Introduction to Sociology

Faiqa Chaudhary
Sociology
- It’s a scientific study of human behaviour
- The term Sociology was coined by French Sociologist August Comte
in 1839
- Derived from a Latin word “Societus” or “socious” which means
“society”and the Greek word “logos” that means “study or science”
- It is the study of the groups and their effect on human social behavior.
- The study of the relationships between man and his human
environment
Nature of Sociology
- Sociology is an independent science

- Sociology is a Social Science not a physical science

- Sociology is pure science not applied science

Scope of Sociology
- First ever discipline that studies society and human relationships scientifically
and systematically
- It helps to depict the social nature of man and its interaction within groups and
organizations
- Sociology helps to understand our lives are shaped by the society in which we
live
- Sociology helps us in understanding inequalities perpetuated by social
structure
- Sociology helps us to better understand the causes of crime and nature of
criminals
Origin and Development of Sociology
French Revolution as a factor:
During French Revolution which began in 1789, France’s class system changed
dramatically, Aristocrats suddenly lost their money and status, while peasants who
have been at the bottom of the social ladder rose to more powerful and influential
positions
Industrial Revolution
- Industrialization in the mid 19th century transformed Europe & England
- Home handicrafts to urban industrial units
- Migrated from rural to urban because of new occupations and industries
emerged
- Before industrialization people worked on agricultural lands and owns means
of production
- Whereas in cities & factories they had to sell their labor, skills and expertise to
capitalists
- Trade and manufacturing began
The Enlightenment
- Enlightenment period was an intellectual movement that challenged the
traditional and existing concepts & ideas about individuals, society and nature
- Enlightenment period shared thoughts of freedom, democracy, citizenship and
reasons with their masses
- They became aware of their rights and started to question the authoritarian
role of the Church and monarchs
- Critical thinking developed instead of blind following of church & rulers
Scientific Revolution
- Before science monarchies and churches were dominant and ruled the world

- Science started questioning and challenging the role of church and the ruling
class

- Advancement of medical technology & vaccination helped regulating diseases

and infant mortality rates
Political Revolution
- Enlightenment & Industrial built the foundation of Political revolution
- French revolution brought significant changes in values, norms and political
structure of society
- French revolution was the first modern & ideological revolution in history that
shifted power towards people
- Emergence of democracies shaped societies into human a& peaceful
societies
- Period of political revolution is a period of chaos, unrest and lawlessness
Technological Revolution
- Technology improved health status, means of communication, trade,
transportation b/w countries

- Technology & machines replaced humans from the traditional job market

- Advancement of technology is leading to joblessness and forcing them into

poverty
Economic Revolution
- Barter system was the early mode of exchange
- Rise of capitalism, factory owners started generating surplus for profit
motives, which led to massive production of goods & commodities
- The colonization searched for new markets and cheap labor which resulted in
large scale manufacturing
- Social structure shifted to agriculture to industrial
- People were forced to sell their land and wages to factory owners
The Sociological Imagination
- C. Wright Mills coined the phrase “ Sociological imagination”
- It’s a concept of being able to “think ourselves away” from the familiar
routines of our daily life in order to look them
- Mills defined it as “vivid awareness of the relationship b/w experience & wider
society”
- It is the ability to see things socially and how they interact and influence each
other.
- To have a sociological imagination a person must be able to pull away from
the situation and think from an alternative point of view
Urbanization
- Cities began to emerge and spread as a result of industrialization

- People from different localities and cultures started living in towns around the
factories

- This rapid urbanization developed identity crises and rise in crime rate within
cities
The Sociological Imagination
- C. Wright Mills coined the phrase “ Sociological imagination”
- It’s a concept of being able to “think ourselves away” from the familiar routines of
our daily life in order to look them
- Mills defined it as “vivid awareness of the relationship b/w experience & wider
society”
- It is the ability to see things socially and how they interact and influence each other.
- To have a sociological imagination a person must be able to pull away from the
situation and think from an alternative point of view
Private issues & Public issues (Cont…)
- Private issues
We tend to experience whatever happens in our own lives as unique and
private, amd also to interpret what happens to other people as unique and
private to them
These are private troubles
Example:
1. When 1 person is unemployed It’s a private issue
2. when a couple never has a baby, that is a “private trouble”
Private issues & Public issues (Cont…)
- Public troubles
The discipline of Sociology encourages you to look for the social processes
and structures that give a generalized pattern to those private troubles and
thus turn them into “Public issues”

Example:

1. When 4 million people are unemployed that’s public issue

2. When an increasing number of couples never have a baby that’s a public
issue it leads to declining of fertility rate
Sociological Perspectives/ theories
The primary purpose is to understand human societies and relationships from
multiple viewpoints.
These offer sociologists theoretical paradigms for explaining how society
influences people and vice versa.

