Unit

1 Sociological Perspectives

2
Chapter 1
An Invitation to
Sociology
Chapter 2
Sociological
Research Methods

3
 Chapter
An Invitation
1 to Sociology
Sections
1. The Sociological
Perspective
2. The Origins of
Sociology
3. Theoretical
Perspectives

Learning Objectives
After reading this chapter, you
will be able to
• define sociology.
• describe two uses of the
sociological perspective.
• distinguish sociology from
other social sciences.
• outline the contributions
of the major pioneers of
sociology.
• summarize the development
of sociology in the United
States.
• identify the three major
theoretical perspectives
in sociology today.

4
Applying
Sociology
Sociologists study how people
behave in groups. Often sociologists
look for the recurring patterns in human
behavior. Many of us make assumptions
about society every day. In the photo at
left, for example, what characteristic
assumptions about American society are
portrayed? You might respond that the
photo suggests that young Americans are
positive, multicultural, fashion-conscious,
value individualism, but also value equality.
(After all, none of the students seems to
be more important than any other.)
Questioning and researching assump-
tions is an important part of sociology. By
learning to question conventional wisdom
(what most people believe to be true), you
will be in a better position to make deci-
sions or judgments. Your decisions will be
based on reality rather than on socially
accepted false beliefs. This does not mean
that all conventional wisdom is false, of
course, but it is important to know that the
facts are accurate when policies affecting
people’s lives are made.
Sociology is a relatively new field of
study. It only became a well recognized
discipline in the late 1800s. As you will see
when you read this chapter, it is the “infant
of the social sciences.” This chapter will
introduce you not only to the pioneers of
the field but also to the basic ways that
sociologists approach their subject.

Chapter Overview
Visit the Sociology and You Web site at
glencoe.com and click on Chapter 1—Chapter
Overviews to preview chapter information.

5
 Section

he Sociological Perspective
Key Terms Section Preview
perspective (p. 6) Sociology studies human social behavior. It assumes a group, rather than an
sociology (p. 6) individual, perspective. Sociologists look for the patterns in social relation-
sociological ships. Individuals can benefit by using their sociological imaginations to look
perspective (p. 6) at events in their personal lives.
social
structure (p. 9)
sociological The Nature of Sociology
imagination (p. 11)

A perspective is a particular point of view. Babies are usually brighter

and better looking to their parents than they are to others. Newlyweds
nearly always find their spouses much more attractive than do their friends.
We all see what is happening around us through our own perspectives—our
own points of view.
We normally do not realize how much of our attitudes and beliefs are
determined by our perspectives. Sometimes, though, when our outlook is
challenged, we may be jarred into realizing how much we take it for granted.
As you will see, sociology has its own perspective. To understand it, you must
have an idea of just what sociology is.
perspective
a particular point of view What is sociology? As a newcomer to the field, you may at first view
sociology as the study of human social behavior. As you go along, however,
sociology you will acquire a more precise understanding of sociology as the scientific
the scientific study of social study of social structure. (Social structure is discussed later in this section.)
structure (patterned social
behavior)
What is unique about sociology? Sociology, as stated earlier,
has its own perspective. The sociological perspective never focuses on the
sociological perspective individual. Psychologists may study the individual, but not sociologists.
a view that looks at The view through the lens of sociology always remains at the social, or
behavior of groups, not group, level.
individuals

These elephant tusks were

burned to discourage trade in
ivory. Whether you support this
action depends upon your beliefs
about conservation and national
sovereignty.

6 Unit 1 Sociological Perspectives

 Social Science Description Example

Sociology Sociology investigates human social behavior from a group rather than an Relationship between the employment of
individual perspective. It concentrates on patterns of social relationships, women and family size
primarily in modern societies.

Anthropology Anthropology investigates culture, the customary be- Nature of the family in preliterate
liefs and material traits of groups. It is the social sci- societies
ence most closely related to sociology. Anthropolo-
gists, however, concentrate on the study of preliterate
societies (societies that do not use writing). Sociolo-
gists focus on modern, industrial societies.

Psychology Psychology investigates human mental and emotional Effects of birth order on emotional
processes. While sociologists concentrate on the group, development
psychologists also study the development and function-
ing of the individual.

Economics Economics is the study of the production, distribution, and consumption of Annual income levels of American
goods and services. families

Political science Political science investigates the

organization, administration, his- Relationship between a family's social
tory, and theory of government. class and voting behavior
Political scientists are con-
cerned, for example, with voting
patterns and participation in po-
litical parties.

History History examines past events in human Nature of family life in colonial
societies. Historians generally rely on society
newspapers, historical documents, and
oral histories as sources of information.

The Social Sciences

Social science is a branch of learning that deals with human society. It includes a
number of disciplines, which we generally refer to as the social sciences. These
disciplines differ, but they share enough in common to overlap. Descriptions of
the major social sciences are presented in this table.

Chapter 1 An Invitation to Sociology 7

 Industrial Revolution

American Revolution

George Washington Herbert Spencer publishes

is president Social Statics
1850

French Revolution
Charles Darwin publishes
Louisiana Purchase On the Origin of Species
1803 1859
Francis Lowell builds nation’s
largest textile factory
1813
Indian Removal Act
1830

Harriet Martineau publishes

Society in America
1837
Time Line of Early Sociologists
Auguste Comte’s book,
Both landmark dates in sociology (blue dots) Positive Philosophy, identifies
and American history (red dots) are placed science of sociology
on this time line. Can you suggest how the 1838
development of the box camera in 1888 might
Karl Marx publishes
have influenced the growth of sociology as a The Communist Manifesto,
field of study? promoting a classless society
1848

1770 1780 1790 1800 1810 1820 1830 1840 1850 1860

Sociologists do not focus on the behavior of individuals but on

the patterns of behavior shared by members of a group or society.
The person on the street might explain human behavior in individ-
ualistic or personal terms—a young man joins a gang to prove his
toughness; a woman divorces her husband to develop her potential;
a teen commits suicide to escape depression.
Sociologists attempt to explain these same events without rely-
ing on personal factors. They look for social rather than personal
explanations when they examine delinquency, divorce, or suicide.
Sociologists might explain the events in the following ways:
Young men join gangs because they have been taught by their
society to be “masculine.”
More women divorce because of the social trend toward sexual
equality.
Teens commit suicide because of peer group expectations of per-
formance, material possessions, and physical appearance.
Sociologists do not speak of a young man, a married woman, or
a teenager. They concentrate on categories of people—young men,
married women, and teenagers.

Joining a gang provides some young men—and women—with a sense

of security and belonging they haven’t found elsewhere.

8 Unit 1 Sociological Perspectives

Industrial Revolution World War I Worldwide depression

Lincoln issues the World War II

W.E.B. Du Bois publishes
Emancipation Proclamation The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study
1863 1899
U.S. population passes 40 million First U.S. scenic highway opens
1871 Max Weber publishes 1923
The Protestant Ethic
Alexander G. Bell patents telephone and the Spirit of Capitalism
1876 1904
Mickey Mouse is “born”
Haymarket Square Riot 1928
1886

Jane Addams awarded

Nobel Peace Prize
George Eastman Model T Ford mass produced 1931
introduces Kodak 1909
box camera
1888

Titanic sinks
First department of 1912
sociology is established
at the University of Chicago
1892 19th Amendment gives
women the right to vote in U.S.
1920
Emile Durkheim
publishes Suicide
1897

