This is an interactive lecture which includes links to internet sources, videos, and polls. This lecture on the sociological perspective contains copyrighted material under the educational fair use exemption to the U.S. copyright law.
As you examine this image, what comes to mind? Why do you think this photo captivates its audience on many different levels?
Now read the caption for this photograph:
“Kevin Carter’s 1993 photograph of a starving child in Southern Sudan brought him worldwide attention – and criticism. Carter said the girl reached a nearby feeding center after he drove the vulture off, but questions persisted about why he didn’t carry her there himself. Months after winning the Pulitzer Prize for the image, the South African photographer committed suicide. He was struggling with depression and coping with the recent death of his close friend and colleague Ken Oosterbroek” (CNN).
Does this caption add another dimension to your thinking about this image? Why?
When studying society, sociologists look beyond individual circumstances and attempt to understand individual situations as reflections of wider societal conditions. Practice thinking like a sociologist. What societal conditions do you think contribute to this child’s suffering? What about the suffering of the photographer who captured this image?
Check This Out: Kevin Carter, a Pulitzer Winner For Sudan Photo, Is Dead at 33
Sociologists study societal conditions using the tools of science as they attempt to understand, explain, and predict social life. Sociology is a social science. Social scientists such as sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, historians, and economists study all aspects of societies, past and present. On the other hand, physical scientists including biologists, chemists, and physicists study all aspects of nature including organisms; from animals and humans, to plants and the universe.
Take another look at the photograph and imagine what questions and assumptions might be made by different disciplines. What interpretations might be made by a geologist as opposed to a zoologist, psychologist or a historian?
If you’re like many of your sociology colleagues in class, the word “science” might make you a bit nervous. Don’t worry. Science is not as intimidating as you might have been led to believe. Scientists use the scientific method to study and understand nature and society. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the scientific method as “principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses” (Merriam-Webster). Now this is a mouthful, so it is understandable if you're a bit anxious when it comes to science.
On a basic level, scientific research involves scientists making systematic observations and identifying measurable patterns. Observations are made in a systematic or organized manner unlike you or I making informal observations about social life. “Measurable patterns” involve the measurement or counting of repetitive occurrences.
Now read the caption for this photograph:
“Kevin Carter’s 1993 photograph of a starving child in Southern Sudan brought him worldwide attention – and criticism. Carter said the girl reached a nearby feeding center after he drove the vulture off, but questions persisted about why he didn’t carry her there himself. Months after winning the Pulitzer Prize for the image, the South African photographer committed suicide. He was struggling with depression and coping with the recent death of his close friend and colleague Ken Oosterbroek” (CNN).
Does this caption add another dimension to your thinking about this image? Why?
When studying society, sociologists look beyond individual circumstances and attempt to understand individual situations as reflections of wider societal conditions. Practice thinking like a sociologist. What societal conditions do you think contribute to this child’s suffering? What about the suffering of the photographer who captured this image?
Check This Out: Kevin Carter, a Pulitzer Winner For Sudan Photo, Is Dead at 33
Sociologists study societal conditions using the tools of science as they attempt to understand, explain, and predict social life. Sociology is a social science. Social scientists such as sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, historians, and economists study all aspects of societies, past and present. On the other hand, physical scientists including biologists, chemists, and physicists study all aspects of nature including organisms; from animals and humans, to plants and the universe.
Take another look at the photograph and imagine what questions and assumptions might be made by different disciplines. What interpretations might be made by a geologist as opposed to a zoologist, psychologist or a historian?
If you’re like many of your sociology colleagues in class, the word “science” might make you a bit nervous. Don’t worry. Science is not as intimidating as you might have been led to believe. Scientists use the scientific method to study and understand nature and society. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the scientific method as “principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses” (Merriam-Webster). Now this is a mouthful, so it is understandable if you're a bit anxious when it comes to science.
On a basic level, scientific research involves scientists making systematic observations and identifying measurable patterns. Observations are made in a systematic or organized manner unlike you or I making informal observations about social life. “Measurable patterns” involve the measurement or counting of repetitive occurrences.
A biologist desires to understand how breast cancer cells mutate. She uses a microscope to observe breast cancer cells and compares them to healthy cells. Her observations lead her to identify a measureable pattern related to how cancer cells damage normal cells.
A psychologist desires to know more about sibling relationships and uses a survey to interview parents who have more than one child. She finds that the majority of parents in the survey report that siblings compete with each other for parental affection.
