SOCI 250: UDL notes content (lecture notes, lecture videos, readings)What is sociology?The systematic study of social behavior in human societies. Relationships between individualsand society. How others and major institutions influence our behaviors and affect us, and viceversa (how we affect them). How group differences lead to systematic inequality.Key components of sociologySystematic study:Sociologists gather data through methods of observation which can be quantitative andqualitative.For instance, Emile Durkheim researched suicide and it’s causes, and deduced it had links tosocial factors such as a country’s beliefs, values, norms and traditions. He found England 67suicides per million, France 135 Denmark 277.Cohesiveness within a society, a person’s standing within the society, a person’a standing withinthe religious, social and occupational groups within the society.Integration: the level of which a person feels connected to or accepted by a group of society.Hgh levels of integration equals low suicide levels. Low integration is high suicide.Religion: a person without a religious affiliation has a higher suicide rate than those who arereligiously active. Protestants have a higher suicide rate than catholic or jewsMarriage: unmarried people have a higher sucide rate than married people.Military: soldiers have higher rate of suicide than civilizationsPeace and war: higher suicide rate in times of peace than in warEconomy: higher suicide during economic instability and recession than during times ofprosperity.Wealth: higher suicide rate than poor individuals.Sex: males have a higher suicide rate than females.Race: whites have a higher suicide rate than any other group.IndividualsIndividuals generally follow guidelines for behaviors but can also reject guidelines becauseagency. Agency is the freedom individuals have and the choices they make and the way theyact. Voting is an exampleSociety
