INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
Basic concepts, history, and scope of sociology.
BASIC CONCEPTS :
1. Society :
A group of individuals who share a common culture or way of life,
and who are bound together by various social relationships and
institutions.
2. Social structure :
The organized pattern of social relationships and institutions that together form
the basis of society. It includes institutions like family, education, and economy.
3. Social Interaction:
The process by which people act and react in relation to others. This
can include face-to-face interactions or indirect interactions.
4. Social institutions:
Organized and established systems or structures in society that dictate patterns of
behavior and help to meet the basic needs of society, such as family, education,
religion, and the economy.
5. Socialization:
the process through which individuals learn and internalize the values, beliefs,
and norms of their society, starting from childhood and continuing throughout
their lives.
6. Culture:
the shared beliefs, values, norms, and practices of a group of people. It
encompasses everything from language and religion to food and dress.
7. Norms and values:
norms are the rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of
its members, while values are the deeply held beliefs about what is good or
desirable.
8. Role and status:
role refers to the expected behavior associated with a particular social position or
status, which is a recognized social position an individual occupies.
History of sociology
1. Early thinkers:
a. Auguste comte: often considered the father of sociology, comte proposed
that society could be studied scientifically and introduced the concept of
"social physics" which later became sociology.
b. Karl marx: focused on the conflicts between different social classes and
the role of economic factors in shaping society. His ideas are foundational to
conflict theory.
2. 19th century developments:
a. emile durkheim: emphasized the importance of social cohesion and
collective consciousness. He studied social facts and how they affect individuals
and society.
b. Max weber: examined the role of religion, culture, and rationalization in
shaping society. He is known for his work on the "protestant ethic" and its
influence on capitalism.
3. 20th century and beyond :
a. symbolic interactionism: focuses on the subjective meanings and symbols
that people create and maintain in social interactions. Key figures include george
herbert mead and herbert blumer.
[Link] functionalism: emphasizes how various parts of society
contribute to its stability and functioning. This theory was developed by early
sociologists like durkheim and later expanded by talcott parsons.
4. Contemporary sociological perspectives:
a. postmodernism: challenges the ideas of a single, objective reality and instead
focuses on the fragmented nature of social reality.
b. Feminist theory: examines gender inequalities and the ways in which gender
structures social life and interactions.
SCOPE OF SOCIOLOGY
A. Micro-sociology : focuses on small-scale, everyday interactions between
individuals and small groups. It examines how personal interactions shape and
are shaped by society.
B. Macro-sociology : looks at large-scale social processes and structures,
including institutions, social systems, and the overarching patterns of social
relationships.
C. Applied sociology: involves using sociological knowledge to address and
solve practical problems in society, such as in areas like social policy,
community development, and organizational management.
D. Comparative sociology: studies and compares social phenomena across
different cultures and societies to understand similarities and differences in social
processes.
E. Historical Sociology:
Analyzes historical processes and events to understand how they have shaped
contemporary social structures and patterns.
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