SOCI
WEEK 2 summary: Sociology Basics & Canadian Society
Sociology is the social science that studies the phenomena of human society, investigating their
effects and their causes, social patterns/interactions, in relation to the individual and the social
group; therefore we can say that it is the science of society. Sociology also helps us to understand
social issues and problems by studying these patterns. Sociologists use two different levels to
analyze society:
-Micro-level focuses on a smaller group of the society as single individuals and small scale
interactions
-Macro-level examines the entire society as a whole or the structures and systems that compose it
Over time, sociologists have developed different theories to be used to study our society based on
different ideas and principles, the most important are:
-Functionalist perspective is a macro-level theory as it studies the entire society as a whole; it is
based on structures that have specific functions that make-up society and work together
-Conflict theory focuses on the inequalities and social problems that society produces for certain
groups and parts of it.
-Symbolic interactionism is a micro-level perspective that focuses on the interactions and
manners between people.
The Canadian society:
Each society must be based on some factors and the most important is self-identification which
refers to the awareness of itself as a unique and independent entity. Specifically, Canadian society
is also characterized by diversity as it is made up of individuals who come from all parts of the
world (the Canadian mosaic). This affects also people's possibility of social mobility and class and
the society is divided upon different ethnicities( ex Indo-Canadian) and this affects also people's
privileges and oppressions.
Talking about self-identification it's important to distinguish personal identity(a conception that
one person has on himself and attributes) and social identity which can change in time (a
conception that one person has on himself based on the groups and people he aligns with).
Identity can be avowed (self-selected) or ascribed (which is assigned by the others/society and can
be influenced by different stereotypes and social perceptions).
WEEK 2 summary: Sociology Basics & Canadian Society
Sociology is the social science that studies the phenomena of human society, investigating their
effects and their causes, social patterns/interactions, in relation to the individual and the social
group; therefore we can say that it is the science of society. Sociology also helps us to understand
social issues and problems by studying these patterns. Sociologists use two different levels to
analyze society:
-Micro-level focuses on a smaller group of the society as single individuals and small scale
interactions
-Macro-level examines the entire society as a whole or the structures and systems that compose it
Over time, sociologists have developed different theories to be used to study our society based on
different ideas and principles, the most important are:
-Functionalist perspective is a macro-level theory as it studies the entire society as a whole; it is
based on structures that have specific functions that make-up society and work together
-Conflict theory focuses on the inequalities and social problems that society produces for certain
groups and parts of it.
-Symbolic interactionism is a micro-level perspective that focuses on the interactions and
manners between people.
The Canadian society:
Each society must be based on some factors and the most important is self-identification which
refers to the awareness of itself as a unique and independent entity. Specifically, Canadian society
is also characterized by diversity as it is made up of individuals who come from all parts of the
world (the Canadian mosaic). This affects also people's possibility of social mobility and class and
the society is divided upon different ethnicities( ex Indo-Canadian) and this affects also people's
privileges and oppressions.
Talking about self-identification it's important to distinguish personal identity(a conception that
one person has on himself and attributes) and social identity which can change in time (a
conception that one person has on himself based on the groups and people he aligns with).
Identity can be avowed (self-selected) or ascribed (which is assigned by the others/society and can
be influenced by different stereotypes and social perceptions).
