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Introduction to Sociolog1
Course: SCIE SYG2000, Fall 2010School: Broward College
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to Introduction Sociology What Sociologists Do People with training in sociology pursue a variety of different career and research paths. Because society is such a broad field of study, a background in sociology helps support dozens of different career choices. What follows are several broad areas in which sociologists frequently choose to apply their skills and interests. Social Welfare Some people pursue degrees...
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to Introduction Sociology
What Sociologists Do
People with training in sociology pursue a variety of different career and research paths. Because
society is such a broad field of study, a background in sociology helps support dozens of
different career choices. What follows are several broad areas in which sociologists frequently
choose to apply their skills and interests.
Social Welfare
Some people pursue degrees in sociology because they want to change society for the better.
They study problems such as poverty, prejudice, and world hunger and attempt to find solutions.
Jobs that relate to these kinds of interests include:
Social worker
Child welfare worker
Adoption agency worker
Foreign aid worker
Corps/VISTA Peace volunteer
Clergy
Crime and Deviance
Many sociologists focus their research on understanding the roots of criminal and deviant
behavior. Sociologists who focus on crime and deviance may conduct studies of juvenile
delinquents, female criminals, or other subgroups of offenders. A background in this type of
sociology prepares people for careers such as:
Law enforcement officer
Attorney
Prison administrator
Healthcare
An understanding of changing demographics and culture is essential for keeping members of a
society healthy. Some sociologists apply their knowledge to the field of healthcare. They might
take the following kinds of jobs:
Doctor
Psychiatrist
Marriage or family counselor
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Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Introduction to SociologyThe Other Social SciencesSocial sciences concern peoples relationships and interactions with one another. Sociology, withits emphasis on social life, falls into this category. A multidisciplinary field, sociology drawsfrom a v
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Introduction to SociologyTypes of SociologyNot all universities approach sociology the same way, and the new science evolved differentlydepending on where it was taught and who was teaching it. The two major types of sociologythat emerged were qualita
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Introduction to SociologySociology is the systematic and scientific study of human social life. Sociologists study people asthey form groups and interact with one another. The groups they study may be small, such asmarried couples, or large, such as a
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Introduction to SociologyInternational Relations and DiplomacyMaintaining good relations with other societies is always important. Sociologists who specializein international relations must understand the intricacies of how their society interacts with
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Groups and OrganizationsIntroductionThough individuality is positive and natural, we all need other people in our lives, and we formalliances with others every day. One of the most basic ways to arrange human beings is intogroups. Large or smal
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Groups and OrganizationsProblems with BureaucraciesThough bureaucracies can be efficient, many problems can hinder them.On paper, bureaucracies appear to be the most rational approach to accomplishing stated goals,but human beings are not alway
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Groups and OrganizationsIdeal TypeWebers original concept of a bureaucracy represented an ideal type. An ideal type is adescription of how an organization should ideally be run and is often very different from how itoperates in reality. In Webe
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Groups and OrganizationsFormal OrganizationsA formal organization is a secondary group organized to achieve specific goals. Formalorganizations tend to be larger and more impersonal than voluntary associations. There are manyformal organization
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Groups and OrganizationsGroups Within SocietyEach society is made up of smaller groups and associations that are built on social class, personalinterest, or common goals.The Power EliteSociologist C. Wright Mills used the term power elite to r
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Groups and OrganizationsGroup Size and Member InteractionGeorg Simmel was one of the first sociologists to look at how the size of a group affectsinteractions among its members. Simmel believed that in a dyad, a group of two people,interactions
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Groups and OrganizationsSocial IntegrationSocial integration is the degree to which an individual feels connected to the other people in hisor her group or community.Durkheims Study of SuicideThe term social integration first came into use in
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Groups and OrganizationsLabels and Out-GroupsSometimes we perceive a person to be a member of an out-group and interpret his or herbehaviors very differently from our own. Men may think of another man who strives to succeedprofessionally as bei
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Groups and OrganizationsTask orientationNone. A person belongs to family simply by virtue of existence.A person is there to accomplish a specific task and do his or her job.Emotional intimacyStrong. Family members see each other at their best
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Groups and OrganizationsGroup ClassificationsHumans have a natural tendency to form groups, and a single person can be a part of severalgroups at a time.Primary Groups and Secondary GroupsA person can belong to several groups at once, but not
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Groups and OrganizationsGroups, Aggregates, and Categories A group consists of two or more people who interact over time, have a sense of identityand belonging, and have norms that make them act differently from nonmembers. An aggregrate is a c
