INSOCIO Major Sociological Perspectives

1. Social Conflict focuses on chaos, problems, concerns and

Social Forces – anything human created that influences, pressure, or push disruptions
people to behave and think in specified ways 2. Functionalism focuses on what and how people can do to the
e.g. conflicts or referred as the dynamics of the people as their actions
 Education  Sexuality 3. Symbolic Interaction focuses on practical considerations and
 Government & Politics  Deviant Behaviors
utilization of communications (language & dialects) in which
 Gender  Religion
 Health/Mental Health  Crime people will be directed to one action toward common goal for one
 Economy  Laws society
 Race & Culture 4. Structure focuses on the social classes, barriers, entities that
Sociology – the scientific study of human activity in society; studies human influences or source of pressure, concerns that affects society and
society and social behavior in a scientific manner; systematic study of society individuals’ lives
and social interaction Pre-scientific History of Sociology
Socious – to be with others 13th Century 18th Century
Logos – to study Precursors to Sociology as a discipline John Locke
Biography – all events and day-to-day interactions from birth until death that Ma Tuan-Lin – General Study of Voltaire
make up a person’s life Literary Remains (13th century) Immanuel Kant
Sociological Imagination – a perspective that allow us to consider how Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406) – Thomas Hobbes
outside forces, especially our time in history and the place we live, shape our compared nomadic and sedentary Focused on the social ills and social
life stories or biographies; the ability to see the relationship between life, studied tribal social cohesions reformation
individual experiences and the larger society (private vs. public issues) relationship to power
A society is a large social grouping that shares the same geographical
territory and is subjected to the same political and dominant cultural History of Sociology
expectation 1900s
3 Elements of Society  Developed in Europe due to changes brought by the industrial
 People revolution
 Territory – common place  Countryside residents left their homes and went to the cities. As
 Culture – various kinds of practices, beliefs, behaviors, norms or cities become crowded, interaction on a closer scale occurred
customs  Social problems, e.g. housing shortages, crime and lack of jobs
(Polity – Political Belief) arose

Social Sciences – studies human behavior, institution or functions of human EARLY SOCIOLOGISTS
society in a scientific manner August Comte (Social Dynamist) Herbert Spencer
Other social sciences: French, 1798-1857 (Naturalist/Evolutionist)
1. Anthropology cultures of past, less advanced society
 Father/Founder of Sociology English, 820-1903
2. Psychology focuses on human (individual) behavior
 Coined the term sociology  Adopted a biological view of
3. Economics study of the choices people make; how people are
 Believed that sociologists society
affected by economic factor
should worry about two  Seen society as an organism
4. Political Science study the governance of the society.
problems: order and change (influenced by Charles
Government, politics and political behavior
1. Social statics – society Darwin)
5. History study of past events and how it affect the current
structure that remains  Coined the phrase “survival
behaviors and attitudes
unchanged of the fittest”
2 MAIN ASPECTS OF SOCIOLOGY
2. Social Dynamics –  Advocated against social
 SOCIAL INTERACTION – how people relate to one another and
societal changes that reform efforts because it
influence one another’s behavior
allow development would disrupt the natural
 SOCIAL PHENOMENA – observable facts or events in human
selection process of evolution
society
Emile Durkheim (Functionalist) Karl Marx (Structuralist)
WHY STUDY SOCIOLOGY?
French, 1858-1917 German, 1818-1883
 Understand how behavior is influenced by social factor
 First to apply scientific  Coined “Structure of Society”
 Learn how to view the world through other’s eyes (e.g. common
principles study of society is influenced by how its
beliefs and find hidden meanings = sociological perspectives)
with its direct observable economy is organized
 Attempt to balance one’s personal desires with their social
features  2 classes of society
environment (e.g. connect the larger world with personal life =
 Viewed society as a series of 1. Bourgeoisie (owner of
sociological imagination)
interrelated parts, and production)
 Find place both within society and history
focused on the function(s) of 2. Proletariat (labor provider)
Methodological Research Methods to Study Sociology
its parts  The imbalance of power
1. Qualitative (Descriptive Method)
1. Function – consequence that between the 2 classes would
a. Description – present condition and past condition
an element of society lead to rebellion
b. Immersion – characteristics, actual number of affected
produces in order to maintain
2. Survey/Questionnaire uses structures or non-structures questionnaires
the social system
in a form of interview
2. Specifically looked at religion
3. Case Study is a specific concern to study: long method; takes a long
time
 The production of new ideas becomes the primary way Worked on the concepts of stigma,
Max Weber (Individualist) William Edward DuBois
to grow the economy (instead of increasing the amount
German, 1818-1883 (Structuralist) of goods produced by increasing manual labor) spoiled identity, and impression
Society becomes more capable of supporting a thriving management
 Focused on the groups American, 1868-1963 creative culture thanks to nuanced changes in education
within society as a whole  Black sociologist studied the
 Targeted the effect of society conflict on prejudice and Michel Foucault (Social Jurgen Habermas (Pragmatism)
in the individual discrimination experienced Relatavism) German, b. 1929
 Emphasizes the viewpoint of by blacks in major American 1926-1984  Known for critical theory and
the individual and how that cities  Known for his theory on the pragmatism.
Recent investigation revealed he was a victim
individual relates to society relationship of power and  His theory of communicative
of discrimination.
 Believed in the use of Modern day sociologists believe he knowledge rationality states that
Verstehen, putting self in contributed a great deal more than he was  He popularized the idea that successful communication
given credit for by others.
someone else’s place to institutions can use a inherently leads to human
study meanings behind an combination of power and rationality
individual’s actions knowledge as a form of social It follows that if we come together in the
public sphere and identify how people
Charles Wright Mills (Structuralist) control understand or misunderstand each other, we
American, 1916-1962 Cited that in the 18th century, unsavory can reduce social conflict.
members of society–the poor, sick, homeless,
 Coined the phrase “power disagreeable–were described as “mad” and
elite”, a term referring to stigmatized. In this way, the powerful
“people who ran the succeeded in defining knowledge.

