Sociology
the study of how societies are organized and how the organization of a society influences the behaviour of the people living in it
Sociological Imagination
understanding personal issues of individuals as part of larger public issues and period. Affects individuals and society
Micro-level theories
interactional phenomena (person-to-person interaction)
Macro-level theories
explanations about how institutions, economics, nations and societies operate
Structural Functionalism
- human behaviour is governed by stable patterns of social relations and social structures. -Norms, traditions & institutions that bind people to society and maintain order.
- Views society as having specific “working parts”
- critique: may ignore power struggles and class , assumes stability
Emilie Durkheim (1858-1917)
created foundation for structural func. - French sociologist - wanted sociology to be a rigorous science guided by analysis of social facts
-studied suicide: heavily shaped by social conditions, if in a state of anomie
social fact
things that exist outside the individual and puts constraints on behaviour (eg. give gifts at xmas, having a xmas tree)
anomie
when norms and values break down in a society. People more likely to commit suicide if not integrated in society with common values or social expectations
solidarity
how people in a society are connected and guided by shared values, norms and rules that help maintain social order
organic solidarity
think urban living, people have different roles and all contribute to make society function, but it is somewhat impersonal and we don’t know the people personally, a city would break down if sanitation workers stopped working,
mechanical solidarity
everyone is connected and works together in society, same belief, does same thing, in structurally simple societies
common consciousness
collection of all the beliefs, morals and ideas that are the social facts
Conflict Theory
- emphasizes power struggles and conflict in society
- macro-level (eg. class relations usually socioeconomic)
- patterns of inequality and their outcomes
- domination and subordination and how they play out
- people in advantage will try to stay up and subordinate groups try to increase their advantage
- critique: may overlook forces of stability in society
Karl Marx (1818-1883)
believed all societies were based on social conflicts
-key to understanding was looking at socioeconomic relationships in the society
historical materialism
how production is organized
capitalism
specifically, (wage labour, private ownership production, profit-making) leads to alienation of workers from their labour
Two classes
Owners (bourgeoisie/capitalists) that profit from labour of proletariats and Proletariats (workers) who sell their labour to live
Symbolic Interactionism
- micro-level interpersonal communications and interactions
- emphasizes social life is possible only because people attach meaning to things
- people help create social circumstances, not just react to them
Max Weber (1864-1920)
- main focus on individuals
- cultural values influence indv. Behaviours which in turn shapes society
- proposed that post-capitalism, modern society will be defined by rational bureaucracies
W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963)
- studied lives of black and white Americans post slavery & Jim Crow era
- 1st sociologist to describe effects of structural racism
- introduced concepts of double consciousness, the colourline, and the psychological wage of whiteness
double consciousness
fractured sense of identity among black americans, comes from viewing oneself through eyes of the white world
the colourline
separation of black and white people
Psychological Wages of whiteness
symbolic rewards white people receive from system
