SOC 201 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Social Media, Individualism
Document Summary
Modern sociologists continue to be inspired by two important qualities stressed by early sociologists: (1) the focus on the social (2) skepticism. It is the focus on the social that allows sociologists to see much that escapes the notice of other observers; it is what makes sociology unique. But, i should warn you, this focus on the social makes sociology difficult for newcomers to the discipline because most of them have been taught to view the world in ways that are distinctly nonsociological. People in modern western societies have been taught to embrace the principle of individualism. Individualism is the idea that in life people pursue their own ends, that people follow their own ideas. It must be that mary is smarter, or works harder, than johnny. Well, frankly, chris just doesn"t make good choices. You might be thinking of course we focus on individuals!