A sociologist is interested in sports fan behaviors. He attends numerous sporting events and observes that males who attend sporting events with other males are more likely to be vocal then males who attend games with female companions.
It's Your Turn: What might an oceanologist and an astronomer study and how might each one go about identifying measurable patterns?
The American Sociological Association defines sociology as “a social science involving the study of the social lives of people, groups, and societies” (asanet.org). Sociologists make systematic observations and identify measurable patterns about social life.
The sociological study of social life is very broad and has a lot in common with other social sciences. We'll study culture, economy, politics, social psychology, human development and other topics. Here are disciplines closely interconnected with sociology.
A psychologist desires to know more about sibling relationships and uses a survey to interview parents who have more than one child. She finds that the majority of parents in the survey report that siblings compete with each other for parental affection.
A sociologist is interested in sports fan behaviors. He attends numerous sporting events and observes that males who attend sporting events with other males are more likely to be vocal then males who attend games with female companions.
It's Your Turn: What might an oceanologist and an astronomer study and how might each one go about identifying measurable patterns?
The American Sociological Association defines sociology as “a social science involving the study of the social lives of people, groups, and societies” (asanet.org). Sociologists make systematic observations and identify measurable patterns about social life.
The sociological study of social life is very broad and has a lot in common with other social sciences. We'll study culture, economy, politics, social psychology, human development and other topics. Here are disciplines closely interconnected with sociology.
Scientists depending on their field of study have a particular viewpoint or perspective that is shaped by their discipline. For example biologists are more likely to believe humans are a product of evolution and genetics. A geologist might view modern humans as the product of climate changes over millions of years. A psychologist might think of human behavior in terms of the design and chemical processes of our brains.
The sociological perspective is a viewpoint shared by sociologists that humans are the products of our social environments, culture, and society.
A social environment is any group of people; large or small. Our social environment influences our development, behavior, communication, and even the opportunities that we have or don’t have available to us.
The sociological perspective is a viewpoint shared by sociologists that humans are the products of our social environments, culture, and society.
A social environment is any group of people; large or small. Our social environment influences our development, behavior, communication, and even the opportunities that we have or don’t have available to us.
It’s Your Turn: Look over the following questions. How many of your answers are related to the sociological perspective?
- How has your religious upbringing or lack of affected your thinking?
- How do laws affect your behaviors?
- Do people with a criminal history face challenges than those with clean records?
- How have your peers and friends influenced who you are?
- Do people with college degrees have different opportunities than those who don’t?
- Do males and females imitate celebrities?
- Are you becoming your mother and/or father as you get older?
- Do you have opportunities that were not available to your parents or grandparents?
- How have historical and current events affected your career choices?
- Do you wish you had more money or do you wish you had enough water and food just to stay alive?
Check This Out: Watch this video about the sociological perspective titled: "Seeing People Differently."
What do you think is the main message? What do you think the professor means by forces and systems?
What do you think is the main message? What do you think the professor means by forces and systems?
Now let's examine you as a college student. What societal forces such as the changing economy, technology, cost of education, among others have influenced your decision to attend college? Societal forces act as push and pull factors, just like gravity acts as a force on physical objects. You and I think we’re making free choices but when we examine these choices from a sociological perspective, we begin to understand that individual choices are influeced by societal forces or what sociologists refer to as social facts.
Social facts are features of society that influence our thoughts and behaviors in such a way that most of us are unaware of these restraints just as we hardly ever think about the amount force exerted on our bodies by gravity. While every semester countless of students make the choice to pursue higher education, women are more likely than men to enroll in college. What social facts exist today that pull women into college? What social facts exist today that push men out of college? |
Emile Durkheim shaped the discipline of sociology in its early days and his classic study on suicide led him to coin the term social facts. We tend to think of suicide as one of the most individualistic acts a person can do; the taking of one’s own life. But Durkheim found that there are social facts that reveal themselves when we study suicide rates or who is more or less likely to commit suicide just as there are observable patterns regarding who is more or less likely to attend college.
The caption to this photo reads:
“The body of 23-year-old Evelyn McHale rests atop a crumpled limousine minutes after she jumped to her death from the Empire State Building, May 1, 1947. In May 1947, LIFE magazine devoted a full page to a picture taken by a photography student named Robert Wiles. The photo remains one of the most famous portraits of suicide ever made. It graphically and unforgettably captures the destruction—both literal and figurative—that attends virtually all suicides” (life.time.com).