1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950

The Importance of Patterns

As you well know, high school students in a classroom behave in different
ways. Some students listen to everything their teacher says. Some tune in and
out, and others spend much of the time daydreaming. Yet, if you visit almost
any high school, you will find patterned relationships. Teachers walk around
the room, work with students, lecture, and give tests. Students follow the
teacher’s lesson plan, make notes, and take tests. Although the personal char-
acteristics of students and teachers may vary from school to school, students
and teachers relate in similar patterned ways. It is the patterned interaction of
people in social relationships—what sociologists call social structure—that social structure
captures the attention of sociologists. the patterned interaction of
people in social relationships
How do group behavior and individual behavior differ?
Sociologists assume that social relationships are not determined only by the
particular characteristics of the people involved. Emile Durkheim, a pioneer-
ing nineteenth-century sociologist, helped develop the sociological perspec-
tive. He argued, for example, that we do not attempt to explain bronze in
terms of its separate parts (lead, copper, and tin). Instead, we consider bronze a
totally new metal created by the combination of several other metals. We can-
not even predict the characteristics of bronze from the traits of its parts. For Student Web Activity
example, bronze is hard, while lead, copper, and tin are soft and pliable. The Visit the Sociology and You Web
mixing of the individual parts creates a new whole with new characteristics. site at glencoe.com and click
Durkheim reasoned that a similar process happens with groups of people. on Chapter 1—Student Web
Activities for an activity on
Indeed, people’s behavior within a group setting cannot be predicted from
social patterns.
their personal characteristics. Something new is created when individuals

Chapter 1 An Invitation to Sociology 9

 A Native American’s Speech yours. We have had some experience of it; several
of our young people were formerly brought up at
Virginia colonists had offered to “properly edu-
the colleges of the northern provinces; they were
cate” some young Indian boys at the College of
instructed in all your sciences; but, when they came
William and Mary in Williamsburg. To the surprise
back to us, they were bad runners, ignorant of
of the colonists, the benefits of a white gentleman’s
every means of living in the woods, unable to bear
education were not highly valued by the tribal
either cold or hunger, knew neither how to build
elders. Below is a Native American’s reply to the
a cabin, take a deer, nor kill an enemy, spoke our
white men’s offer.
language imperfectly, were therefore neither fit for
We know that you highly esteem the kind of
hunters, warriors, nor councellors; they were totally
learning taught in . . . [your] colleges. . . . But you,
good for nothing.
who are wise, must know that different nations
We are however not the less obligated by your
have different conceptions of things; and you will
kind offer, though we decline accepting it; and, to
not therefore take it amiss, if our ideas of this kind
show our grateful sense of it, if the gentlemen of
of education happen not to be the same with
Virginia will send us a dozen of their sons, we will
take care of their education, instruct them in all we
know, and make men of them.

Thinking It Over
1. Describe your reaction to this passage. What
does it tell you about the importance of per-
spective in interpreting the social world?
2. Describe a social encounter where you person-
ally experienced a “clash of perspectives” with
someone from another culture.
3. Do you think your education is preparing you to
succeed in the world outside school?

come together. For example, in 2005 the New England Patriots won the Super
Bowl championship. Following the game, a few otherwise law-abiding foot-
ball fans, as a group, disrupted the peace and challenged the police in ways
they would not have done as individuals.
Tragedy, as well as joy, can change group behavior. In 2005, for example,
the destructive forces of Hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans.
Large portions of the city were underwater, and many families lost every-
thing they had. In the days following the hurricane, when help was slow in
coming, looting, violence, and other criminal activities became serious prob-
lems for law-enforcement officials. Many of the looting incidents involved
normally law-abiding residents gathering food, water, and other essential
goods from unattended grocery stores.

10 Unit 1 Sociological Perspectives

Why do people conform? Groups range in size from a family to an
entire society. Regardless of size, all groups encourage conformity. We will
study conformity in more detail later. For now, you need to know only that
members of a group think, feel, and behave in similar ways. For example,
Americans, Russians, and Nigerians have eating habits, dress, religious beliefs,
and attitudes toward family life that reflect their group.
Conformity within a group occurs, in part, because members have been
taught to value the group’s ways. Members generally tend to conform even
when their personal preferences are not the same as the group’s. Some teens,
for example, start smoking only to gain group acceptance.
Behavior within a group cannot be predicted simply from knowledge
about its individual members. This could be because members truly value
their group’s ways or because they give in to social pressures. Like bronze, the
group is more than the sum of its parts.

Acquiring the Sociological Imagination

The sociological perspective enables us to develop a sociological imagina-
tion. That is, knowing how social forces affect our lives can prevent us from
being prisoners of those forces. C. Wright Mills (2000), an American sociolo- sociological imagination
gist, called this personal use of sociology the sociological imagination —the the ability to see the link
ability of individuals to see the relationship between events in their personal between society and self
lives and events in their society.
What is gained by using our sociological
imagination? People do not make decisions, big or small,
in isolation. Historically, for example, American society has
shown a strong bias against childless and one-child marriages.
Couples without children have been considered selfish, and
an only child has often been labeled “spoiled” (Benokraitis,
2004). These values date back to a time when large fami-
lies were needed for survival. Most people lived on family
farms, where children were needed to help with the work.
Furthermore, many children died at birth or in infancy.
People responded to society’s needs by having large fami-
lies. Now, as the need for large families is disappearing, we
are beginning to read about benefits of one-child families—
to the child, to the family, and to society. This change in
attitude is reflected in the decrease in family size.
The sociological imagination helps us understand the
effects of events, such as the social pressures just discussed,
on our daily lives. With this understanding, we are in a bet-
ter position to make our own decisions rather than merely
conform (Erikson, 1997; Game and Metcalfe, 1996).
This social awareness permits us to read the newspa-
per with a fuller understanding of the events. Instead of
interpreting a letter opposing welfare as an expression
of someone with no compassion, we might instead see the writer To the outsider, these teenag-
as a person who places great importance on independence and self-help. The ers seem to be dressed alike.
sociological imagination questions common interpretations of human social How does this photo show that
behavior. It challenges conventional social wisdom—ideas people assume are a group is more than the sum of
true. its parts?

Chapter 1 An Invitation to Sociology 11

 Job Opportunities In general, all employers are interested in four types of skills regardless of
what specific career path you choose. These skills are:
in Sociology the ability to work with others the ability to solve problems
the ability to write and speak well the ability to analyze information
Because computers have revolutionized the office, for example, infor-
mation analysis skills are becoming much more important to managers
in all types of organizations. The increasing complexity of work demands
greater critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Knowledge is of limited
use if you can’t convey what you know to others.
The study of sociology helps students to develop these general skills, so
it is a solid base for many career paths. For sociology majors, the following
list of possibilities is only the beginning—many other paths are open to you.
Social services—in rehabilitation, case management, group work with
youth or the elderly, recreation, or administration
Community work—in fund-raising for social service organizations,
nonprofits, child-care or community development agencies, or environ-
mental groups
Corrections—in probation, parole, or other criminal justice work
Business—in advertising, marketing and consumer research, insurance,
real estate, personnel work, training, or sales
College settings—in admissions, alumni relations, or placement offices
Health services—in family planning, substance abuse, rehabilitation
counseling, health planning, hospital admissions, and insurance
companies
Publishing, journalism, and public relations—in writing, research, and
editing
Government services—in federal, state, and local government jobs in
such areas as transportation, housing, agriculture, and labor
Teaching—in elementary and secondary schools, in conjunction with
appropriate teacher certification; also in universities, with research
opportunities.

Doing Sociology
1. Which of the above career paths is most interesting to you? What is
it about this area that you find interesting?
2. Evaluate your current strengths and weaknesses in the four primary
skill areas.
Adapted from Careers in 3. Look at the employment opportunities in the Sunday edition of your
Sociology, American Sociological local paper. Clip out ads for jobs that you might qualify for with a
Association, 2006. sociology degree.

12 Unit 1 Sociological Perspectives

 ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
Health Insurance
฀ ฀ ฀ Americans tend to believe that all children have the right to receive good
฀ ฀ medical care. Research has shown, however, that American children do
not have equal access to medical care. One reason for this is a lack of
health insurance. This map shows, by state, the percentage of children
฀ ฀ ฀ under age eighteen who do not have health insurance.

