The summary covers classical sociological theories and thinkers using the book “Ballantine J.H. & Roberts K.A. (2016) our social world: introduction to sociology. 6th edition. Thousand Oaks, California: Pine Forge Press”.
,Samenvatting inleiding in de sociologie
((Gebruikte basisboeken))
Ballantine J.H. & Roberts K.A. (2016) our social world:
introduction to sociology. 6th edition. Thousand Oaks,
California: Pine Forge Press
Giddens, A. (2017) sociology. 8th edition. Cambridge: polity
press.
Macronis, J.J. & Plummer, K. (2012). Sociology: A global
introduction. 5th edition. Essex: Pearson Education
Limited.
,Inhoudsopgave
Week 2 The social world: theories and perspectives
Week 3: Control, crime and deviance
Week 4: socialization
Week 5: health and illness
Week 6: racism and migration
,Week 2 The social world: theories and
perspectives
Ballantine, H2 examining the social world
Giddens&Sutton H3 theories and perspectives
Macionis& Plummer H2 thinking sociologically
,Sociologists are interested in the factors that influence the social world of people: family,
friends, school, community and the place of one’s nation in the global political and economic
structural systems. They use social theories and scientific methods to examine poverty and
many other social problems. Sociological research helps us to understand how and why
society operates and how we might change it.
Two social thinkers, Henri Saint Simon and Auguste Comte, decried the lach of systematic
data collection or objective analysis in social thought. They argued that a science of society
could help people understand and perhaps control rapid changes and unsettling revolutions
taking place.
Comte coined the term sociology. His permis was that religious or philosophical speculations
did not provide an adequate understanding of how to solve society’s problems.
He asked 2 basic questions:
1. What holds society together and gives rise to a stable order in lieu of anarchy.
2. Why and how do societies change.
Comte conceptualized society as divided into two parts:
1. Social statics, aspects of society that give rise to order, stability and harmony.
2. Social dynamics, forces that promote change and evolution or revolution in society.
By understanding these aspects of the social world, Comte felt that leaders could strengthen
society and respond appropriately to change. His optimistic believe was that sociology would
be ‘’the queen of sciences’’ guiding leaders to conduct a better social order.
Sociology’s major theoretical perspectives
A theoretical perspective is a basic view of society that guides sociologists research and
analysis. Theoretical perspectives are the broadest theories in sociology, providing overall
, approaches to understanding the social world and problems. Theories are statements or
explanations regarding how and why two or more facts are related to each other and the
connections between these facts. A good theory allows social scientists to make predictions
about the social world.
Symbolic interaction theory.
Symbolic interaction theory sees humans as active agents who create shared meanings of
symbols and events and then interact on the basis of those meanings.
Through these interactions, we learn to share common ideas, understand what to expect
from each other and gain the capability to shape society. As we interact we make use of
symbols, actions or objects that represent something else and therefore have meaning
beyond own existence – such as flags, wedding rings and words. Symbolic communication
helps people construct a meaningful world. Humans continually create and recreate society
through their construction and interpretation of the social world.
George Herbert Mead is one of the founders of the symbolic interaction perspective. He
placed special emphasis on human interpretations of gestures and symbols (including
language) and the meanings that we attach to our actions.
To summarize the modern symbolic theory emphasizes the following:
People continually create and re-create society through interacting with each other.
People interact by communicating with one another through the use of shared
symbols.
We learn who we are ( our sense of self) and our place in society through interaction
with others.
Critique
This theory is often criticized for neglecting the macro-level structure of society that affect
human behavior. By focusing on interpersonal interactions, large-scale social forces such as
economic depression or political revolution that shapes human destinies are given less
consideration. With the focus on the ability of each individual to create his or her meaning in
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