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social InstitutionsMarxs Economic TheoryPhilosopher and historian Karl Marx believed that the economy was the basic institution ofsociety and that all other institutions, such as family and education, served to fuel the economy.As societies became mor
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social InstitutionsCapitalismCapitalism is a system under which resources and means of production are privately owned,citizens are encouraged to seek profit for themselves, and success or failure of an enterprise isdetermined by free-market competitio
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social InstitutionsIntroductionThe word institution conjures many different images: a stark building surrounded by a high metalfence; a town hall; a church; the building that houses the college presidents office. Tosociologists, however, an institutio
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social InstitutionsMental IllnessThe symptoms and origins of a mental illness can be as varied as those of a physical illness. Inthe West, hearing voices or hallucinating are generally viewed as symptoms of a mental illness,such as schizophrenia. In o
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social InstitutionsEducationEvery society has to prepare its young people for a place in adult life and teach them societalvalues through a process called education.Function of EducationEducation is an important agent of socialization and encourages
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social InstitutionsTypes of Religious GroupsSociologists group religious organizations into three categories: church, sect, and cult. A church is a religious group integrated with society.Example: The Roman Catholic Church is well integrated in the so
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social InstitutionsReligionReligion is a social institution that answers questions and explains the seemingly inexplicable.Religion provides explanations for why things happen and demystifies the ideas of birth anddeath. Religions based on the belief
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social InstitutionsDivorce and RemarriageOnce taboo, divorce is now common in the United States. Many factors have contributed to thetenfold increase in the U.S. divorce rate over the past century. Women have become lesseconomically dependent on men,
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social InstitutionsFamilyThe institution of family has three important functions:1. To provide for the rearing of children2. To provide a sense of identity or belonging among its members3. To transmit culture between generationsIn Western societies,
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social InstitutionsParty PoliticsThe United States has a two-party political system, in which the Democratic Party and theRepublic Party are the dominant political forces. The Democratic Party believes that the government should play an active role in
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social InstitutionsAuthoritarian or Totalitarian?There is disagreement among theorists about the exact difference between authoritarianism andtotalitarianism. Both tend to use brutal tactics to suppress perceived opposition. Totalitariangovernments, h
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social InstitutionsGovernmentA government is an institution entrusted with making and enforcing the rules of a society as wellas with regulating relations with other societies. In order to be considered a government, a rulingbody must be recognized as
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social InstitutionsEconomy The economy is the social institution responsible for the production and distribution ofgoods. The two dominant economic systems in the world are capitalism, under which resourcesand means of production are privately owned,
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalityPrestige and PropertyWeber argued that property can bring prestige, since people tend to hold rich people in highregard. Prestige can also come from other sources, such as athletic or intellectual ability. In thosei
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalityTheories of StratificationFor centuries, sociologists have analyzed social stratification, its root causes, and its effects onsociety. Theorists Karl Marx and Max Weber disagreed about the nature of class, in particu
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalityCastes and SocializingOnes caste also determines social contact. Friendships, and relationships in general, are rareamong members of different castes. They neither live nor work near each other and rarely haveany co
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalityThe Five CastesThe Indian caste system has existed for about 3,000 years. There were four original castes, andone caste so low that it was not even considered to be part of the caste system:1. The Brahman caste usua
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalityModern Stratification SystemsIn todays world, three main systems of stratification remain: slavery, a caste system, and a classsystem.SlaverySlavery still exists today. As many as 400 million people live under cond
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalityThe Estate SystemAn ancient stratification system that no longer exists today was the estate system, a three-tieredsystem composed of the nobility, the clergy, and the commoners. During the Middle Ages, muchof Europ
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalityHistorical Stratification SystemsAll societies are stratified, but the criteria used to categorize people vary widely. Socialstratification has taken many forms throughout history, including slavery, the estate syste
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalityDivision of Labor and Job SpecializationDivision of labor in agricultural societies led to job specialization and stratification. Peoplebegan to value certain jobs more highly than others. The further someone was fro
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalityIntroductionThe United States is often described as a melting pot, a mass of people who have meltedtogether and are essentially the same as one another. Some sociologists, however, prefer to thinkof America as a kal
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalityWorld System TheoryImmanuel Wallersteins world system theory posited that as societies industrialized,capitalism became the dominant economic system, leading to the globalization of capitalism. Theglobalization of c
