INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY by naila usman

what is sociology

1. INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY AND THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES Dr. Naila Usman Siddiqi Associate Professor

2. Definitions of Sociology 1- Sociology can be defined as the study of human group. 2-It is the systematic study of Human Society( Auguste Comte). 3-Sociology is the Study of Social Action( Max Weber). 4-Sociology is the study of social facts through social instituions (Emile Durkheim).

3. Subject Matter of Sociology 1- Social Life as a whole Society 2-Social Processes 3-Basic Social Institutions 4-Methods of Research 5- Sociological Perspectives 6-Branches such as Urban, Rural, Industrial , Medical, Religion , Criminology, Anthropology

4. Sociology and Other Social Sciences What is Science: “ A science is a branch of study that is concerned with discovering and organizing facts , principles and methods”. A- The Natural Sciences :- Physics, Chemistry, Biology ,Astronomy etc. B- The Social Sciences :- Psychology, Sociology, Economics , political Science etc.

5. Relationship of Sociology with other Social Sciences 1- Psychology : - Psychology is often called a science of Human Mind, it deals with mental processes like thinking. It also studies emotions, feelings, motives and Personality. 2- Economics: - Economics is concerned with the Production , Distribution and Consumption of goods and services.

6. 3- Anthropology: - Anthropology is a varied field of study as Sociology. It includes Archaeology , physical Anthropology, cultural History, many branches of linguistics and history of nonindustrial humanity everywhere. 4-Political Science :- Political science is concerned mostly with how to make government more efficient.

7. What is the Sociological Perspective? The Sociological perspective reveals the power to society to shape individual lives . Peter Burger described the Sociological perspective as “ seeing the general in the particular”. C. Wright Mills called this point of view as “the Sociological Imagination”, transforming personal problems into public issues.

8. Sociological Theory and Micro and Macro level approaches What is a “Theory”? A theory states how facts are related , weaving observation into insight and understanding. Macro Level Approaches 1- Structural Functional Approach 2- The Social Conflict Approach a- The Gender conflict approach b- The Race conflict approach

9. Micro Level Approach 3- The Symbolic Interaction Approach:- How people everyday interact and construct reality. Max Weber’s claim that people ‘s beliefs and values shape society is the basis of social interaction approach. Social exchange analysis says that social ife is guided by what each person stands to gain or lose from the interaction.

10. Development of Sociology Rapid Social Change : In eighteen and nineteenth centuries made people more aware of their surroundings and helped trigger the development of Sociology. The rise of an Industrial economy: It moved work from home to factories , weakening the traditions and community life. Explosive growth of cities : created many social problems. Political change : Ideas such as individual liberty rights encouraged people to question the structure of society.

11. Early Sociologists 1- Auguste Comte(1798-1857 ): understanding society by using “Positivism”. 2- Herbert Spencer(1820-1903 ): Wrote a book “Principles of Sociology”, believed on evolution . 3 - Karl Marx(1818-1883): communist manifesto. 4 - Emile Durkheim(1858-1917) : Concept of Solidarity 5-Max Weber(1864-1920) : Verstehen

12. Applied and clinical Sociology Applied Sociology: The utilization of Sociological theory , methods , and skills to collect and analyse data and to communicate the findings to understand and resolve pragmatic social problems. Clinical Sociology : To analyse and observe the group and to develop techniques to change the human behaviour. ***************************************