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Lecture.1 Introduction To Sociology

Sociology is a social science that examines human society and behavior, focusing on social interactions and group dynamics rather than individual actions. The field developed in the 1800s in response to rapid social changes, with early sociologists such as Comte and Marx emphasizing data collection and scientific research to predict social trends. Today, sociology encompasses various perspectives, including Functionalist, Conflict, and Interactionist approaches, each offering unique insights into social structures and interactions.

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15 views10 pages

Lecture.1 Introduction To Sociology

Sociology is a social science that examines human society and behavior, focusing on social interactions and group dynamics rather than individual actions. The field developed in the 1800s in response to rapid social changes, with early sociologists such as Comte and Marx emphasizing data collection and scientific research to predict social trends. Today, sociology encompasses various perspectives, including Functionalist, Conflict, and Interactionist approaches, each offering unique insights into social structures and interactions.

Uploaded by

heye77260
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Introduction to

Sociology
Dr. Jam Muhammad Zafar
What is Sociology?
 Sociology is a social science that studies human
society and behavior.
 Sociologists are mainly interested in social
interactions – how people relate to one another
and how they influence each others decisions.
 focus on the group, rather than the individual.

 Examine social phenomena or observable facts


or events involving human interaction to make
predictions about future trends and behaviors.
Why Study
Sociology?
 Sociology can give you a new perspective on yourself and the
world around you.
 Its called the sociological perspective.

 By adopting the sociological perspective you can look beyond


commonly held beliefs to determine hidden meanings behind
human actions.
 The sociological perspective helps us understand that peoples
behavior is influenced by social factors and learned behaviors
from those around us.
 The sociological perspective can help us view the world through
the eyes of others.
 By developing this perspective we can begin to use the
sociological imagination; the ability to see a connection between
the larger world and one’s personal life.
Social Sciences
 Social Sciences are the related disciplines (fields)
that study various aspects of human social behavior.
 The other social sciences include: history,
anthropology, psychology, economics and political
science.
 Anthropology: the study of past and present
cultures. It’s the most similar to sociology.
Anthropologists focus / concentrate on the past
cultures and present simple cultures or less
advanced societies.
 While sociologists are more interested in group
behavior in complex more advanced societies.
Social Sciences
 Psychology: deals with the behavior and thinking of organisms.
Psychology focuses more on individual behavior. While
sociology is focused on group behavior.
 Economics: is the study of the choices people make in an effort
to satisfy their needs and wants. Economists focus on the
process in which goods and services are produced, distributed
and consumed.
 Political Science: is the examination of the organization and
operation of governments. Some areas of political science and
sociology overlap, such as the formation of political parties
and with voting patterns.
 History: is the study of past events. Sociologists are also
interested in the past. Like many social historians, sociologists
study past events in an effort to explain current social
behaviors and attitudes.
Other Social
Sciences
 Despite the different focus’ of the fields
they are all related in terms of their study of
human beings and their interactions;
whether past or present.
 Many sociologists now borrow freely from
the various social sciences in an effort to
better understand the social forces that
help shape our lives.
How did Sociology
Develop?
 Throughout history scholars have always been interested
in the social life and interactions of people.
 Despite this Sociology did not develop as a field of study
until the 1800’s.
 Several factors led to its development:

 1. The rapid political and social changes that took place


in Europe as a result of the Industrial Revolution.
 2. The rapid growth of cities and their problems as a
result of Industrial Revolution.
 3. The questioning of traditional beliefs. People across
Europe began to question traditional roles and
expectations.
Who were the early
Sociologists?
 Sociology took root in the 1800’s primarily in
England, France, and Germany. These countries were
the most affected by the Industrial Revolution.
 Like today, the early sociologists believed that
through the collection of data, observations and
scientific research you could predict future social
trends and behaviors to improve society.
 The early European leaders included; Auguste
Comte, Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx, Emile
Durkheim and Max Weber.
 Some of the early leaders of sociology in the United
States included W.E.B. Dubois and Jane Addams.
Sociological
Perspectives
 Today there are three approaches to the study of
sociology.
 1. The Functionalist Perspective: They view
society as a set of interrelated parts that work
together to produce a stable environment. ( Comte,
Spencer, Durkheim)
 2. Conflict Perspective: They focus on the forces
in society that promote competition and change.
( Karl Marx)
 3. Interactionist Perspective: They focus on how
individuals interact with each other and there
outcomes.
Sociological
Perspectives
 The interactionists also focus on the role that
symbols play in our daily lives.
 A symbol is anything that represents something
else.
 In order for something to be a symbol, everyone in a
society must agree on what it means/stands for.
 Examples of symbols: Flag, Eagle, Uncle Sam etc are
all symbols.
 Integrationists also focus on how people use
symbols when they interact. Its called Symbolic
Interaction.

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