Interpreting the Map

1. Which states have the fewest uninsured
children? Which state has the most?
2. How does your state rate on health insurance
coverage for children?
3. How might using your sociological imagination
help you to explain why children in the United
States have unequal access to medical care?

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United

States: 2004–2005.

Section Assessment
1. Define sociology. 4. How does the sociological Critical Thinking
2. Explain the significance of imagination help people to 5. Making Comparisons Examine
patterns for sociologists. understand the effects of the idea of perspectives by
society on their personal identifying an issue that you
3. Give an example from your
lives? look at in one way and your
life that illustrates confor-
mity within a group. parent(s) or other adults look
at in a different way. Write
about the issue from both
perspectives.

Chapter 1 An Invitation to Sociology 13

 Section

he Origins of Sociology
Key Terms Section Preview
positivism (p. 14) Sociology is a young science. It started with the writings of European scholars
social statics (p. 14) like Auguste Comte, Harriet Martineau, Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx, Emile
social Durkheim, and Max Weber. Jane Addams and W.E.B. DuBois helped to focus
dynamics (p. 14) America’s attention on social issues. After World War II, America took the lead
bourgeoisie (p. 16) in developing the field of sociology.
capitalist (p. 16)
proletariat (p. 16)
class conflict (p. 16) European Origins
mechanical
solidarity (p. 17)
organic
S ociology is a relatively new science. It began in late nineteenth-century
Europe during a time of great social upheaval. The social and economic
effects of the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution were touch-
solidarity (p. 17)
ing all aspects of life. People were moving from farms to factory life, losing a
verstehen (p. 18) sense of community.
rationalization (p. 18) Some intellectuals were fascinated and troubled
by the sudden changes. Auguste Comte, Harriet
Martineau, and others began to grapple with
ideas for bringing back a sense of commu-
nity and for restoring order. These ideas
led to the rise of the science of sociology.
Examining the central ideas of the major
pioneers of sociology will help you bet-
ter understand what sociology is today.
What were Auguste Comte’s
major ideas? Auguste Comte (1798–
1857), a Frenchman, is recognized as
the father of sociology. As a child he was
often ill, but he proved early to be an
excellent student. He had difficulty bal- Auguste Comte is considered
ancing his genuine interest in school and to be the founder of sociology.
his rebellious and stubborn nature. In fact, He was the first to advocate
he was expelled for protesting against the the scientific study of society.
examination procedures at the elite Ecole
positivism Polytechnique.
the belief that knowledge As an adult, Comte’s main concern was the improvement of society. If
should be derived from societies were to advance, Comte believed, social behavior had to be studied
scientific observation scientifically. Because no science of society existed, Comte attempted to cre-
ate one himself. He coined the term sociology to describe this science.
social statics Comte wanted to use scientific observation in the study of social behav-
the study of social stability ior. He called this positivism. He meant that sociology should be a science
and order based on knowledge of which we can be “positive,” or sure. Comte also dis-
tinguished between social statics, the study of social stability and order, and
social dynamics social dynamics, the study of social change. This distinction between social
the study of social change stability and social change remains at the center of modern sociology.

14 Unit 1 Sociological Perspectives

 Comte published his theories in a book titled Positive Philosophy, but he
died before people generally came to appreciate his work. His belief that soci-
ology could use scientific procedures and promote social progress, however,
was widely adopted by other European scholars.
What were Harriet Martineau’s contributions? Harriet
Martineau (1802–1876), an Englishwoman, is another important figure
in the founding of sociology. She was born into a solidly middle-
class home. Never in good health, Martineau had lost her sense
of taste, smell, and hearing before reaching adulthood. Her writ-
ing career, which included fiction as well as sociological work,
began in 1825 after the Martineau’s family textile mill was lost
to a business depression. Without the family income, and fol-
lowing a broken engagement, Martineau was forced to seek a
dependable source of income to support herself. She became
a popular writer of celebrity status, whose work initially out-
sold Charles Dickens’s.
Martineau is best known today for her translation of
Comte’s great book. Her English translation remains even
today the most readable one. Despite being severely hearing
impaired, she also made original contributions in the areas of
research methods, political economy, and feminist theory.
In Society in America, Martineau established herself as a Harriet Martineau emphasized
pioneering feminist theorist. Because she saw a link between sociology as a science and
introduced feminism. Her pro-
slavery and the oppression of women, she was a strong and
found deafness prevented her
outspoken supporter of the emancipation of both women and
earning a living as a teacher so
slaves. Martineau believed women’s lack of economic power she became an author.
helped keep them dependent. By writing about the inferior
position of women in society, she helped inspire future femi-
nist theorists.
Why did Herbert Spencer oppose social reform? Herbert
Spencer (1820–1903), the sole survivor of
nine children, was born to an English school-
teacher. Spencer was taught exclusively by
his father and uncle, mostly in mathemat-
ics and the natural sciences. He did not
enjoy scholarly work or the study of
Latin, Greek, English, or history, and
therefore he decided not to apply to
Cambridge University, his uncle’s alma
mater. As a result, his higher education
was largely the result of his own read-
ing. Spencer’s career became a mixture
of engineering, drafting, inventing,
journalism, and writing.
To explain social stability, Herbert
Spencer compared society to the human
Herbert Spencer was an body. He explained that, like a body, a
early proponent of Social society is composed of parts working
Darwinism and evolutionary together to promote its well-being and
social change. survival. People have brains, stomachs,
nervous systems, limbs. Societies have

Chapter 1 An Invitation to Sociology 15

 economies, religions, governments, families. Just as the eyes and the heart
make essential contributions to the functioning of the human body, religious
and educational institutions are crucial for a society’s functioning.
Spencer also introduced a theory of social change called Social Darwinism,
based on Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Spencer thought that evolu-
tionary social change led to progress—provided people did not interfere. If left
alone, natural social selection would ensure the survival of the fittest society.
On these grounds, Spencer opposed social reform because it interfered with
the selection process. The poor, he wrote, deserve to be poor and the rich to
be rich. Society profits from allowing individuals to find their own social-class
level without outside help or hindrance. To interfere with the existence of
poverty—or the result of any other natural process—is harmful to society.
When Spencer visited America in 1882, he was warmly greeted, particu-
larly by corporate leaders. After all, his ideas provided moral justification for
their competitive actions. Later, public support for government intervention
increased, and Spencer’s ideas began to slip out of fashion. He reportedly died
with a sense of having failed. His contribution in sociology was a discussion
of how societies should be structured.
Who was Karl Marx? Karl Marx (1818–1883), a German scholar, did
not consider himself a sociologist, but his ideas have had a major effect on
the field. Marx felt great concern for the poverty
and inequality suffered by the working class
of his day. His life was guided by the prin-
ciple that social scientists should try to
change the world rather than merely
study it. Marx’s friend and coauthor
Friedrich Engels helped put his ideas
into writing.
Marx identified several social
classes in nineteenth-century indus-
trial society. Among them were
farmers, servants, factory workers,
craftspeople, owners of small busi-
nesses, and moneyed capitalists.
bourgeoisie He predicted that at some point all
class owning the means for industrial societies would contain
producing wealth only two social classes: the bourgeoisie
and the proletariat. The bourgeoisie Karl Marx was the social
capitalist (burzh-wa-zee) are those who own the scientist who underscored the
person who owns or controls means for producing wealth in industrial importance of conflict in social
the means for producing society (for example, factories and equip- change. Parts of his writings
were later used as a basis for
wealth ment). The means for producing wealth
communism.
are called capital. Thus, those who own
proletariat them are also called capitalists. The
working class; those who labor proletariat work for the bourgeoisie and
for the bourgeoisie are paid just enough to stay alive.
For Marx, the key to the unfolding of history was class conflict —a clash
class conflict between the bourgeoisie, who controlled the means for producing wealth,
the ongoing struggle between and the proletariat, who labored for them. Just as slaves overthrew slave own-
the bourgeoisie (owners) ers, wage workers would overtake capitalists. Out of this conflict would come
and the proletariat (working) a classless (communistic) society—one in which there would be no powerless
classes proletariat.

