This document discusses sociological approaches to understanding social structure and social interaction from both a macro and micro perspective. [1] It explores how macrosociology examines the larger framework of society, including social structure defined by factors like culture, class, status, roles, groups, and institutions. [2] Microsociology focuses on face-to-face interactions and behaviors influenced by concepts like stereotyping, personal space, and body language. [3] Both approaches are necessary to understand how social realities are constructed and how social structure guides interactions.
3. The Macrosociological Perspective
Examine the framework of society – how all the
pieces fit together
Social Structure
Our guide for interactions
Our location, our place, guides our behavior
Culture
Social Class - http://youtu.be/UxB-H6f3crY Snickers?
Social Status – ascribed, achieved, master, and status symbols
Roles
Groups
Social Institutions
4. Social Institutions
Sociological Significance
Ten Social Institutions in Industrialized Societies
To be explored in detail
Mass Media as an Emerging Social Institution
Comparing Functionalist and Conflict Perspectives
5. Social Institutions
Comparing Functionalist and Conflict Perspectives
Functionalist
Replacing Members
Socializing New Members
Producing and Distributing Goods and Services
Preserving Order
Providing a Sense of Purpose
Conflict Theorist
Powerful Groups Control Institutions
Preserve the status quo, power and privilege
Feminist sociologists – gender relations
6. What Holds It All Together?
Social Integration – Emile Durkheim
Mechanic Solidarity
Division of Labor
Organic Solidarity
7. The Microsociological Perspective
Face-to-face interactions
Behavior and Approach towards life
Stereotyping - http://youtu.be/gspaoaecNAg Boys
http://youtu.be/paNiEdFTvuA Girls
Personal space
Eye contact
Facial expressions and body language
9. The Social Construction of Reality
Our own subjective reality
http://youtu.be/myq8upzJDJc Josh Bell in the Metro
http://vimeo.com/16329078 Up in the Air
Thomas Theorem
How does stereotyping play out?
Using a famous quote known as the Thomas theorem, we can
begin to understand the potentially damaging effects of
stereotypes: "if [people] define situations as real, they are real in
their consequences." In other words, when people accept
stereotypes as true, then they are likely to act on these beliefs, and
these subjective beliefs can lead to objective results.
10. Social Structure Activity
Think about 3 or 4 statuses you occupy
Are they achieved or ascribed or master statuses
Do you display status symbols, what are they
What roles do you play within each status
Are there any conflicts between the roles
Think about the larger institutions where these
statuses are located
What are the functions of these institutions (how do they hold
society together)
Which institution exerts the most influence on your life
Are there conflicts among the institutions
11. Lens Assignment
Think about the different grand perspectives sociologists
use to analyze and evaluate the social world – macro and
micro
It may be easier to select one perspective
From the macrosociological perspective, look for
different components of social structure (class, status,
roles, institutions) and describe how they may be
analyzed within the photograph
From a microsociological perspective, look for evidence
of Goffman’s Presentation of Self in Everyday life and
describe “the stage,” roles, and impression management.
Hinweis der Redaktion
The way in which society is organized into predictable relationships, patterns of social interaction (the way in which people respond to each other). These patterns etc, are to some extent independent of the particular individual, they exert a force which shapes behavior and identity. We already know the vast influence of values and beliefs that culture places on society – Influences can have personal implications, but also have farther reaching, larger impacts on groups of people.
Sociologists use 2 approaches to study social life. Macro focus on broad social structures and Micro focus on small face to face.