diana's death.

An An EnglishEnglish princess with an princess with an EgyptianEgyptian boyfriend crashes in a boyfriend crashes in a FrenchFrench tunnel, driving tunnel, driving a a GermanGerman car with a car with a DutchDutch engine, driven engine, driven by a by a BelgianBelgian who was drunk on who was drunk on ScottishScottish whisky, (check the bottle before you change whisky, (check the bottle before you change the spelling), followed closely by the spelling), followed closely by ItalianItalian Paparazzi, on Paparazzi, on JapaneseJapanese motorcycles; motorcycles; treated by an treated by an AmericanAmerican doctor, using doctor, using BrazilianBrazilian medicines. medicines.

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What is a simple definitionWhat is a simple definition of of Globalization?Globalization?

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Global DisparitiesGlobal Disparities

EducationEducation MarriageMarriage Personal choicePersonal choice Career choicesCareer choices Choices about faithChoices about faith LawsLaws Public PolicyPublic Policy Income and earning powerIncome and earning power


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C. Wright Mills’ Sociological ImaginationC. Wright Mills’ Sociological Imagination

The power of the sociological perspective The power of the sociological perspective lies not just in changing individual lives lies not just in changing individual lives but in transforming societybut in transforming society

Society, not people’s personal failings is Society, not people’s personal failings is the cause of social problemsthe cause of social problems

The sociological imagination transforms The sociological imagination transforms personal problems into public issuespersonal problems into public issues


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Sociological TheorySociological Theory Theory: a statement of how and why facts are Theory: a statement of how and why facts are

related. Explains social behavior to the worldrelated. Explains social behavior to the world

Theoretical paradigm: a set of fundamental Theoretical paradigm: a set of fundamental assumptions that guide thinkingassumptions that guide thinking

Three major approaches to sociologyThree major approaches to sociology• Structural-functional (macro)• Social-conflict (macro)• Symbolic-interaction (micro)


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Structural–Functional ParadigmStructural–Functional Paradigm The basics:The basics:

A macro-level orientation, concerned with broad A macro-level orientation, concerned with broad patterns that shape society as a wholepatterns that shape society as a whole

Views society as a Views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability to promote solidarity and stability

Key elements: Social structure refers to any relatively stable Social structure refers to any relatively stable

patterns of social behavior found in social patterns of social behavior found in social institutionsinstitutions

Social function refers to the Social function refers to the consequences for the operation of society as a whole



Who’s Who in the Who’s Who in the Structural-Functional ParadigmStructural-Functional Paradigm

Auguste Comte Importance of social integration during rapid change

Emile Durkheim Helped establish sociology as a university discipline

Talcott Parsons Identify tasks that every society must perform

Robert K. Merton Manifest functions: recognized intended consequences Latent functions: unrecognized unintended consequences Social dysfunctions are undesirable consequences

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Social-Conflict ParadigmSocial-Conflict Paradigm The basics:

A macro-oriented paradigm Views society as an arena of inequality that generates

conflict and social change Power-based

Key elements: Society is structured in ways to benefit a few at the

expense of the majority Factors such as race, sex, class, and age are linked to

social inequality Dominant group vs. Minority group relations

• Incompatible interests and major differences


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Who’s Who in the Who’s Who in the Social-Conflict ParadigmSocial-Conflict Paradigm

Karl MarxKarl Marx The importance of social class in inequality The importance of social class in inequality

and social conflictand social conflict W.E.B. DuBoisW.E.B. DuBois

Race as the major problem facing the Race as the major problem facing the United States in the twentieth centuryUnited States in the twentieth century

Harriet MartineauHarriet Martineau Position of women and their educationPosition of women and their education

Jane AddamsJane Addams Hull House for immigrantsHull House for immigrants


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Symbolic Interaction ParadigmSymbolic Interaction Paradigm The basics:

A micro-level orientation, a close-up focus on social interactions in specific situations

Views society as the product of everyday interactions of individuals

Key elements: Society is the shared reality that people

construct as they interact with one another Society is a complex, ever-changing mosaic

of subjective meanings Meaning people attach to behavior


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Who’s Who in the Who’s Who in the Symbolic-Interaction ParadigmSymbolic-Interaction Paradigm Max WeberMax Weber

Understanding a setting from the people in itUnderstanding a setting from the people in it George Herbert MeadGeorge Herbert Mead

How we build personalities form social How we build personalities form social experienceexperience

Erving GoffmanErving Goffman Dramaturgical analysisDramaturgical analysis

George Homans & Peter BlauGeorge Homans & Peter Blau Social-exchange analysisSocial-exchange analysis


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Critical EvaluationCritical Evaluation

Structural-FunctionalStructural-Functional Too broad, ignores inequalities of social class, race Too broad, ignores inequalities of social class, race

& gender, focuses on stability at the expense of & gender, focuses on stability at the expense of conflictconflict

Social-ConflictSocial-Conflict Too broad, ignores how shared values and mutual Too broad, ignores how shared values and mutual

interdependence unify society, pursues political interdependence unify society, pursues political goalsgoals

Symbolic-InteractionSymbolic-Interaction Ignores larger social structures, effects of culture, Ignores larger social structures, effects of culture,

factors such as social economic class, gender, & factors such as social economic class, gender, & racerace


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Applying Theory Major Theoretical Approaches


“I always have two lists: things I'm happy about and things I'm not. It's my choice which list I focus on.” - Anne Arthur

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