16 Unit 1 Sociological Perspectives

 Planned revolution, Marx was convinced, could speed up the change from
capitalism to communism. His political objective was to explain the work-
ings of capitalism in order to hasten its fall through revolution. He believed,
though, that capitalism would eventually self-destruct anyway.
What were Emile Durkheim’s greatest contributions?
Emile Durkheim (1858–1917) was the son of a French rabbi. Durkheim
was a brilliant student even during his early school years. In college,
he was so intensely studious that his schoolmates nicknamed him “the
metaphysician.”
According to Durkheim, society exists because of broad consensus, or
agreement, among members of a society. In preindustrial times, societ-
ies were based on what sociologists call mechanical solidarity. With
these societies, there was widespread consensus of values and beliefs,
strong social pressures for conformity, and dependence on tradition and
family. In contrast, industrial societies are based on organic solidarity
—social interdependency based on a web of highly specialized roles. These
Emile Durkheim was the first
specialized roles make members of a society dependent on one another for
sociologist to use statistical
goods and services. For example, instead of being self-sufficient, people need methods in the study of human
bankers and bankers need customers. groups. He was also the first
Although early sociologists emphasized the need to make sociology sci- to teach a university sociology
entific, they did not have the research tools that are available today. Later course.
sociologists developed the methods to replace speculation with observation,
to collect and classify data, and to use data for testing social theories.
Durkheim was the most prominent of these later sociologists. He first
mechanical solidarity
introduced the use of statistical techniques in his groundbreaking research
social dependency based
on suicide, which we will discuss in Chapter 2. In that study, Durkheim
on a widespread consensus of
demonstrated that suicide involves more than individuals acting alone
values and beliefs, enforced
and that suicide rates vary according to group characteristics. Durkheim
conformity, and dependence
showed that human social behavior must be
on tradition and family
explained by social factors rather than just
psychological ones. organic solidarity
Who was Max Weber? Max Weber social interdependency based
(1864–1920) was the eldest son of a on a high degree of specializa-
father who was a well-to-do German tion in roles
lawyer and politician. His mother, in
stark contrast, was a strongly devout
Calvinist who rejected the worldly
lifestyle of her husband. Weber was
affected psychologically by the con-
flicting values of his parents. Weber
eventually suffered a complete mental
breakdown from which he recovered
to do some of his best work. As a uni-
versity professor trained in law and eco-
Max Weber’s model of a nomics, Weber wrote on a wide variety
bureaucracy reflected greatly of topics, including the nature of power,
increased efficiency in business
the religions of the world, the nature of
and government. Today, how-
ever, bureaucratic is often used social classes, and the development and
as a synonym for unimagina- nature of bureaucracy. His most famous
tive, plodding, or despotic. book is The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of
Capitalism, published in 1906.

Chapter 1 An Invitation to Sociology 17

 Through the quality of his work and the diversity of his interests, Weber
has had the single most important influence on the development of socio-
logical theory. Human beings act on the basis of their own understanding of
a situation, Weber said. Thus, sociologists must discover the personal mean-
ings, values, beliefs, and attitudes underlying human social behavior. Weber
believed that an understanding of the personal intentions of people in groups
verstehen can be best accomplished through the method of verstehen—understanding
understanding social behav- the social behavior of others by putting yourself mentally in their places. Put-
ior by putting yourself in the ting yourself in someone else’s “shoes” allows you to temporarily shed your
place of others values and see things from a different point of view.
Weber also identified rationalization as a key influence in the change
rationalization from a preindustrial to an industrial society. Rationalization is the mind-
the mind-set emphasizing set that emphasizes the use of knowledge, reason, and planning. It marked a
knowledge, reason, and change from the tradition, emotion, and superstition of preindustrial society.
planning For example, agriculture became grounded in science rather than belief in
luck, fate, or magic. In stressing rationality and objectivity, Weber pioneered
research techniques that helped prevent personal biases from unduly affect-
ing the results of sociological investigations.

Sociology in America
Although the early development of sociology occurred in Europe,
the greatest development of sociology has taken place in the United States.
Because sociology has become a science largely through the efforts of
American sociologists, it is not surprising that the majority of all sociologists
are from the United States. Sociological writings in English are used by soci-
ologists throughout the world, reflecting the global influence of American
sociologists.
In 1892, the first department of sociology was established at the University
of Chicago. From its founding up to World War II, the sociology department at
the University of Chicago stood at the forefront of American sociology. After
World War II, sociology departments at eastern universities such as Harvard
and Columbia, midwestern universities such as Wisconsin and Michigan, and
western universities such as Stanford and the University
of California at Berkeley emerged as leaders.
In later chapters we will be studying the works of
major American sociologists. Two early contributors,
however, who are often left out of the history of American
sociology are Jane Addams and W.E.B. DuBois. Although
neither of these remarkable people were researchers or
scientists, both were greatly concerned with social prob-
lems in America.

Everyone manages his or her behavior to create a desired

impression. What face have you put on today?

18 Unit 1 Sociological Perspectives

Why should we remember Jane Addams? The best
known of the early women social reformers in the United States
was Jane Addams (1860–1935). Although her mother died when
she was two years old, Addams’s wealthy father provided a loving
and comfortable home for her and her eight brothers and sisters.
Addams was an excellent student. Her early education emphasized
practical knowledge and the improvement of “the organizations
of human society.” She attended the Women’s Medical College of
Philadelphia but was compelled to drop out of the school because
of illness.
When she was a child, Addams saw many examples of govern- Jane Addams was a social
ment corruption and business practices that harmed workers. She reformer who spent her life
never forgot their suffering. While on one of her European trips, working on the social
she saw the work being done to help the poor in London. With problems created by the
this example of social action, Addams began her life’s work seek- imbalance of power among
ing social justice. She co-founded Hull House in Chicago’s slums. social classes.
Here, people who needed refuge—immigrants, the sick, the poor,
the aged—could find help.
Addams focused on the problems caused by the imbalance of power among
the social classes. She invited sociologists from the University of Chicago
to Hull House to witness firsthand the effects of industrialism on the lower
class. In addition to her work with the underclass, Addams was active in the
woman suffrage and peace movements. As a result of her tireless work for
social reform, Addams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931—the first
sociologist to receive this honor. The irony is that Addams herself suffered a
sort of class discrimination. She was not considered a sociologist during her
lifetime because she did not teach at a university. She was considered a social
worker (then considered a less prestigious career) because she was a woman
and because she worked directly with the poor.