Check This Out: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Take a look at the 2014 suicide statistical data. If Evelyn McHale lived during this time period which category would you place her into as at risk for suicide? Assume Evelyn McHale is a 23 year old, white, female living in NYC.
Sociologists use the tools of science to study social life and social facts. However this presents difficulties since sociologists as humans are part of social life. People are complex beings and also have their own beliefs about how things ought to be which are referred to as values. Max Weber another influential sociologist emphasized value free research. When studying social life, Max Weber emphasized the verstehen approach which means “to understand” in German. In order for sociologists to study social life we have to attempt to understand the experience of others and this can only occur if we put ourselves into their shoes. You know the saying – “to know me is to walk a mile in my shoes.”
The caption to this photo reads:
“The body of 23-year-old Evelyn McHale rests atop a crumpled limousine minutes after she jumped to her death from the Empire State Building, May 1, 1947. In May 1947, LIFE magazine devoted a full page to a picture taken by a photography student named Robert Wiles. The photo remains one of the most famous portraits of suicide ever made. It graphically and unforgettably captures the destruction—both literal and figurative—that attends virtually all suicides” (life.time.com).
Check This Out: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Take a look at the 2014 suicide statistical data. If Evelyn McHale lived during this time period which category would you place her into as at risk for suicide? Assume Evelyn McHale is a 23 year old, white, female living in NYC.
Sociologists use the tools of science to study social life and social facts. However this presents difficulties since sociologists as humans are part of social life. People are complex beings and also have their own beliefs about how things ought to be which are referred to as values. Max Weber another influential sociologist emphasized value free research. When studying social life, Max Weber emphasized the verstehen approach which means “to understand” in German. In order for sociologists to study social life we have to attempt to understand the experience of others and this can only occur if we put ourselves into their shoes. You know the saying – “to know me is to walk a mile in my shoes.”
It's Your Turn: think about how your gender, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, social class, religious affiliation, age, marital status, culture, abilities, family and personal experiences all affect your thinking.
Attempt to become a “blank slate” next time you have a conversation with another person. Pay attention how your interpretations of the other person are affected by your background.
So sociologists have two approaches to studying social life – the objective pursuit of social facts and the understanding (verstehen) of the subjective experience of social life. Put in another way and portrayed by this image, people are both active participants of social life and sociologists seek to verstehen this subjective experience while at the same time people are restricted by the expectations of social life and sociologists seek to understand the social facts which exert this control.
Once scientists identify measurable patterns through systematic observations, they explain why these patterns occur. Explanations in science are called theories. Theories prompt scientists to conduct additional research studies. Theories allow scientists to also make predictions.
It’s Your Turn: Think like a scientist. Click on each of the following images to enlarge. Identify measurable patterns and formulate theories.
Attempt to become a “blank slate” next time you have a conversation with another person. Pay attention how your interpretations of the other person are affected by your background.
So sociologists have two approaches to studying social life – the objective pursuit of social facts and the understanding (verstehen) of the subjective experience of social life. Put in another way and portrayed by this image, people are both active participants of social life and sociologists seek to verstehen this subjective experience while at the same time people are restricted by the expectations of social life and sociologists seek to understand the social facts which exert this control.
Once scientists identify measurable patterns through systematic observations, they explain why these patterns occur. Explanations in science are called theories. Theories prompt scientists to conduct additional research studies. Theories allow scientists to also make predictions.
It’s Your Turn: Think like a scientist. Click on each of the following images to enlarge. Identify measurable patterns and formulate theories.
1. Can you observe a measurable pattern in the size of soft drinks over time? Explain why you think this trend exists.
2. Can you observe a measurable pattern in the size of Godzilla over time? Explain why you think this trend exists.
3. Can you observe a measurable pattern in the size of residential homes over time? Explain why you think this trend exists.
4. Are there any common factors between your various explanations?
5. What other observations might you make to confirm your findings and theory?
2. Can you observe a measurable pattern in the size of Godzilla over time? Explain why you think this trend exists.
3. Can you observe a measurable pattern in the size of residential homes over time? Explain why you think this trend exists.
