Introduction to Sociology part 1
Monday, 27 February 2023 09:13
Homework or Announcements:
Lecture 2
Lecture Main topics:
○ Sociology as a perspective
○ Sociological imagination
○ Defining Sociology
Lecture notes:
• Difference between socl/psych? Looking outward not inward
Sociology as a perspective the sociological imagination
Social change- helps understand sociological thinking (change society)
Transforms lives (personal problems into political problems) and changes society- revolutionary
revolution
Sociological imagination- Understanding change
Social force, factor and structure are all the same thing.
Important to look @ both structure & agency When people make decisions- agency
Society
→ helps us make decisions
→ Sense of our own lives
→ Keeps balance
Individual choice Consistent & regular
Social stratification:
→ Gender
→ Age
→ Sexuality
We gain power and insight by understanding
• Personal success/ challenges are rooted in the social forces
(influenced)
• SF: created by humans & influences us (constructs)
Interplay (overlaid)
Sociology
Is the study of this interplay between the individual and
Social factors.
Interplay occurs everyday
People in the margins of society/ live in poverty probably
Understand social influences more, because they
Experience it. How society shapes us
E.g. 'Get an education to get out of poverty'
→ But can't get to school
Sociology is the study of human social life (social interaction- more than one person)
Groups and societies.
By studying the wider social (social forces) and historical forces (e.g. SA past) on our attitudes, actions,
interactions, beliefs and thoughts.
Sociology- the study of human social life (social interaction), groups & societies…having as its subject
matter our own behavior as social beings. (Giddens 2001:2)
Society- made to make us think about our society in SA
Introduction to Sociology part 1 Page 1
, Introduction to sociology part 2
Monday, 27 February 2023 15:23
Homework or Announcements:
Lecture 2
Lecture Main topics:
○ A perspective
○ A discipline
○ A practice
Lecture notes:
Sociology as a perspective
Looking at the world with a sociological imagination.
Sociological imagination: (promise of sociology)
→ Human behavior is largely/ fundamentally shaped by social context in which it occurs (however it is not
the only thing) Interesting debate topic
→ Social forces influence human behavior
→ Breaking free from personal biases an beliefs to see the bigger picture
→ Look away from just our daily routines
→ Questing everything Read more about C.Wright.Mills
→ Understanding the link between private troubles and public issues
Sociology a as discipline
→ Body knowledge of social work
→ Miro - Macro
→ Use concepts
→ Develop theories
→ Methods of data collection
Sociology as a practice
External- change the world for the better
Internal- change personal interactions
Private trouble- Individual, solution lies with individual. e.g. one couple divorce
Public trouble- Public issue, solution lies with society. e.g. many couple divorces
Summary
• How we have to get rid of our biases to have a sociological imagination
• Looking at sociology in different contexts
Introduction to Sociology part 1 Page 2
Monday, 27 February 2023 09:13
Homework or Announcements:
Lecture 2
Lecture Main topics:
○ Sociology as a perspective
○ Sociological imagination
○ Defining Sociology
Lecture notes:
• Difference between socl/psych? Looking outward not inward
Sociology as a perspective the sociological imagination
Social change- helps understand sociological thinking (change society)
Transforms lives (personal problems into political problems) and changes society- revolutionary
revolution
Sociological imagination- Understanding change
Social force, factor and structure are all the same thing.
Important to look @ both structure & agency When people make decisions- agency
Society
→ helps us make decisions
→ Sense of our own lives
→ Keeps balance
Individual choice Consistent & regular
Social stratification:
→ Gender
→ Age
→ Sexuality
We gain power and insight by understanding
• Personal success/ challenges are rooted in the social forces
(influenced)
• SF: created by humans & influences us (constructs)
Interplay (overlaid)
Sociology
Is the study of this interplay between the individual and
Social factors.
Interplay occurs everyday
People in the margins of society/ live in poverty probably
Understand social influences more, because they
Experience it. How society shapes us
E.g. 'Get an education to get out of poverty'
→ But can't get to school
Sociology is the study of human social life (social interaction- more than one person)
Groups and societies.
By studying the wider social (social forces) and historical forces (e.g. SA past) on our attitudes, actions,
interactions, beliefs and thoughts.
Sociology- the study of human social life (social interaction), groups & societies…having as its subject
matter our own behavior as social beings. (Giddens 2001:2)
Society- made to make us think about our society in SA
Introduction to Sociology part 1 Page 1
, Introduction to sociology part 2
Monday, 27 February 2023 15:23
Homework or Announcements:
Lecture 2
Lecture Main topics:
○ A perspective
○ A discipline
○ A practice
Lecture notes:
Sociology as a perspective
Looking at the world with a sociological imagination.
Sociological imagination: (promise of sociology)
→ Human behavior is largely/ fundamentally shaped by social context in which it occurs (however it is not
the only thing) Interesting debate topic
→ Social forces influence human behavior
→ Breaking free from personal biases an beliefs to see the bigger picture
→ Look away from just our daily routines
→ Questing everything Read more about C.Wright.Mills
→ Understanding the link between private troubles and public issues
Sociology a as discipline
→ Body knowledge of social work
→ Miro - Macro
→ Use concepts
→ Develop theories
→ Methods of data collection
Sociology as a practice
External- change the world for the better
Internal- change personal interactions
Private trouble- Individual, solution lies with individual. e.g. one couple divorce
Public trouble- Public issue, solution lies with society. e.g. many couple divorces
Summary
• How we have to get rid of our biases to have a sociological imagination
• Looking at sociology in different contexts
Introduction to Sociology part 1 Page 2