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalityGlobal StratificationNot only is each society stratified, but in a global perspective, societies are stratified in relationto one another. Sociologists employ three broad categories to denote global stratification: m
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalityThe Consequences of PovertyMore than any other social class, the poor suffer from short life expectancies and healthproblems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and mental illness. Reasons include thefoll
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalityPoverty in AmericaA staggering number of Americans currently live below the poverty level. In order to solve theproblem of the nations poor, we must first understand who and where they are.Who Are Poor People?About
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalityThe Middle ClassThe next rung on the ladder is the middle class, which includes about 34 percent of thepopulation. The members of the middle class earn their money by working at what could becalled professional jobs
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalitySocial Classes in the United StatesSocioeconomic status is just a way of describing the stratification system of the United States.The class system, also imperfect in classifying all Americans, nonetheless offers a g
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalityWork PreferenceUsing ones occupation as a partial measure of social class has another pitfall: it assumes thatpeople are doing the kinds of work they prefer and for which they are best prepared. In a fullmarket empl
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalityDisparity in Higher EducationThe reliance on educational level as an indicator of social class becomes more problematic whenone considers the huge variety of colleges in the United States. There are vocational school
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalityThe Stratification System of the United StatesLike all societies, the United States is stratified, and this stratification is often based on apersons socioeconomic status (SES). This complex formula takes into accoun
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Social Stratification and InequalityThe Origins of Social Stratification All modern societies are stratified, arranged hierarchically into layers due to an unequaldistribution of societys rewards. Hunting and gathering societies had no social stratifi
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
SocializationInfluence in EducationAs children enter the educational system, traditional expectations for boys and girls continue. Inthe past, much research focused on how teachers were shortchanging girls in the classroom.Teachers would focus on boys
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
SocializationAnticipatory SocializationAnticipatory socialization occurs when we start learning new norms and values in anticipationof a role well occupy in the future. Making necessary adjustments in advance makes the actualtransition into the new ro
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
SocializationTotal InstitutionsMost Americans are socialized to think for themselves and make their own decisions about dailytasks. That changes when they are resocialized by what sociologist Erving Goffman labeled atotal institution. A total institut
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
SocializationResocializationThe primary socialization received in childhood is just one part of the lifelong socializationprocess. Adults go through a process of resocialization, which is the learning of new norms andvalues that occurs when they join
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
SocializationConflicting Agents of SocializationDifferent agents of socialization often teach children conflicting lessons. For example, in thefamily, children usually learn to respect their elders. Among their friends, however, children maylearn that
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
SocializationCriticisms of Development TheoriesEach of the theories of development has flaws. Freuds theories have always been controversialand are criticized today because they seem very male-centered. Piagets theory of cognitivedevelopment is useful
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
SocializationTake This Term and Run with ItIn American society, we use the term significant other to mean a romantic partner, butsociologists use the term differently (see page 44), and their usage was the original usage. Theterm significant other is
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
SocializationIntroductionIn 1970, Franois Truffaut directed a movie called LEnfant Sauvage (The Wild Child). It wasallegedly a true story about two Frenchmen in the latter part of the eighteenth century who werewalking in the countryside and came acro
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
SocializationPrimary Socialization Socialization is the process whereby we learn to become competent members of a group.Primary socialization is the learning we experience from the people who raise us. Researchers have many theories about the developm
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Society and CultureNormsEvery society has expectations about how its members should and should not behave. A norm isa guideline or an expectation for behavior. Each society makes up its own rules for behavior anddecides when those rules have been viol
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Society and CultureRoots of Gender InequalityAs people moved toward domesticating animals and using them to do work, males tended todominate more of the workforce, since physical strength was necessary to control animals. Bythe time societies became a
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Society and CulturePastoral SocietiesA pastoral society relies on the domestication and breeding of animals for food. Somegeographic regions, such as the desert regions of North Africa, cannot support crops, so thesesocieties learned how to domesticat
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Society and CultureTypes of SocietiesThe society we live in did not spring up overnight; human societies have evolved slowly overmany millennia. However, throughout history, technological developments have sometimesbrought about dramatic change that h
Broward College - SCIE - SYG2000
Society and CulturePluralismThe United States is a society composed of many groups of people, some of whom originallybelonged to other societies. Sociologists consider the United States a pluralistic society,meaning it is built of many groups. As soci