CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

SOC 122
Instructor: Dr. T. Sebeelo
WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?
 A science of human societies/human behavior
 The study of human social life, groups and societies
 Subject matter of sociology is our own behavior as human/social beings.
 Sociology: Varied scope. ”Many sociologies”—”Family” “Law” ”Medical”
“Crime and Deviance” ”Social Problems” “Feminism”, “Religion” ‘Politics”
etc.
 Largely influenced by the industrial revolution in Europe.
SOCIOLOGY IMAGINATION
 All sociologists bound together by the “Sociological Perspective” or what
C.Wright Mills calls “Sociological Imagination”.
 Sociologists use the “soc imagination” to understand behavior and what makes
people do the things they do.
 Unique method of studying human behavior.
SOCIOLOGY IMAGINATION
 Sociological Imagination involves;
 “Seeing the general in the particular”. Concerned with patterns of behavior
rather than individual cases. Study individual cases in search of general social
patterns.
 “Seeing the strange in the familiar”. Enables us to ”think ourselves away
from the familiar routines of our daily lives in order to look at them anew”
(Giddens, 1993: 18).
 “Things are not what they seem” (Peter Berger 1963: 23).
SOCIOLOGICAL
IMAGINATION: CRITICAL
QUESTIONS
What is the structure of this particular society as a whole? What are its
essential components, and how are they related to one another?
 What is the history of this society? Where does it stand in its human history?
What are the mechanics by which it is changing? What are the essential
features of the current period?
 What varieties of men and women prevail in this society and in this period?
And what varieties are coming to prevail? In what ways are they selected and
formed, liberated and repressed, made sensitive and blunted?
PURPOSE OF
SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES
 To develop and enhance theoretical knowledge about human societies.
 To build theories about society.
 Practical policy making and reform.
 Sociological research provides better understanding of social reality.
 Research fosters greater cultural awareness on the different societal groups. “Seeing the world
from a diversity of cultural perspectives”.
 Policy effects can be better understood through research.
 Research increases self-knowledge/enlightenment.
SOCIOLOGY: SUBJECT MATTER
The
Historical

The
Empirical

The
Analytical

Sociology
ORIGINS OF SOCIOLOGY
 Can be traced to the changes in European society in the 17 th century.
 Term ”Sociology” coined by Auguste Comte, French philosopher.
 French Revolution of 1789 and Industrial Revolution in 19th century Europe.
 Growth of modern industrial society came with the need for a science of society.
 Sociology expected to provide principles of social behavior to explain diverse societies.
MAJOR SOCIAL FORCES
THAT LEAD TO SOCIOLOGY
 Political Revolutions: Ushered in French revolution in 1789. Resulted in many positive
changes in European societies.
 Industrial Revolution and Rise of Capitalism: Interrelated events in the 18th & 19th century.
Transformed Western societies from agricultural to industrial ones.
-Establishment of factories, technologies, “free market system”.
 Political changes: Rising concern with individual liberty and rights.
SOCIAL FORCES…..
 Urbanization: Refers to movement from rural to urban areas for job opportunities. Linked to
the industrial revolution of the 18th and 19th century.
 Religious Change: Industrial, urbanization and political revolutions had profound effect on
religiosity.
 The Growth of Science: Prestige associated with new technologies, machines & other
innovations. Natural Sciences (Chemistry, Biology and Physics) accorded honor and prestige.
EXAMPLE
THEORETICAL
PERSPECTIVES IN
SOCIOLOGY
 Theory: A structure/framework that guides research within which investigation operates.
 Explains relationship between two or more specific facts.
 Sociologists share three major theoretical paradigms:

-Structural Functionalism
-Social-Conflict Paradigm
-Symbolic Interactionist Paradigm
STRUCTURAL
FUNCTIONALIST PARADIGM
 Presents a conservative stance towards society.
 Society: Complex system of interrelated parts working together to promote stability.
 Societal members share a set of agreed-upon values, customs and expectations. “Normative
consensus”.
 Structural Functionalism: Emphasizes stability, order, harmony, equilibrium, social cohesion
& social solidarity.
 Society composed of social structures. Each structure has a social function for the operation of
society as a whole.
 Theorists: Comte, Spencer, Durkheim, Talcott Parsons and Robert Merton.
THE SOCIAL CONFLICT
PARADIGM
 Society a complex system characterized by inequalities and conflict.
 Investigates how some structures are useful to others and harmful to others.
 Society characterized by incompatible interests among people in different classes. E.g. The
rich vs poor, employers’ vs workers.
Criticism
 Ignores social unity based on interdependence and social values.
 Explicitly political and abandons the goal of scientific objectively.
 Economic determinism. Views society in terms of only two classes.
THE SYMBOLIC
INTERACTION PARADIGM
 Society a product of everyday interactions between individuals.
 Micro-oriented theory: Focus on every day face-to-face patterns of social interaction in
specific settings.
 People act according to their own interpretation of reality; according to the meanings have for
them.
 People learn the meaning of a thing from the way others react to it, either positively or
negatively. Social meanings arise interactionally.
 Meanings are handled and modified through an interpretative process.
 Notable theorists: George Herbert Mead, Erving Goffman, George Homans & Peter Blau.
Others include Charles Horton Cooley, W.I. Thomas and Herbert Blumer.