Chapter 1 An Invitation to Sociology 19

Secondary Research is to sociology what lab experiments are to chemists. Through
the research process sociologists gather information, or data, to help them
Analysis: The understand how people behave in social settings. (In the next chapter, you
will learn more about how sociologists do research.) The research project
McDonaldization described below will give you some idea of how sociologists use already-
of Higher collected data to study human social behavior.
In this study, George Ritzer investigated how Max Weber’s process of
Education rationalization (see page 18) is being used by a popular fast-food com-
pany. Like Weber, Ritzer was interested in the movement of organizations
toward ever-increasing efficiency, predictability, calculability, and control.
After explaining each of these characteristics, Ritzer applies rationalization
to the field of education in what he calls the “McDonaldization” of higher
education.
Efficiency refers to the relationship between effort and result. An orga-
nization is most efficient when the maximum results are achieved with mini-
According to George Ritzer, mum effort. For example, fast-food restaurants are efficient in part because
universities share some of the they transfer work usually done by employees to customers. For example,
organizational characteristics of self-service drink centers allow customers to get refills on drinks while
popular fast-food restaurants. disguising the fact they are waiting on themselves. Calculability involves
estimation based on probabilities.
High calculability exists when the
output, cost, and effort associated
with products can be predicted.
A McDonald’s manager trains
employees to make each Big Mac
within a rigid time limit. Predict-
abilty pertains to consistency of
results. Predictability exists when
products turn out as planned. Big
Macs are the same everywhere.
Control is increased by replacing
human activity with technology.
McDonald’s drink machines stop
after a cup has been filled to its
prescribed limit.
Because Ritzer believes that
McDonald’s restaurants reflect the
rationalization process, he refers
to the “McDonaldization” of
society (1998). His sources of
information include newspapers,
books, magazines, and industry

20 Unit 1 Sociological Perspectives

publications. Since many of you are now thinking about attending college,
Ritzer’s findings on the “McUniversity” should be of interest.
Increasingly, students and parents view a college degree as a neces-
sity to compete successfully in the job market. “Shopping” for the right
college requires many of the consumer skills used in making any major
purchase. This consumer orientation, Ritzer asserts, can be seen on most
college campuses in the United States. For example, students want edu-
cation to be conveniently located and they want it open as long as pos-
sible each day. They seek inexpensive parking, efficient service, and short
waiting lines. Students want high-quality service at the lowest cost. A “best
buy” label in national academic rankings catches the attention of parents
and students.
Public colleges and universities, Ritzer contends, are responding to
this consumer orientation. They are doing so in part because government
funding for higher education is becoming more scarce. To meet reduced
funding, colleges and universities are cutting costs and paying more atten-
tion to “customers.” For example, Ritzer points to student unions. Many
of them are being transformed into mini-malls with fast-food restaurants,
video games, and ATMs.
Ritzer predicts that a far-reaching, customer-oriented tactic will be to
“McDonaldize” through new technology. The “McUniversity” will still have
a central campus, but it will also have convenient satellite locations in
community colleges, high schools, businesses, and malls. “Students will
‘drop by’ for a course or two. Parking lots will be adjacent to McUniversity’s
satellites (as they are to fast-food restaurants) to make access easy” (Ritzer,
1998: 156).
McDonaldization, Ritzer contends, will dehumanize the process of edu-
cation. Most instructors at satellites will be part-timers hired to teach one or
more courses. They will come and go quickly, so students will not have the
opportunity to form relationships as with more permanent faculty members.
In order to make the courses alike from satellite to satellite, course content,
requirements, and materials will be highly standardized, losing the flavor
individual professors bring to their classes. Students will not be able to
choose a particular instructor for a course because there will be only one
per satellite. Often, there may be no teacher physically present at all. More
courses will be delivered by professors televised from distant places.
In spite of these predictions, colleges and universities will not be a
chain of fast-food restaurants or a shopping mall, Ritzer concludes. Institu-
tions of higher education will retain many traditional aspects, but there will
undoubtedly be a significant degree of McDonaldization.

Working with the Research

1. Do you think the benefits of the “McUniversity” outweigh the
disadvantages? Why or why not?
2. In what ways have American high schools been affected by
McDonaldization? Give examples.

Chapter 1 An Invitation to Sociology 21

Du Bois used science and
sociology to disprove racist
assumptions about African
Americans.

What were the contributions of W.E.B. Du Bois?

W.E.B. Du Bois (1868–1963), an African American educator and social
activist, also influenced the early development of sociology in the United
W.E.B. Du Bois focused on the States. Du Bois attended an integrated high school in Great Barrington,
question of race inside and Massachusetts, and was the first African American to receive a diploma
outside the United States.
there. He earned a doctorate degree from Harvard University in 1895 and
taught at a number of predominantly black universities during his career.
Du Bois learned firsthand about racial discrimination and segregation
when he attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, as an undergradu-
ate student. Partly from this experience, and from teaching in rural, all-black
schools around Nashville, Du Bois decided to attack the “Negro problem.”
This racist policy was based on the assumption that African Americans were
an inferior race. Du Bois analyzed the sophisticated social structure of African
American communities, first in Philadelphia and later in other places.
Du Bois’s concern for his race did not stop at the borders of the United
States—he was also active in the Pan African movement, which was con-
cerned with the rights of all African descendants, no matter where they lived.
While documenting the experience and contributions of African people
throughout the world, Du Bois died in the African country of Ghana, at the
age of ninety-five.

Section Assessment
1. Define the term positivism. Critical Thinking
2. Name and explain the theory of social change 4. Evaluating Information Max Weber introduced
proposed by Herbert Spencer. the concept of verstehen. How would you use
3. Give an example to illustrate Emile Durkheim’s this approach to social research if you wanted
idea of organic solidarity. to investigate the importance of money to
your peers? Explain.

22 Unit 1 Sociological Perspectives

 Section

heoretical Perspectives
Section Preview Key Terms
Sociology includes three major theoretical perspectives. Functionalism views theoretical
society as an integrated whole. Conflict theory looks at class, race, and gender perspective (p. 23)
struggles. Symbolic interactionism examines how group members use shared functionalism (p. 25)
symbols as they interact. manifest functions
(p. 26)
latent functions
(p. 26)
The Role of Theoretical Perspectives dysfunction (p. 26)

P erception is the way the brain interprets an image or event. Similarly,

perspective is the way you interpret the meaning of an image or event.
Your perspective is influenced by beliefs or values you hold. It draws your
conflict perspective
(p. 26)
power (p. 27)
attention to some things and blinds you to others. This is demonstrated in symbol (p. 30)
two drawings psychologists often use to illustrate the concept of perception.
symbolic
(See Figure 1.1.) If you stare at the old woman long enough, she becomes a interactionism
beautiful young woman with a feather boa around her neck. If you stare at (p. 30)
Figure 1.1b, it alternates between two facing profiles and a vase. You cannot, dramaturgy (p. 31)
however, see the old woman and the young woman or the faces and the vase
at the same time.
Which image is real depends on your focus—your perspective influences
what you see. One perspective emphasizes certain aspects of an event, while
another perspective accents different aspects of the same event. When a per-
spective highlights certain parts of something, it necessarily places other parts
in the background.
What is a theoretical perspective? A theoretical perspective is theoretical perspective
a set of assumptions about an area of study—in this case, about the workings a set of assumptions
of society. A theoretical perspective is viewed as true by its supporters and it accepted as true
helps them organize their research.
Competing, even conflicting, theories in science usually exist at the
same time. Perhaps not enough evidence exists to determine which theory

Figure 1.1
These two famous images are
used by psychologists to illus-
trate perception and perspec-
tive. What did you see first in
Figure 1.1a—an old woman or a
beautiful young lady? What did
you see first in Figure 1.1b—a
vase or two human faces?
a. b.
Chapter 1 An Invitation to Sociology 23
 A World Turned Without turning this book upside down, try to locate the United States.
If you find this view of the world disorienting because you are used to
Upside Down conventional maps, you may reject this new worldview. So it is with any
perspective. In this book you will be asked to abandon the conventional or
psychological perspective in favor of the sociological perspective.

Interpreting the Map

1. What does your reaction to this map tell you about the power of the
perspective you bring to a situation?
2. Look at world maps in your various social studies classes as you progress
through the day. Where are North America and Europe located on these
maps? What does that tell you about the perspective of these map pub-
lishers and their customers?

is accurate, or different theories may explain different aspects of the prob-

lem. This is even true in the so-called hard sciences like modern physics.
Einstein’s theory of general relativity, for example, contradicts the widely
accepted Big Bang theory of the origin of the physical universe. Einstein
himself never accepted the quantum theory. Nonetheless, this theory has
become the foundation of modern developments in such fields as chemistry
and molecular biology (Hawking, 2005). Today theories are being put forth
that hold promise for combining relativity and quantum theory. If theories
still compete in physics, it should not be surprising that several major theo-
retical perspectives exist in sociology.

