Origins of Sociology. Chapter 1B

Transcription

1 Origins of Sociology Chapter 1B

2 3 Changes Helped Develop Sociology Rise of factory-based industrial economy Took people out of their homes, weakening the traditions that had guided community life for centuries. Explosive growth of cities People moved to cities looking for jobs in factories New ideas about democracy and political rights. Shift in focus from a moral obligation to God and king to pursuit of self-interest.

3 Auguste Comte Coined the term Sociology He, along with the other pioneers of sociology, believed the major goal of sociology was to understand society as it actually operates.

4 Auguste Comte Saw sociology as the product of a 3 stage historical development Theological stage Thought was guided by religion Metaphysical stage People saw society as a natural rather than a supernatural system. Scientific stage Comte favored positivism-a way of understanding based on science. Comte s contribution came in applying the scientific approach to the study of society.

5 Sociological Theory Helps to explain social behavior in the real world. Sociologists test their theories by gathering evidence using various research methods. In building theory, sociologists face two fundamental questions What issues should we study? How should we connect the facts? Sociologists make use of three major theoretical approaches Structural-functionalism Social-conflict Symbolic-interaction

6 Structural-Functional Approach Sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. It asserts that our lives are guided by social structure (relatively stable patterns of social behavior) Each social structure has social functions (consequences for the operation of society as a whole. Robert Merton introduced three concepts related to social function Manifest functions: the recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern. Latent Functions: largely unrecognized and unintended consequences. Social dysfunctions: undesirable consequences of a social pattern for the operation of society.

7 Structural-Functional Approach The influence of this approach has declined in recent decades. Critical review: It focuses on stability, thereby ignoring inequalities of social class, race and gender.

8 Social-Conflict Approach Sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change. A conflict analysis rejects the idea that social structure promotes the operation of society as a whole, focusing instead on how social patterns benefit some people while hurting others. Most sociologists who favor the conflict approach attempt not only to understand society but also to reduce social inequality. They look at ongoing conflict between dominant and disadvantaged categories of people Rich vs. poor, white people vs. people of color, men vs. women etc.

9 Social-Conflict Approach One important type of conflict analysis is the gender-conflict approach: A point of view that focuses on inequality and conflict between men and women Important b/c it makes us aware of the many ways in which our way of life places men in positions of power over women The gender-conflict approach is closely linked to feminism (the advocacy of social equality for women and men.) Gender-conflict approach also makes us aware of the importance of women to the development of sociology Harriet Martineau: regarded as first woman sociologi

10 Social-Conflict Approach Another type of social-conflict analysis is race-conflict approach A point of view that focuses on inequality and conflict between people of different racial and ethnic categories. Just as men have power over women, white people have numerous social advantages over people of color (higher incomes, more schooling, better health and longer life. Points out the people of color who have made contributions to the development of sociology. W.E.B. Du Bois spoke out against racial separation as was the founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Approach has developed rapidly in recent years. It has several weaknesses. It ignores social unity based on mutual interdependence and shared values. Because it is explicitly political it cannot claim scientific objectivity. Like the structural-functional theory, it envisions society in terms of broad abstractions.

11 Symbolic-Interaction Approach Sees society as the product of the everyday interactions of individuals. Structural-functional and social-conflict approaches share a macro-level orientation (they focus on broad social structures that shape society as a whole. Symbolic-internationalism has a micro-level orientation (focuses on patterns of social interaction in specific settings). Symbolic internationalism attempts to explain more clearly how individuals actually experience society. Two weaknesses Its micro-orientation sometimes results in the error of ignoring the influence of larger social structures. By emphasizing what is unique, it risks overlooking the effects of culture, class, gender, and race.

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13 Applying the Approaches: The Sociology of Sports Structural-Functional Approach Structural-functional approach directs attention to the ways sports help society to operate. Manifest Functions Provide recreation, physical shape, and harmless way to blow off stream Latent Functions Build social relationships, create thousands of jobs, encourage competition and pursuit of success. Dysfunctional Consequences Trying to field winning teams causes colleges to recruit an athlete based on athletic ability instead of academic ability.

14 Applying the Approaches: The Sociology of Sports Social-Conflict Approach A social-conflict analysis points out that sports are closely linked to social inequality. Games people play reflect their social standing Tennis, swimming, golf, sailing and skiing are expensive so are limited to well-to-do individuals Sports have been oriented mostly towards males. Traditional ideas that girls/women lack the strength to play sports are widely rejected today. At the professional level women take the backseat to men, particularly in the sports with the most earnings and social prestige. For decades, big league sports excluded people of color Racial discrimination still exists in professional sports Race is linked to the position athletes play on the field Example: white athletes are much more likely than African American athletes to play offense and to take the central positions on both sides of the line. The vast majority of managers, head coaches, and owners of sports teams are white.

15 Figure 1-2 (p. 23) Race and Sport: Stacking in Professional Football Does race play a part in professional sports? Looking at the various positions in professional football, we see that white players are more likely to play the central and offensive positions. What do you make of this pattern?

16 Applying the Approaches: The Sociology of Sports Symbolic-Interaction Approach Symbolic-interaction sees sports less as a system than as an ongoing process. At a micro-level, a sporting event is a complex, faceto-face interaction. It is expected that each players understanding of the game is different. Some players enjoy the setting of competition while others just have a love of the game. The behavior of any single player may change over time. A rookie may develop a comfortable sense of fitting in on the team.

17 Sociology a Stereotype? Good sociology involves making generalizations, which must meet 3 important conditions. Sociologists do not carelessly apply any generalization to all individuals. Sociologists are careful that generalization squares with available facts. Sociologists offer generalizations fairmindedly, with an interest at getting at the truth.