Discussion Notes for Project 1:
Subject Matter of Sociology
You Will Answer 1 of the Following
1. The general in the particular
Mills maintains that sociology studies patterns of behavior in order to draw conclusions about a social issue that transcends the effect of the problem or issue on any particular individual. Mills defines social issue in broad outlines.
1) A behavior or event is patterned when it is recurrent. Find patterns in your everyday life for example, in mass media use, dietary choices, musical preferences, and clothing styles. Flesh out your particular pattern in detail.
2) Where in the society do you find your particular pattern? Connect your particular, or personal, pattern to a more general pattern for a group or category of people who occupy a place in the social structure: (e.g., the core audience for heavy metal music is young while males).
3) Is this a named pattern (e.g., Metalheads, Vegans)? What are the rules or norms that govern a general (i.e., cultural) pattern like social media use, musical taste, or dietary choice? For example, dietary choices may be governed by religious beliefs.
4) Use the Notes and relevant literature to interpret this general pattern as a social institution (e.g., marriage, youth culture, Hip Hop).
5) What can explain these patterns sociologically (e.g., heavy metal reflects the symbolic rebellion of young white males against adult authority; dietary choices reflect financial means).
6) To what extent do you derive an individual identity from this pattern? How does this connect you to others and a group or collective identity? For example, you can cook without being identified as a cook (or chef).
2. The group and the individual
The French sociologist Emile Durkheim defined the social as a reality that is external to the individual and that constrains individual behavior what sociologists define as a social institution.
1) Consider your involvement in a relationship or membership in a group (e.g., a family) or network (e.g., social media) as a social fact or social institution.
2) What makes this social reality outside of you as an individual?
3) Describe situations in which this social reality constrains your behavior? Consider expectations to conform to social norms, for example, in regard to a role, dress (e.g., fashion), speech (e.g., jargon), religious or political beliefs, etc.
4) Why do you submit to these social constraints? Consider the benefits realized from fitting in such as the derivation of an identity (i.e., a somebody) and status privilege (e.g., being a fan of a sports team or pop culture celebrity). On the other hand, consider the penalties in being labeled deviant.
5) Does constraint and conformity leave room for your individuality within the group/relationship? In particular, to what extent is individuality compromised or even suppressed?
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READ: Openstax, Chapters 1, 2 and 3
Culture and Society
Sociology is the study of groups and group interactions, societies and social interactions, from small and personal groups to very large groups. A group of people who live in a defined geographic area, who interact with one another, and who share a common culture is what sociologists call a society. Sociologists study all aspects and levels of society. Sociologists working from the micro-level study small groups and individual interactions, while those using macro-level analysis look at trends among and between large groups and societies. For example, a micro-level study might look at the accepted rules of conversation in various groups such as among teenagers or business professionals. In contrast, a macro-level analysis might research the ways that language use has changed over time or in social media outlets.
Societies are co
