SOCIOLOGICAL AND

ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
AUGUSTE COMTE
Auguste Comte was the first to develop the concept of
"sociology.“ He defined sociology as a positive science.

 Coined up the concept of Theory of Positivism.

 Positivism is the search for "invariant laws of the
natural and social world."
SOCIALIZATION AND PERSONALITY
Socialization is the cultural process of learning to
participate in group life.
Youth is most important time for socialization.
 Personal and social development occurs only through
prolonged social contact with others.
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
Self Concept
 image of yourself as having an identity separate from other
people
Looking Glass Self
1. How do we appear to others (imagined)
2. What is their reaction to our appearance
3. Evaluate ourselves based on this imagined perception
4. Distortions? Significant others?
AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION
1. FAMILY

 Learn norms, values, and beliefs

 Learn to develop relationships
 Acquire self image
 Obtain social class
2. SCHOOL
 Children are cared for by someone other than
parents.
 More impersonal relationships.
 Hidden Curriculum-unofficial skills children are
taught in preparation for life.
 Extracurricular Activities.
3. PEER GROUP
 Independence, freedom to express yourself.
 May develop values that conflict with the adult world.
 Relationships with the opposite sex Peer pressure.
 Composed of individuals of roughly the same age
and interests.
 Provide sense of belonging.
 Not under adult control.
 Experience in areas of conflict, competition, and
cooperation.
4. MASS MEDIA
 Methods of communication to reach the general
population.
 Either helps sustain status quo or moves society
towards change.
 Display role models to imitate Teach Values Show
achievement, success, and hard work.
NORMS

Are ways of behaving that are considered normal in a

particular society.
 A norm is an official standard or level that organizations are
expected to reach.
 Norms can be simply defined as behaviors, thoughts or values
that a majority of people share within the same society.
1. FOLKWAYS
 Sometimes known as “conventions” or “customs,” are standards of
behavior that are socially approved but not morally significant.

Example : Belching loudly after eating dinner at someone else's

home breaks an American folkway.
2. MORES
 Are norms of morality.
 Are more strict than folkways, as they determine what is
considered moral and ethical behavior; they structure the
difference between right and wrong.
Example:
It is not considered acceptable or mainstream to abuse drugs,
particularly those such as heroine and cocaine.
It is not considered acceptable to drive at 90 mph in a residential
area.
3. TABOO
 Is an activity that is forbidden or sacred based on religious
beliefs or morals.
 Breaking a taboo is extremely objectionable in society as a
whole. Around the world, an act may be taboo in one culture
and not in another.
Example:
 Abortion - terminating a pregnancy
Circumcision - this is practiced by Jews for religious reasons
 4.LAWS
 Are a formal body of rules enacted by the state and
backed by the power of the state.
 Virtually all taboos, like child abuse, are enacted into
law, although not all mores are.
Example:
 Wearing a bikini to church may be offensive, but it is not
against the law.
ANTHROPOLOGY PERSPECTIVE

Anthropology is the study of what makes us human.

The word is come from the Greek terms:
Anthropos: “man” or by extension “human”
Logos: “study” of or “science” of
EDWARD BURNETT TYLOR
E.B. Tylor, anthropology’s founder, gave a definition to start with:
“That complex whole which includes
Knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, law, custom
And any other capabilities and habits
Acquired by man [both genders]
As a member of society”
OVERVIEW
Anthropology confronts basic questions of human
existence and survival.
How we originated.
How we have changed.
How we are changing still.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF

 Society is a collection of social identities distributed

over a landscape.

 Individuals strive to arrive at some identity/destination

from which they can relate to other social identities.
HOW DOES THE CONCEPT OF
PERSONHOOD VARY FROM SOCIETY
TO SOCIETY?
The Egocentric and Sociocentric Self
• In the egocentric view each person is defined as a replica
of all humanity, the locus of motivations and drives, capable
of acting independently from others.

The sociocentric view of the self depends on context.

 The self exists as an entity only within the concrete situations
or roles occupied by the person.
It sounds so simple, but if you just be yourself, you're
different than anyone else.

-Tony Bennett