24 Unit 1 Sociological Perspectives

 Sociology has three overarching theoretical perspectives: functionalism,
conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. Each of these perspectives provides
a different slant on human social behavior. The exclusive use of any one of
them prevents our seeing other aspects of social behavior, just as one cannot
see the old woman and the young woman at the same time. All three perspec-
tives together, however, allow us to see most of the important dimensions of
human social behavior.

Functionalism
Functionalism emphasizes the contributions (functions) of each part of functionalism
a society. For example, family, economy, and religion are “parts” of a society. approach that emphasizes the
The family contributes to society by providing for the reproduction and care contributions made by each
of its new members. The economy contributes by dealing with production, part of society
distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Religion contributes by
emphasizing beliefs and practices related to sacred things.
How does functionalism explain social change? Function-
alists see the parts of a society as an integrated whole. A change in one part
of a society leads to changes in other parts. A major change in the economy,
for example, may change the family—which is precisely what happened as
a result of the Industrial Revolution. Before the Industrial Revolution, when
most people made their living by farming, a large farm labor force was needed.
Families fulfilled this need by having many children. The need disappeared as
industrialization proceeded, and smaller families became the norm.
Functionalism assumes that societies tend to return to a state of stabil-
ity after some upheaval has occurred. A society may change over time,
but functionalists believe that it will return to a stable state. It will do
this by changing in such a way that society will be similar to what it
was before. Student unrest and other protests during the late 1960s
illustrate this. The activities of protesters helped bring about some
changes:
Many Americans became suspicious of the federal
government’s foreign policy.
Schools and universities became more responsive to
students’ needs and goals.
Environmental protection became an important
political issue to many Americans.
These changes, however, have not revolutionized
American society. They have been absorbed into Because of social and economic
it. As a result, our society is only somewhat changes, norms that dictate
women’s roles have changed
different from the way it was before the
greatly over the years. Function-
student unrest. In fact, most of the stu-
alists study how a change in one
dent radicals are now part of the middle- part of a society affects other
class society they once rejected. parts.

Chapter 1 An Invitation to Sociology 25

 Do all functions have a positive effect? Most aspects of a soci-
ety exist to promote a society’s survival and welfare. It is for this reason that
all complex societies have economies, families, governments, and religions. If
these elements did not contribute to a society’s well-being and survival, they
would disappear.
Recall that a function is a contribution made by some part of a society.
According to Robert Merton (1996), there are two kinds of functions.
manifest functions Manifest functions are intended and recognized. Latent functions are
intended and recognized con- unintended and unrecognized. One of the manifest functions of school, for
sequences of an aspect example, is to teach math skills. A latent (and positive) function of schools is
of society the development of close friendships.
Not all elements of a society make a positive contribution. Elements that
latent functions have negative consequences result in dysfunction. Dysfunctions of bureau-
unintended and unrecognized cracies, for example, include rigidity, inefficiency, and impersonality. When
consequences of an aspect of you go to the division of motor vehicles to register your car or get your driver’s
society license, the clerk may treat you like a “number” rather than as an individual.
You don’t like his bureaucratic inflexibility and impersonality.
dysfunction
negative consequence of an
How does functionalism view values? Finally, according to
functionalism, there is a consensus on values. Most Americans, for example,
aspect of society
agree on the desirability of democracy, success, and equal opportunity. This
consensus of values, say the functionalists, accounts for the high degree of
cooperation found in any society.

Conflict Perspective
conflict perspective The conflict perspective emphasizes conflict, competition, change, and
approach emphasizing the constraint within a society (Giddens, 1987, 2005). Understanding the con-
role of conflict, competition, flict perspective is easier when you understand functionalism, because the
and constraint within a society assumptions behind these two perspectives are the reverse of each other. This
is shown in Figure 1.2 on the next page.

How does this photo emphasize

the approach to studying society
that is taken by the conflict
perspective?

26 Unit 1 Sociological Perspectives

 Assumptions of the Major
Figure 1.2
Theoretical Perspectives
This table compares the most important assumptions of the
functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionist perspectives. Do you believe, as
the functionalists do, that society is relatively well integrated? Or do you support
the conflict theorists’ assumption that society experiences conflict on all levels?

Functionalism Conflict Symbolic

Perspective Interactionism

1. A society is a 1. A society 1. People’s interpretations

relatively experiences of symbols are based
integrated whole. inconsistency on the meanings they
and conflict learn from others.
2. A society tends every-
to seek relative where. 2. People base their inter-
stability. action on their interpre-
tations of symbols.
3. Most aspects of a
society contribute 3. Symbols permit people
to the society’s to have internal conver-
well-being 2. A society sations. Thus, they can
and is continually gear their interaction to
survival. subjected to the behavior that they
change. think others expect of
4. A society them and the behavior
rests on they expect of others.
the
consensus
of its 3. A society involves
members. the constraint and
coercion of some
members by
others.

What is the role of conflict and constraint? Functionalists see

a basic agreement on values within a society. This leads them to emphasize
the ways people cooperate to reach common goals. The conflict perspective,
in contrast, focuses on the disagreements among various groups in a society
or between societies. Groups and societies compete as they attempt to pre-
serve and promote their own special values and interests.
Supporters of the conflict perspective, then, see social living as a contest.
Their central question is “Who gets what?” It is those with the most power — power
the ability to control the behavior of others—who get the largest share of the ability to control the
whatever is considered valuable. Those with the most power have the most behavior of others
wealth, prestige, and privileges. Because some groups have more power than
others, they are able to constrain, or limit, the less powerful.

Chapter 1 An Invitation to Sociology 27

Sociology Looks The number of Americans paying for an on-line Internet service is skyrock-
eting. The Internet began as a way for military and scientific users to share
at the Internet information after a nuclear war. ARPAnet (the Internet’s forerunner) was
formed in 1969 with only four connected computers. By the end of 2004,
more than 185 million Americans had access to the Internet. According
to some estimates, the year 2005 will witness more than 1 billion Internet
users worldwide.
Because of its rapid spread through American society, cyberspace
technology is a timely example for showcasing the usefulness of the three
theoretical perspectives. The viewpoints of functionalism, conflict theory,
and symbolic interactionism contribute to an understanding of the social
implications of this new technology in very different ways.
Functionalism. Functionalists see cyberspace technology as having
both positive and negative consequences. On the one hand, computer
links bring advantages. Parents can work at home and spend more time
with their children. Individuals with disabilities can do jobs at home that
would be denied them otherwise, thus becoming more fully integrated into
society. On the other hand, there are dysfunctions. Young people may have
easy access to pornographic material, which can distort their view of the
opposite sex. Hate groups can be formed by strangers who live hundreds
or thousands of miles apart. Their anonymity may encourage them to
engage in antisocial or violent behavior that they would otherwise avoid.
Conflict Theory. The Internet is clearly changing American society.
The Internet, conflict theorists point out, is contributing to the increasing
speed of technological change. An advocate of conflict theory might inves-
tigate the social instability created by this rapid change. Workers may be
let go by corporations in increasing numbers as more tasks are performed
by computers.
Conflict theory could guide an investigation comparing the numbers
of computers used in school districts of varying socioeconomic levels.

How does the conflict perspective explain social change?

