Contemporary Sociological Theory Midterm #1

In general, a society is a grouping of human beings (or social actors) bound by some sociocultural criteria.

In sociology, a society refers to a grouping of people (more than 2) whose members develop organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another, and develop distinctive forms of social structure (i.e., institutions, organizations), and know each other for a given length of time.

A society may consist of a particular group of people, many groups, broad groups united by common political and cultural traditions and economic organizations, or a nation state.

Constant factors in societies are the 1) presence of human beings, 2) more than two organized patterns of relationships, 3) having some form of social structure.

Sociology is the scientific study of society. In other words, it studies human interactions (within marriage, family, friends, etc.), and social structures (educational system, political parties, government, etc.). It also studies social dynamics (how and why people are organized; gender, race, class, and culture).

To understand society: Describes and explains a phenomenon --> Descriptive or Explanatory Theory.

To change society: What is right and wrong? What needs to be done to change something? --> Normative Theory.

1. Pose key questions we might have in mind.
2. Employ research methods to investigate the topic
3. Findings (answer questions) -- Integrate theories/concepts into empirical observations, empirically investigate to answer key questions, and identify causes of social actions (causality)
4. Conclude (summarize) and explain findings

Macro Sociology versus Micro Sociology
Individual Agency versus Social Culture

Macro Sociology: Understands society by examining the BIG picture, LARGE-SCALE MASS phenomena (some examples include rates of suicide, and unemployment rates). Macro Sociology focuses on MASS human actions rather than the individual meanings that social actors attribute to their acts.

Micro Sociology: Understands social problems at the individual level. In order to analyze a social problem, we must interview individual actors or become participant observers in a field of social life.

Agency: This refers to the ability to make free decisions as separate individuals.

Structure: This refers to the power of society to shape us in its own image.

Agency takes into account specific factors that go into the individual's choices/decisions.

Social Structure considers structural factors that cause or determine social actions independent of the will of individuals.

Bordeiu was a sociologist who initially studied philosophy at l'Ecole Normale Superieure.

He conducted ethnographic research, laying down the groundwork for his sociological reputation.

1. Social Field
2. Capital
3. Habitus
4. Social Re-production

It seeked to define the location of social agents in social fields, and how they adaprt to the needs of the social world they inhabit.

It dealt with the distribution of and access to particular kinds of capital (resources).

It also dealt with the role of habitus in our social dynamics, and provided and analysis of the mechanisms of social reproduction.

It is a space within which individuals perform their social practice. It is a set of physical spaces, social actors, ideas, and practices.

Due to extensive variety of practice within fields, there are also fields within fields.

To Bourdieu, capital includes not only economic resources, but also cultural and social resources.

1. Economic Capital (Things that can be directly transformed into money: material wealth, stocks, or property).

2. Social Capital (Relationships and connections with groups of people such as family, friends, social networks such as political parties or social clubs. These relationships can be negotiated and reinforced by exhange of gifts).

3. Symbolic Capital (Value, power, prestige, and privilege attached to people's status in society).

4. Cultural Capital (Knowledge --> language skills, qualifications, and competence. Cultural capital is usually the product of socialization).

In it's simplest usage, it could be understood as one's 'habit', 'second nature', or 'disposition'.

In Bourdieu's work, habitus can be defined as a set of patterns of ideas, perceptions, values, beliefs, and behaviors shared by people in a given society. It is a way of looking at and doing things...social aspects of life are ingrained in our daily practices.

The process is accomplished through socialization (formal and informal education)

-"Parents equip their children with particular manners and thoughts"
- Parents ensure that their children are able to succeed within the various social fields
-The children then reproduce their parents' class position in the woder social system

Educational success necessitates a range of cultural aspects, extending to non-academic features like behavior.

Privileged children learn this behavior and fit these expectations with ease.

On the other hand, children of unprivileged backgrounds do not fit these expectations with ease, as they are found to be difficult, and present challenges.