government or organization Pierre Bourdieu (Culturalism) Anthony Giddens (Conjunctivism

because if their wealth and 1930-2002 and Modernism)
Based his ideas on the work of Marx, b. 1938
social status”
Durkheim, Weber, etc. In the ‘70s, he helped redefine the field itself
 Seen as practice opposed to  Coined the “cultural through a reinterpretation of classic works on
the goals of democracy deprivation theory”: “people society.In the ‘80s, developed his

tend to think higher class  theory of structuration

MODERN DAY SOCIOLOGY cultures are better than (recurring patterns) or
1. Macrosociology – looks at the large segments of the society; lower class’ cultures” agency (free choice)> is the
institutions that make up a society Noted that : primary shaper of human
2. Microsociology – looks at the smallest units that make up the “higher classes individuals believe behavior > theorizes that
society; everyday behavior that lower classes individuals are neither is prime, but that
to blame fort heir children’s they work in conjunction and
Modern Sociologists shortcomings in learning and must be studied as such.
Ferdinand Tonnies (Structuralism) Edwared Burnett Tylor advancement; higher classes’ assumptions
In the ‘90s, began publishing work on his

German, 1855-1936 (Evolutionism)  theories of modernity (the

of “superiority are self-propelling prophecies;
 Coined two types of social English, 1832-1917 to declare oneself better is an act of social historical period marked by
positioning, not necessarily truth. the move from feudalism
groupings:  Founder of cultural The ruling classes tends to have the power to
1. Gemeinschaft – often translated anthropology impose meaning, to instate their own cultural
toward capitalism and
as community – refers to  Coined “Primitive Culture” choices as “correct,” and their “culture as industrialization) and its
worthy to be sought” relationship to globalization
groupings based on feelings of (1871) – evolutionary Cautioned people in general that should not
togetherness and on mutual progressive relationship from assume higher classes are necessarily better
and politics; he suggests a Third
He blamed the education system, not the Way that reconciles the policies of the
bonds, which are felt as a goal to primitive to modern cultures
values of the working class, for the gaps in the political left and the political right in
be kept up, their members being  Best known for his clearest academic achievements of children (a theory order to form a system of ethical
means for this goal definitions of culture as a that has gained traction) socialism–a balance of capitalism and
socialism.
2. Gesellschaft – often translated “complex whole which
Gary Alan Fine (Culturalism. Charles Fourier (Feminism)
as society – refers to groups that includes knowledge, belief,
Ethnocentrism)  Focuses on the issues
are sustained by it being art, morals, law, custom, and
b. 1950 about gender and roles
instrumental for their members’ any other capabilities and
 Made a number of  Oppression and
individual aims and goals. habits acquired by man as a
contributions to the exploitation faced by
member of society”.
discipline in the area of social women I society
Daniel Bell (Individualism) Erving Goffman (Individualism)
culture  Gender, exploitation;
1919-2011 1922-1982
 His social theory on male supremacy
 Leader in the field of post-  One of the most influential of
ethnographies have touched  Some extreme views
industrialism the 20th century
on topics of visual artists, such as radical
 Defined a society that has  Developed the Theory of
high school debaters, feminism seem
developed to a point where Dramaturgy – “the social
restaurant establishment unrealistic
the service (like legal, construction of self”
culture, and fantasy games–
science, IT, business, etc.)  Believed that we are all
all expressive cultural outlets
sector generates more actors playing our respective
shaped by our social system.
wealth than the roles in everyday life
 Work focuses on how groups
manufacturing sector instead Theorized that “our concept of self is
dependent on time, place, and
give meaning to our shared
of goods
audiences”: we work to fit ourselves to experience
 Knowledge becomes a form
cultural norms and values in order to
of capital
gain acceptance
 William Stanley Jevons (Rational George Homans (Social Exchange  from this perspective, each person’s interpretation or definition of
