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An Invitation to Social Theory Professor Andrew J. Perrin TAs: Brionca Taylor and Nathan Dollar Sociology 250 January 8, 2015 Professor Andrew J. PerrinTAs: Brionca Taylor and Nathan Dollar An Invitation to Social Theory Sociology 250January

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An Invitation to Social Theory

Professor Andrew J. Perrin TAs: Brionca Taylor and Nathan Dollar Sociology 250 January 8, 2015

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Today’s Course

I. Your professor and TAs
II. Why Theory?
III. Central Proposition
IV. The Theory Cycle
V. Questions for Social Theory
VI. What Does it Mean to Think Theoretically?
VII. Theory in Everyday Life
VIII. The Theory Arc
IX. Plans and business for the course

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Your Professor

14 years at UNC Publications Chair of ASA Theory Section

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Your Professor

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Your TAs

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Why Theory?

Sociology is a Weak-Theory Discipline

Contrast to economics: theoretical claims about human and institutional behavior are widely accepted within the discipline There are very few widely-accepted tenets of behavior in sociology. Good sociological research therefore builds theory as an integral step. Theory guides and encourages the asking of big questions and the systematic approaches to considering them.

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Central Proposition

The fundamental unit of human behavior is the group.

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The Theory Cycle

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The Theory Cycle

Simplified Version

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Questions for Social Theory

1 Who are we? 2 What can we know? 3 What can we do? 4 Who’s in control? 5 Why do things happen? 6 (Why) do we care? Professor Andrew J. PerrinTAs: Brionca Taylor and Nathan Dollar An Invitation to Social Theory Sociology 250January 8, 2015 10 / 18

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What Does it Mean to Think Theoretically?

Nothing is simply “natural” or “human nature” Everything comes from somewhere What can the patterns we observe tell us about the systems of which they are a part?

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Theory in Everyday Life

Example 1: The iPod

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Theory in Everyday Life

Example 2: Elysium

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSAS79fBVxs

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Theory in Everyday Life

Example 3: Racial Coding

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Theory in Everyday Life

Example 3: Racial Coding

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Theory in Everyday Life

Example 3: Racial Coding

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The Theory Arc

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A Short Exercise

On an index card, write: Your name Your class year Your major A six-word biography of yourself The strangest place or situation you’ve been in

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