Chapter 1: Sociology Introduction

As we begin looking at sociology, we discover new things. Sociology brings us to think about society and it's behavior. There are a couple of different perspectives associated with sociology. As well as characteristics of society.

Sociology, itself, is the social science that studies human society and social behavior. Social sciences are the disciplines that study human society in a scientific matter. Sociologists will study social interaction in a scientific way. They will observe how society interacts with the people in and around it. By examining social phenomena, sociologists examine observable facts or events that involve human society, within a group. By using a sociological perspective, people can look beyond commonly held beliefs to the hidden meanings behind human actions. To see a connection between the larger world and your personal life is called sociological imagination.

There are a couple of other social sciences that connect or relate a little to sociology. Anthropology, which is the study of past and present cultures, psychology, which deals with the behavior and thinking of organisms. Social psychology, the study of how social environment affects an individual's behavior, economics, the study of choices people make in an effort to satisfy needs and wants, political science, the examination of the organization and operations of governments, and lastly, history, the study of past events. All these other social sciences can connect to sociology in some way, each has to to with the study of people or society in different ways.

There were five men who had different sociological beliefs or perspectives on society. August Comte focused on social statics, things that stay the same, and social dynamics, things that change. Both having to do with society. Herbert Spencer believed in Social Darwinism, which is “the survival of the fittest,” which in society, only the strong society will survive. Karl Marx believed in the conflict theory, which was the idea that every society will have conflict between the capitalist class and the working class. Èmile Durkheim believed in parts working together to make a function. And Max Weber believed in Verstehen, understanding the meaning individuals attach to their actions, and in ideal type, a description comprised of the essential characteristics of a feature of a society.

A theory is an explanation of the relationship among particular phenomena. Sociologists develop theories and theoretical perspectives. There are three modern perspectives today developed by sociologists. The functionalist perspective is based on the ideas of Comte, Spencer, and Durkheim. They view society as a set of interrelated parts that work together to make a good or stable society. A dysfunction is a negative consequence associated with societal choices. A manifest function is the intended result of the consequence. A latent function is the unintended result. The Conflict perspective focuses on the forces in society that promote change and competition. They follow the traditions of Karl Marx. The Interactionist perspective focuses on how individuals interact with one another in society. Symbols, something that represents something else, are used and observed. How people use symbols when interacting, called symbolic interaction, is used often.

These were the characteristics and perspectives of sociology. Sociology is a social science that focuses on society. Sociology is a very important part of social sciences.