Choice Theory) Theory) a given situation becomes a subjective reality – an individual’s
Assumes that individuals will Focuses on the costs and benefits take on reality, which is influenced by personal opinon
 Operate in rationanal way which people obtain in social George H. Mead
and interaction, including money,  active social reformer – viewed society as ongoing and
 Seek to benefit themselves in goods and status based on the changeable at the individual level
the life choices they make principle that people always act to  society may have the power to shape the person, but the
maximize benefit people can also mold their society
Ferdinande Saussure (Post- John Watkins Chapman (Post-
Structuralism) Modernism) 4. UTILITARIANISM
 Argues that humans cannot Argues that power has become a. Says that the result or the consequent of an act is the
arrive anything they can decentralized and fragmented in real measure of whether it is good or bad
confidently call the contemporary societies modernity; b. Emphasizes ends over means
(universal) truth ostmodernity; subjective reality Jeremy Bentham
 Distinction between the denial of objective, sociological  Believes that “man is under two greatmasters, pain and pleasure”
views of historical diachronic knowledge/epistemology of TENETS:
and descriptive diachronic society matters  Consequentialism: The rightness of actions is determined solely by
reading: there is no link their consequences.
between the words  Hedonism: Utility is the degree to which an act produces pleasure.
(language) ideas, amd the Hedonism is the thesis that pleasure or happiness is the good that we
real world seek and that we should seek.
 Maximalism : A right action produces the greatest good consequences
RECENT SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES and the least bad.
Function – the contribution a part makes to maintain the stability of an  Universalism: The consequences to be considered are those of
existing social order everyone affected, and everyone equally.
Latent Dysfunction – a parts’ unanticipated disruption to the existing social Utilitarian Theory
order 1. Principle of Utility: The best action is that which produces the greatest
Manifest Dysfunction – a parts’ anticipation of disruptions to an existing happiness and/or reduces pain.
social order 2. Greatest Happiness: We ought to do that which produces the greatest
Manifest Functions – a parts’ anticipated organized or intended effects on happiness and least pain for the greatest number of people.
maintaining order;
 Sociological theories may be broadly divided into macro approaches
1. FUNCTIONALISM and micro approaches.
 emphasizes functions of social parts  Functionalism emphasizes the importance of social institutions for
 see social parts as integrated whole society social stability and implies that far-reaching social change will be
 patterns of unrest, change, integration and stability socially harmful.
 consensus on social values e.g. family, religion, etc  Conflict theory emphasizes social inequality and suggests that far-
TENETS: reaching social change is needed to achieve a just society.
 Manifest Function of institution are open, stated, conscious;  Symbolic interactionism emphasizes the social meanings and
involves the intended, recognized consequences of an aspect of understandings that individuals derive from their social interaction.
society  Utilitarianism emphasizes that people act in their self-interest by
 Latent Functions – are unconscious or unintended, and may calculating whether potential behaviors will be more advantageous
reflect hidden purposes of an institution than disadvantageous.
 Dysfunction – an element or a process of society that may
actually disrupt a social system or lead to a decrease in stability

2. CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE
 Social inequality
 Social constant:
a. permanent social conflict
b. competition for interest and value
TENETS:
 those who have the power also gets what they want
 change occurs when power shifts
3. SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
 occurs when people communicate through the use of symbols –
anything that meaningfully represents something else e.g. signs.
Gestures. Written language and shared values (e.g. saluting a
nation’s flag may be a sign of patriotism or loyalty, whereas
burning the same flag may show contempt)
 some interactionists focus on people’s behavior while others
focus on the ways in which people impose their behavior on
others