4. Are there any common factors between your various explanations?
5. What other observations might you make to confirm your findings and theory?
Check This Out: Cars, Breasts and Homes: Why America Likes Big
As we study sociology, you will begin to notice that current trends whether it is college attendance, obesity, poverty, crime, etc. occur within the context of historical factors. Current trends evolve from past events. Sociologists refer to the understanding of how our personal lives are affected by historical and societal forces as the sociological imagination. Throughout this course, you will be challenged to use your sociological imagination. Being able to connect your personal life to broader societal events, trends, and historical factors will give you a deeper understanding of yourself, your loved ones and your community. C. Wright Mills who coined the term sociological imagination wrote: "Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both."
Your Turn: Most of the images posted for each lecture include an iconic, historical image. Practice using your sociological imagination for each unit by imagining how the historical image relates to some of the current trends covered in each lecture.
Sociology uses three major theoretical perspectives to explain and understand social life. These are also referred to as paradigms (big ideas) or sociological perspectives (viewpoints). Out of these, new theories develop as sociologists constantly conduct research studies about social life.
These three major theoretical perspectives and related theories are divided into what is referred to as macrosociology and microsociology.
Functionalism and Conflict theories are used to study and explain social life using a macro analysis approach. Symbolic Interactionism is used to study and explain social life using a micro analysis approach. |
However all three of these theoretical perspectives: functionalism, conflict, and symbolic interactionism share the sociological perspective that humans are a product of their social environments, culture, and society.
Let’s examine the American Sociological Association’s definition of sociology again: “a social science involving the study of the social lives of people, groups, and societies” (asanet.org).
The part of this definition of sociology which refers to the study of “society” represents macrosociology which uses functionalism and conflict theoretical perspectives to understand the large aspects of society such as the societal conditions responsible for the Sudanese girl starving as portrayed by Kevin Carter. This might include an examination of the political and economic conditions of a society.
The part of the definition of sociology which refers to the study of “social life of people” represents microsociology which uses symbolic interactionism to understand people as individuals in small groups such as a focus on why Evelyn McHale ended her life by jumping of the Empire State building. This might include an examination of the family, peers, and other groups of people we interact with in our everyday lives.
Not all sociologists conduct social research or pure sociology. Applied sociology refers to sociologists using the theoretical perspectives and research findings to work toward solving problems either on a societal level by acting as consultants for law makers or local levels through their involvement in non-profit organizations. Public sociology often refers to sociologists becoming involved in working and advocating for underprivileged groups in society and actively working toward greater social equality. Still other sociologists take on roles that overlap these distinctions between pure, applied, and public or advocate sociologies.
Check This Out: Read the biography of Jane Addams who was an early public sociologist.
It’s Your Turn: Do you think a sociologist can study social life objectively while at the same time be immersed in advocating for social change?
Check This Out: To conclude this unit on the Sociological Perspective, watch this video titled: "The Wisdom of Sociology." You should see connections between the information in this lecture and the message of the video.
Let’s examine the American Sociological Association’s definition of sociology again: “a social science involving the study of the social lives of people, groups, and societies” (asanet.org).
The part of this definition of sociology which refers to the study of “society” represents macrosociology which uses functionalism and conflict theoretical perspectives to understand the large aspects of society such as the societal conditions responsible for the Sudanese girl starving as portrayed by Kevin Carter. This might include an examination of the political and economic conditions of a society.
The part of the definition of sociology which refers to the study of “social life of people” represents microsociology which uses symbolic interactionism to understand people as individuals in small groups such as a focus on why Evelyn McHale ended her life by jumping of the Empire State building. This might include an examination of the family, peers, and other groups of people we interact with in our everyday lives.
Not all sociologists conduct social research or pure sociology. Applied sociology refers to sociologists using the theoretical perspectives and research findings to work toward solving problems either on a societal level by acting as consultants for law makers or local levels through their involvement in non-profit organizations. Public sociology often refers to sociologists becoming involved in working and advocating for underprivileged groups in society and actively working toward greater social equality. Still other sociologists take on roles that overlap these distinctions between pure, applied, and public or advocate sociologies.
Check This Out: Read the biography of Jane Addams who was an early public sociologist.
It’s Your Turn: Do you think a sociologist can study social life objectively while at the same time be immersed in advocating for social change?
Check This Out: To conclude this unit on the Sociological Perspective, watch this video titled: "The Wisdom of Sociology." You should see connections between the information in this lecture and the message of the video.
Quiz Yourself: Complete this self-assessment related to the information in this lecture.
View Videos and Additional Resources: Sociological Perspective
View Videos and Additional Resources: Sociological Perspective
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Unit: Functionalism