There are 3 Sociological Perspectives:

1- Structural Functionalism
2- Symbolic interactionism
3- Social Conflict
Structural Functionalism
- It has macro-sociological focus and is concerned with the overall functioning
of society
- This theory focus that society is comprised of interrelated parts which work
together for society’s stability evolution and solidarity.
- Functionalist try to understand the functioning of society
- Social norms and values regulate the individual thoughts and actions
- The system maintains social order through shared values, cooperation, and
consensus. Civil laws reflect the values of the majority which in result develop
harmony and peace
1- Auguste Comte (1798- 1857)

- Father of Sociology
- He stated sociology as “ scientific study of social dynamics and social static)
- Social static - Present structure of society (current laws, rules & present
condition)
- Social Dynamics- Process of social change takes place
Comte’s 3 stages of Society
1- Theological stage
2- Metaphysical stage
3- Scientific stage
1- Theological stage

- It started from the beginning of human history and at the end of European
Middle Ages about 1350
- People took a religious view that society expressed gods will

2- Metaphysical stage
- People saw society as a natural rather than supernatural system
- Society reflected not the perfection of God so much as the failings of a selfish
human nature
3- Scientific stage

- Comte’s contribution came in applying the scientific approach

- He first studied physical world (physics, chemistry) and then shifted to the
study of Society ( Sociology)
2- Herbert Spencer (1820- 1903)

- British social philosopher

- He viewed society as a living human being whose structures and systems
functions like human body.
- He was evolutionistic, focused on evolutionary growth of society and
introduced his organic analogy of human body.
3- Emile Durkheim (1858- 1917)

- French Sociologist
- He saw sociology as a study of social facts
- He developed sociologies fundamental principles, methods and theories
- According to him sociology has to uncover realities behind the social
phenomena
Social Conflict
- This perspective has a macro-sociological focus.
- The central focus of this perspective is that society is composed of many competing
interest groups who are in conflict with one another over societal valued and limited
resources .
Assumptions
1- Everyone in society has fundamental ‘interests’ and attempts to acquire the
maximum valued societal resources
2- to achieve those fundamental interests and valued resources, members and
groups within society compete and fight for power.
3- power is in the hands of a few, and they use it coercively over the majority .
Social order is maintained through power , force, threat and coercion. This power is
the core of social relationships and a source of conflict
Social Conflict Perspective is divided into 2 approaches:

1- The Gender Conflict Approach -

(inequality between men and women)
2- Race Conflict Approach-
Inequality and conflict between people of different races and ethnicities.
1- Karl Marx ( 1818- 1883)
- Karl Marx was a world renowned social philosopher, economic historian, and
Sociologist.
- Founder of Social conflict theory and emphasized concepts such as social class,
class conflict, class struggle, exploitation.
- He gave concept of ‘Bourgeoisie’ (capitalist) and “Proletariat” (working class)

- He dreamed of a classless society with no economic exploitation and oppression.

- He presented the theory “Communism” in which everyone will work according to
his needs and receive the reward according to the needs.
2- Harriet Martineau ( 1802- 1876)
- British Sociologist
- Advocate to abolish Slavery
- She wrote significant literature on discrimination and exploitation within
society based on race and gender within US and the UK.
Symbolic- Interaction Perspective
- This perspective sees society as a product of the everyday interactions of
individuals.
- It’s a micro level approach
- Sociology is a ongoing process of social interaction. Interaction based on
symbolic context.
- Individuals manipulate symbols and create their social world
- Communication is the key - verbal and non-verbal communication,
symbols, gestures, postures, eye contact etc.