Many conflicting groups exist in a society. As the balance of power among
these groups shifts, change occurs. For example, the women’s movement is
attempting to change the balance of power between men and women. As
this movement progresses, we see larger numbers of women in occupations
once limited to men. More women are either making or influencing decisions
in business, politics, medicine, and law. Gender relations are changing in
other ways as well. More women are choosing to remain single, to marry
later in life, to have fewer children, and to divide household tasks with their

28 Unit 1 Sociological Perspectives

 Computer literacy is becoming an essential skill for obtaining a well-pay-
ing job. Thus, students who attend wealthy schools with access to com-
puters have an advantage over students in poorer schools.
Symbolic Interactionism. Symbolic interactionists are interested
in how the Internet can affect a child’s social development. The popularity
of cartoon characters on television is reinforced by Web pages that allow
children to join fan clubs, interact with other fans, and view video clips
of their favorite cartoon charac-
ters whenever they want. The
popular cartoons The Simpsons
and South Park feature children
฀ behaving in ways unacceptable in
฀
฀ nearly all American homes. Televi-
sion provides limited exposure to
these characters, but the Internet
allows them to become an impor-
฀ ฀

tant part of a child’s daily life.

฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
What children come to accept as
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ desirable behavior is being based
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ increasingly on their interpreta-
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ tions of the symbols and behaviors
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
represented by these characters.
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ Symbolic interactionists might
conclude that to the extent this
occurs, the Internet lessens adult
฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ ฀ influence on children.

Analyzing the Trends

1. Which perspective would you choose to conduct an in-depth study of
the Internet’s effect on society? Explain why you chose this perspective.
2. Do you think that the Internet has some dysfunctions that Americans
should consider? Consider the advantages and disadvantages of the
Internet on society.

husbands. According to the conflict perspective, these changes are the result
of increasing power among women.
Which perspective is better? There is no “better” theoretical per-
spective. Each perspective highlights certain areas of social life. The advan-
tages of one perspective are the disadvantages of the other. Functionalism
explains much of the consensus, stability, and cooperation within a soci-
ety. The conflict perspective explains much of the constraint, conflict, and
change. Each chapter, throughout the text, will illustrate both perspectives,
as well as the perspective discussed next—symbolic interactionism.

Chapter 1 An Invitation to Sociology 29

According to conflict theory, the
interests of groups will clash at
times. If questioned, the men
around the water cooler may of- Symbolic Interactionism
fer a functionalist interpretation Both functionalism and conflict theory deal with large social units, such
of their pastime—talking sports as the economy, and broad social processes, such as conflict among social
brings them together. Women classes. At the close of the nineteenth century, some sociologists began to
who are not “sports savvy” may change their approach to the study of society. Instead of concentrating on
see their exclusion from such large social structures, they began to recognize the importance of the ways
office talk more from a conflict
people interact. Two sociologists, Charles Horton Cooley and George Herbert
perspective.
Mead, developed the insight that groups exist only because their members
influence each other’s behavior. These early American sociologists, in short,
created symbolic interactionism, a perspective that focuses on the actual
interaction among people.
What is the significance of symbols in symbolic
interactionism? To understand social interactionism, we need to talk
symbol first about symbols. A symbol is something chosen to represent something
anything that stands for some- else. It may be an object, a word, a gesture, a facial expression, a sound. A
thing else and has an agreed- symbol is something observable that often represents something not observ-
upon meaning attached to it able, something that is abstract. For example, your school’s team mascot is
often used as a symbol of school loyalty. The American flag is used as a sym-
bol of the United States.
The meaning of a symbol is not determined by its own physical charac-
teristics. Those who create and use the symbols assign the meanings to them.
If people in a group do not share the same meanings for a given symbol,
confusion results. For example, if some people interpreted the red light of
a traffic signal to mean go, while others interpreted it to mean stop, chaos
would result.
The importance of shared symbols is reflected in the formal definition
symbolic interactionism of symbolic interactionism. It is the theoretical perspective that focuses
approach that focuses on the on interaction among people—interaction based on mutually understood
interactions among people symbols.
based on mutually understood
What are the basic assumptions of symbolic
symbols
interactionism? Herbert Blumer (1969, 1986), who coined the term
symbolic interactionism, outlined three assumptions central to this perspec-
tive. (Refer to Figure 1.2 on page 27.)
First, according to symbolic interactionism, we learn the meaning of a
symbol from the way we see others reacting to it. For example, American
musicians in Latin America soon learn that when audience members whistle

30 Unit 1 Sociological Perspectives

at the end of a performance, they are expressing disapproval. In other words,
their whistling is a symbol of disapproval, as booing is in the United States.
Second, once we learn the meanings of symbols, we base our behavior dramaturgy
(interaction) on them. Now that the musicians have learned that whistling approach that depicts human
symbolizes a negative response, they will definitely avoid an encore if the interaction as theatrical
crowd begins whistling. (They would likely have the opposite response in the performances
United States, where the symbol of whistling has a very different meaning.)
Finally, we use the meanings of symbols to imagine how others will
respond to our behavior. Through this capability, we can have “internal
conversations” with ourselves. These conversations enable us to visual-
ize how others will respond to us before we act. This is crucial because
we guide our interactions with people according to the behavior we
think others expect of us and we expect of others. Meanwhile,
these others are also having internal conversations. The inter-
action (acting on each other) that follows is therefore symbolic
interaction.
In an attempt to better understand human interaction,
Erving Goffman introduced dramaturgy, which depicts
human interaction as theatrical performance (Goffman,
1961a, 1963, 1974, 1979, 1983; Lemert and Branaman,
1997). Like actors on a stage, people present themselves
through dress, gestures, tone of voice. Teenagers some-
times act in a particular way in order to attract the atten-
tion of someone they want to like them. Goffman calls
this presentation of self or impression management.

According to symbolic interactionism, social life can be likened to a

theatrical performance. Don’t we convey as much about ourselves
in the way we dress as do the actors above?

Section Assessment
1. What is a theoretical e. Many elements of a 3. Does dramaturgy explain
perspective? society exist to benefit human interaction in a way
2. Indicate whether the fol- the powerful. that is meaningful to you?
lowing statements repre- f. Different segments of Why or why not?
sent functionalism (F), the a society compete to
conflict perspective (C), or achieve their own self- Critical Thinking
symbolic interactionism (S). interest rather than coop- 4. Analyzing Information Analyze
a. Societies are in relative erate to benefit others. the causes of the looting
balance. g. Social life should be incidents in New Orleans
understood from the view- following Hurricane Katrina.
b. Power is one of the most
point of the individuals Which of the three
important elements in
involved. theoretical perspectives
social life.
would you use to help you
c. Religion helps hold a h. Social change is con-
understand this behavior?
society together morally. stantly occurring.
Explain your choice.
d. Symbols are crucial to i. Conflict is harmful and
social life. disruptive to society.

Chapter 1 An Invitation to Sociology 31

 Chapter

1 Assessment
Summary Reviewing Vocabulary
Complete each sentence using each term once.
a. mechanical f. symbol
Section 1: he Sociological solidarity g. latent function
Perspective b. positivism h. conflict perspective
c. social structure i. presentation of self
Main Idea: Sociology studies human social
d. bourgeoisie j. theoretical
behavior. It assumes a group, rather than an
individual, perspective. Sociologists look for the e. sociology perspective
patterns in social relationships. Individuals can 1. __________ is a set of assumptions accepted as
benefit by using their sociological imaginations
true by supporters.
to look at events in their personal lives.
2. The perspective that emphasizes conflict is
called __________ .
Section 2: he Origins of 3. __________ is an unintended and unrecognized
Sociology consequence of some element of a society.
Main Idea: Sociology is a young science. It 4. ______________ is the way that people attempt
started with the writings of European scholars to make a favorable impression of themselves
like Auguste Comte, Harriet Martineau, Herbert
in the minds of others.
Spencer, Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max
Weber. Jane Addams and W.E.B. Du Bois helped 5. The patterned interaction of people in social
to focus America’s attention on social issues. After relationships is called __________ .
World War II, America took the lead in develop- 6. __________ is the study of social structure from
ing the field of sociology.
a scientific perspective.
7. The use of observation, experimentation and
Section 3: heoretical other methods to study social life is known as
Perspectives __________ .
Main Idea: Sociology includes three major 8. A __________ is something that stands for or
theoretical perspectives. Functionalism views represents something else.
society as an integrated whole. Conflict theory 9. __________ is social unity based on a
looks at class, race, and gender struggles.
consensus of values and norms, strong social
Symbolic interactionism examines how group
members use shared symbols as they interact. pressure to conform and a dependence on
family and tradition.
10. The ________ are members of an industrial soci-
ety who own the means for producing wealth.

