Sociology 101

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Sociology is the study of human society and human relationships
Sociology study topics such as work, religion, and race all sociologists are
connected by sociological imagination the term was coined by c wright mills.
Mills believes that he is what society tells him to do and says all of his
personal experience can be explained by larger forces in society. To
understand the personal you need to move beyond the personal. We begin to
believe things that society tells us for example you dont have a job because
you are not working hard enough. We connect our personal experience to
society at large and greater historical fact he also said "make the familiar
strangea " or to question the habits or customs of habits that seem "natural" to us
Social institutions are a network of structures in society that work to
socialize the groups of people within them examples are the legal system,
prisons, the educational system, the military and family.
Social identity is the way individuals define themselves in relationship to
groups they are a part of (or in relationship to groups they choose not to be a
part of) sum total of stories that make grand narrative
Connections to other social structures the legal system is to enforce
copyright law primary and secondary systems to sort out who can attend
college administrative system is to select staff and faculty so it becomes
very hard to fake getting a college diploma
Asking a rich sociological question
An example of a bad sociological question is after 9/11 what is going on in
the Muslim community that produces terrorists the consequences of this was
hate crimes against the Muslim population and a cultural stigma that led to
hate crimes.
Five Theoretical Frameworks
Conflict theory- Is that conflict at all levels is the force that drives social
change opposite the functionalists idea that societies are in general harmony

with occasional breakdowns inequality exist at the expense of less powerful

groups Marco-sociology
Functionalism- Analyze society by understanding the roles of different social
institutions and social phenomena at play extensions of a 19th century
theory called organisms the notion that society is like a living organism with
each part playing a role to keep society tougher ideas from Emile Durkheim
macro-sociology
Emile Durkheim - founder of positivist sociology devolved the theory that
division of labor help determine how social cohesion is maintained or not
maintained in society often associated with functionalism
Feminism theory emerged in the 1960's from the women movement there no
idea but share the belief sociology and society in general subordinate women
Post modernism The Grand narrative of history are history nothing is
objectively real everything is a social construction including "facts"
everything can be deconstructed
Sociologist are concerned about a general trends in question
When asking a sociological quest use generalized questions and then a use
these general terms in a theoretical framework
How to research and find answers to your sociological questions?
Research question why do people smoke even though they know the
consequences?
Research method Quantitative approach turns phenomenon and events into
numerical form
The Qualitative method attempt to collect information in a non-numeric form
Deductive approach
Starts with a theory
Develop a hypnosis
Make an empirical observation
Analysis data
Historical method what is the history behind how something has happened

Comparative approach is to compare different places

Participant observation young the community and observe interactions
Interviews you can ask questions directly or in a roundabout way
Survey research is often considered quantitative research
Content analysis
Experimentation testing your theory in a controlled environment

Socialization is the process by which individuals internalize the values beliefs

norms of a given society and learn to function as a member of that society
Charles Horton Cooley theorized that self emerges from our ability to assume
the point of view of others and to imagine how others see us coin the term
looking glass self
George Herbert Mead development a theory of how the social self develops
over the course of childhood infants know only I but through social
interaction they learn about me and the other they develop a concept of
the generalized order which allows them to apply norms and behaviors
Social deviance are transgression of norms and values
Social cohesion refers to the way people form social bonds relate to each
other and get along on a day to day basis
Emile Durkheim theorized that social cohesion is established though
mechanical solidarity based on the sameness of society parts or members or
organic solidarity based on the interdependence of specialized part or
members
Howard Becker individuals dont commit crimes rather social groups create
deviance by setting the rules for what right and wrong and second by
labelling wrongdoers as outsiders
Labeling hierarchy only politicians and law makers can decide what is
deviant
Stratification refers to systemic inequality

Before capitalism there was feudalism during the 15th century feudalism
started to decline the enclosure system which forced people to move out it
lasted from 1500-1700 a lot of peasants started to go to the cities by kicking
peasants off the land the land itself became valuable
Capitalism helps maintain a cohesiveness also in capitalism there is a free
hand that
Carl Marx and Fredrick Engels wrote the communist manifesto
Karl Marx says in capitalism we are alienated from the product because we
dont know what where making anymore
We are also alienated from the production process we are also alienated from
each other and finally we are alienated from ourselves
Max weber who wrote the protestant ethic and spirit of capitalism
The State is an abstract concept that is made up of many different types of
things
Types of legitimate authority Charismatic authority in authority using ones
charisma in order to traditional authority is when things are done because
they have always been that way
Bureaucracy is a legal rational organization or code of administration that
governs with reference to rules and emphasizes meritocracy
A Process in the making many believe that there are only two sexes male
and female and that all people fall into one category
Race is a social construction
Religion is a system of beliefs and practices around sacred beliefs that share
a same story
Religions of the world theism
Ehticalism
Animism the beliefs that sprits inhabit the natural world
Sacred describes holy things
Profane describes ordinary mundane thins of everyday life
Why do we separate the sacred from the profane?
We do we need religion
How might religious ideas shape society?

Can we ever detach from religion

Karl Marx- theory historical materialism which identifies class as the primary
cause of social change
Karl Marx argued that religion was used to keep workers from question their
oppressed position in everyday life by promising them riches in the afterlife
Marx on religion religious suffering is at one and the same time Religion is
the opium for the masses
Religion is sometimes used to justify inequality
Some religious leaders are also openly critical of inequality
Max Webern
Emile Durkhiem functionalism guy
Recent trends secularism is a movement away from religion and more
towards science
Pluralism is the presence of number and distinct groups in one society
Secularism or speculation less people goes to services but more people
express their religious beliefs
Religion has sparked many social movements that shaped society
Race and religion

December 18th is the time of the final 1:40-3:40