Throughout this essay, I will explain the distinction between sociological and common sense understanding, highlight the differences between sociology and other social sciences, and evaluate two sociological perspectives – Marxism and feminism.
Sociological theory is a set of well defined concepts interrelated and interlinked with each other. The propositions contain concepts inter-related with each other with a logical explanation. Sociological theories are scientific and systematic symbolic construction which must be valid and reasonable but subjected to verification in the initial stages.
Explain the difference between a “common sense” and a “sociological” view of human behaviour, giving relevant examples.
The knowledge of each social class can be categorized based on the level of impact to the individual’s success or failure within their social structure. Also, the knowledge can be categorized based on the impact to the social structure functions. The impacts are life changing events based on individual or groups abilities and efforts. The events create opportunities to provide themselves with materials goods, positive living condition, and favorable life experiences. However, the categorization should not be race, ethnicity, age, gender, parent’s economic class, parent’s religion, or sexuality because they are labels not the abilities or efforts in obtaining success. According to textbook “Sociology: Beyond common sense” by Durkin & Carrothers
Common sense is the knowledge of opinions and belief that people have in everyday life. However, it is something with no evidence to back it up. Common sense ideas are found through the struggles that people have lived through and so directly impact their opinions on certain subjects. Common sense ideas can be personal as everyone has a different outlook and opinion depending on background and experience. Taking the example of someone who is homeless. A common sensical thinker would think that they had become homeless due to not having a job or money. Common sense thinkers may also think that the reason for their homelessness comes from lifestyle, blaming alcohol and drug misuse or family for their predicament.
1. Some people accuse sociologists of observing conditions that are obvious. How does looking at sociology as “making the familiar strange” help counter this claim? How does sociology differ from simple commonsense reasoning?
Sociology and psychology is the study of the mind and the environment around us which makes us who we are. These theories assist us to understand behaviour from individual and societal levels.
1) While the findings of sociologists may at times seem like common sense, they differ from common sense because they rest on
According to Durkheim, Social fact or social phenomenon are the main subject matter of sociology. He said in one of his pieces that social fact must be studied distinct from the biological and psychological phenomenon. Social order is the trend of behavior being used to exercise power over another person. It has become rules and regulations that have been set up by some authorities to be obeyed by another group of people who are being undermined in a society, it is a situation that oppressed people and limits them from their liberties. When people go through these situations they cannot function the way they are supposed to function because they are limited by their freedom. These social orders are not only laws but rather certain norms created by the authority to put a whole race into a situation where they are very far from freedom of speech, movement, and knowledge. African Americans are an example of a race that has been through discrimination at workplaces, schools, community etc. They are one race which has been a label or put in a class where the situation will never permit you to climb the ladder of success. Although you might have all the certification, qualification, the best schools, etc. but the fact that you came from the poor class or the lower class, it becomes very difficult for the Caucasian people to give you the opportunity you deserve, because of this, the citizens of American have been grouped into different classes which are upper, middle, working,
We now live in a world where social media has changed the way we interact with the world around us. At a young age we are programed to worry about how strangers view our lives and our decisions. People are worried about how many likes they get and social acceptance. Though these outlets individuals build their social foundations that will later become the building blocks of their careers. People tend to fall short excepting criticism, communication skills, and analyzing information.
selves. In doing this they live their lives to the fullest and not wishing they
As cliché as it seems, from a young age I knew I wasn’t like most other kids my age. My parents made no pretense of the existence of urban legends like Santa Claus. My parents were born in China in the 1960s, and grew up at a time when the Cultural Revolution was in full swing. During this time, practice of religion was forbidden and Maoist thought fostered an emphasis on hard work in school. Despite indirect effects on me, it was - and still is - hard for me to fathom such a drastically different environment compared to modern American society.
Common sense is subjective as it’s based on opinion and belief; these personal interpretations generate norms in a society that a culture becomes accustomed to, so much so that they barely notice them. It is the basic level of knowledge and judgement that we all share; which we take for granted as a real and true. Common sense tries to explain a situation solely in terms of the individual or persons involved in it; there is no attempt to understand the situation in terms of wider social forces. Common sense in the UK would be for example waiting in a line at the super market, crossing the road at the lights in no particular order however in Germany common sense in waiting in a queue is first come first served it 's not unnatural to duke someone at a takeaway restaurant. Also a common sense in Japan is crossing the road in a question line something that would seem quite absurd in the UK. The sociological view is objective because facts are found using scientific research on human society. It is an objective look at and people with in depth analyses supplying quantitative data and qualitative data. Common sense is an explanation of what should be where as sociological view looks at what actually is. In 1959 sociologist C. Wright Mills published "the sociological imagination" a book which allows us to grasp
In life, there are many times where an individual may feel alone. Personally, this past week can attest to that notion. Moving into a college dorm, saying goodbye to my loved ones, and taking on a new chapter in my life, have all been accompanied by a new set of emotions that I have never felt before: homesickness, freedom, peer-pressure. However, looking around everyone seems happy, and it feels as if I am trapped in a space that no one else appears to be in. But, internally they may be battling the same struggles that I am. That is what can be drawn from “The Wisdom of Sociology: Sam Richards at TedxLacador,” the idea that behind the facade, our personal struggles are all connected.
The Sociological Imagination was a term that was first coined by sociologist C. Wright Mills. It could be said that definition of The Sociological Imagination is having the ability to look beyond personal experience and realise that society is shaped by the cross over between biography and history. Mills thought that everyone in society had the capability to think sociologically and that this was essential to gain a deeper understanding of both their society, and their current circumstance. This approach contradicts a more readily adopted approach by the public that sociologists call “The common sense approach”. The common sense approach is a collection of knowledge that has been acquired through little scientific merit, such as: personal experience, gossip or anecdotal evidence. This essay will discuss and explain the difference between the Sociological Imagination and Common-Sense explanations through the use of examples to explain the topic of sexuality.