Reviewing the Facts

Self-Check Quiz 11. According to C. Wright Mills, what is the socio-
Visit the Sociology and You Web site at logical imagination?
glencoe.com and click on Chapter 1—Self-Check 12. Explain “sociology” as defined in this chapter.
Quizzes to prepare for the chapter test.

32 Unit 1 Sociological Perspectives

13. What did Herbert Spencer believe about the re-
lationship between people, progress, and social
change?
14. List and explain the three sociological
perspectives.
15. What are manifest functions and latent
functions? Provide an example of each.
16. Using the chart below, give a major idea
expressed by each of the sociologists listed.
Briefly explain each idea. The first one has
been completed. Use this as your model and
complete the chart.

Sociologist Major Idea Brief

Explanation
Marx class conflict Struggle between
bourgeoise class and
the proletariat class
Weber
Comte
Durkheim
J.B.Handelsman © 1987 All rights Reserved

Thinking Critically 21. Analyzing Information

In this chapter you read about Karl Marx. In
17. Applying Concepts
the cartoon above, Marx is shown making a
Give three examples of how the sociological
comment to “Fred” (Frederick Engels, his col-
perspective can be applied to your life.
laborator). Research this quote on the Web and
18. Analyzing Information then explain what Marx meant by it—and how
Using your own words, define the term socio- the cartoonist is twisting its meaning.
logical imagination. What is the relationship to
the sociological perspective?
Sociology Projects
19. Making Inferences 22. Theoretical Perspectives
Select two early sociologists discussed in your
Based on what you read about the Internet
text and construct a dialogue between them
from the functionalist, conflict, and symbolic
about the current social issue of homelessness.
interactionist perspectives, how is each perspec-
20. Making Comparisons tive useful in understanding the popularity of
Both a sociologist and a psychologist would be the Internet? Write a brief statement describ-
interested in the ACT (achievement) and SAT ing how each perspective would approach this
(assessment) test scores of high school students. issue. You might see positive or negative effects,
Consider how the scientific interest of the depending upon your interpretation. (For
sociologist would differ from that of the instance, the conflict perspective may focus on
psychologist. Compare the similarities and the fact that the underprivileged classes would
contrast the differences. not have full access because of the cost.)

Chapter 1 An Invitation to Sociology 33

 Chapter

1 Assessment
23. Developing a Commercial the pioneers in sociology. Describe each one’s
Develop a commercial for sociology using a video basic ideas, including their theories and informa-
camera. Think of the field of sociology as a prod- tion attained through research. You may want to
uct to sell. Market it as “a way to improve your start your research at the Dead Sociologists Web
understanding of the world around you.” page listed above.
28. In this chapter, the Tech Trends feature on pages
24. Observations
28–29 discusses the increasing use of the Internet
Go to a public place (such as a mass, school
from various sociology perspectives. If you were
cafeteria, or restaurant) and discreetly observe
analyzing conflict theory on this issue, you might
people for 15 minutes. Write down your obser-
research data such as that presented in the table
vations, noting such details as the type of dress,
below.
general interactions, and level of activity. Do not
make value judgments, but restrict your notes to As a technology activity, research additional
factual observations. measures for differences in the population in In-
When you return home, rewrite your ternet access and how that has changed in recent
observations applying the sociological concepts years (for example, different age groups, or people
in this chapter. Consider and list the ways your in other countries around the world). Then create
second analysis is different from the first. Com- this table on a computer available to you and
pare and contrast them. How does sociology expand it, according to the categories you have
help to describe what you observed? What might researched.
you want to study from your observation? How Internet Access Has Changed
25. Sociology and Careers 2000 2002 2004
Research one of the career options for sociology Access by Gender
majors that interest you. Look for such impor- Male 51% 60% 66%
tant information as the education requirements,
Female 46% 56% 61%
income expectations, and management opportu-
nities. Write a short report on the advantages Access by Education Level
and disadvantages of that particular career in No high school degree 17% 23% 32%
sociology. Some college 63% 72% 75%
College plus 75% 82% 88%
Technology Activities Access by Race/Ethnicity
26. In this chapter, you learned about several of the White 50% 60% 67%
founders of sociology and their contributions to Black 34% 45% 43%
the field. To learn more about these sociologists
Hispanic 43% 54% 59%
and others, go to the Dead Sociologists Society
Web page at www2.pfeiffer.edu/~Iridener/DSS/ Source: Time Almanac, 2006
DEADSOC.HTML. Select three sociologists named
on the Web site who were not included in the
29. Use the Internet to contact the American Socio-
textbook and create a database including their
logical Association and request the booklet “Ma-
year of birth, place of birth, and primary contri-
joring in Sociology.” Using standard grammar,
butions they made to sociology.
spelling, sentence structure, and punctuation,
27. Use the Internet to do further research on the prepare a report for your class from the informa-
pioneers of sociology. Design a poster representing tion. The URL is www.asanet.org.

34 Unit 1 Sociological Perspectives

Invitation to The sociologist . . . is a person intensively, endlessly, shamelessly inter-
ested in the doings of men. His natural habitat is all the human gathering
Sociology places of the world, wherever men come together. The sociologist may
by Peter L. Berger be interested in many other things. But his consuming interest remains in
the world of men, their institutions, their history, their passions. And since
he is interested in men, nothing that men do can be altogether tedious
for him. He will naturally be interested in the events that engage men’s
ultimate beliefs, their moments of tragedy and grandeur and ecstasy. But
he will also be fascinated by the commonplace, the everyday. He will know
reverence, but this reverence will not prevent him from wanting to see
and to understand. He may sometimes feel revulsion or contempt. But
this also will not deter him from wanting to have his questions answered.
The sociologist, in his quest for understanding, moves through the world
demarcation of men without respect for the usual lines of demarcation. Nobility and
setting apart, separation degradation, power and obscurity, intelligence and folly—these are
equally interesting to him, however unequal they may be in his personal
degradation values or tastes. Thus his questions may lead him to all possible levels of
low esteem, corruption society, the best and the least known places, the most respected and the
most despised. And, if he is a good sociologist, he will find himself in all
these places because his own questions have so taken possession of him
that he has little choice but to seek for answers. . . .
The sociologist moves in the common world of men, close to what
most of them would call real. As a result, there is a deceptive simplicity
and obviousness about some sociological investigations. One reads them,
nods at the familiar scene, remarks that one has heard all this before and
concludes that people have better things to do than to waste their time
on truisms—until one is suddenly brought up against an insight that radi-
cally questions everything one had previously assumed about this familiar
scene. This is the point at which one begins to sense the excitement of
conceptual
construction sociology.
personal idea of reality
It can be said that the first wisdom of sociology is this—things are not
what they seem. This . . . is a deceptively simple statement. It ceases to be
simple after a while. Social reality turns out to have many layers of mean-
ing. The discovery of each new layer changes the perception of the whole.
People who feel no temptation before closed doors, who have no
curiosity about human beings, who are content to admire scenery without
Read and React wondering about the people who live in those houses on the other side
How is this excerpt of that river, should probably . . . stay away from sociology. And people
different in style from whose interest is mainly in their own conceptual constructions will do just
most articles by as well to turn to the study of little white mice. Sociology will be satisfying,
scientists? Why do you in the long run, only to those who can think of nothing more entrancing
think the author chose than to watch men and to understand things human.
this style to describe Source: Excerpted from Invitation to Sociology. New York:
his field of study? Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1963.

Chapter 1 An Invitation to Sociology 35