Sociology Final By: Heather Good, Corey Edwards, Makayla Buxton 1. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Sociology Final By: Heather Good, Corey Edwards, Makayla Buxton

1. Define Sociology The systematic study of human society

Explain the Sociological Perspective The social perspective is sociology’s special point of view that sees general patterns of society in the lives of particular people. The definition tells us that sociologists look for general patterns to determine basic behaviors of people. Even though people are unique, society shapes lives of people into patterned ways that are evident as we discover how various categories

“The One Thing” Sociology Should Teach Everyone “We are always participating in something larger than ourselves, and if we want ● to understand social life and what happens to people in it, we have to understand what it is that we are participating in and how we are participating in it.” Social systems: a collection of individuals that work together for a shared ● purpose Individuals participate and occupy positions in social systems ● Social systems shouldn’t be thought of as just people ● What happens when individuals participate depends on two factors: the system ● and how it’s organized and how people participate in it People create social systems by participating in them, and social systems shape ● the lives of people through socialization and paths of least resistance.

Explain the Meaning of “the Forest” and “the Trees” The forest is like society and the trees are like the people within that society. ● You can’t have one without the other.

The Symbolic-Interaction Approach Theory that believes society is the product of interactions between individuals. ● Sees society as a “shared reality” constructed by individuals ○ Micro-level orientation: focus on social interaction in specific situations ● Symbols: Things that have a specific meaning within society ● Meanings of symbols can vary in different societies but also within the same society ○ Come in many different forms- gestures, objects, language, etc. ○ Key to cultural transmission: passing culture through generations ○

Symbolic-Interaction Approach: Social Class Social standing affects the everyday interactions ● Individuals primarily interact with others in the same social class ● Conspicuous consumption: buying and using products to make a statement ● about social standing People may view their social position as a measure of self-worth, justifying ● inequality in terms of personal differences.

The Structural-Functionalist Approach - This theory states that we as humans are all apart of something bigger than ourselves. - In the video the girl who is supposed to be in the high income class sees the man who dropped stuff but yet she continues to walk past because she feels he is better than him because he is from the low income class. But she doesn’t realize that no matter what we are all apart of something bigger.

The Social-Conflict Approach A framework for building that sees society as an area of inequality that generates conflict and change Inequality

What We Learned From Sociology Heather: How many of the stereotypes associated with drug users that are ● presented in the media are false. Corey: The Dependency Theory ● Makayla: How society and all the aspects come together and how we are apart ● of something bigger than ourselves.