SOC 105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Human Genome Project, Biological Determinism, Social Darwinism

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 105
• Professor: Graeme Metcalf

Document Summary

Biological determinism all characteristics of a person are genetic. If we believe that certain behaviours are bd, then we cannot change them. If we believe the social world is created by humans the possibility of altering bad behaviour is entirely possible. Ethnographies are studies of human social organization and culture. Humans have the most diverse set of genetic matter which helps us display a variety of behavioural outcomes. We often repress instincts by the nature of will. But how do we know which are behaviours of instincts and which are behaviours from the rejection of instincts. Arguments of centrality on instincts are an example of biological determinism to explain human behaviour. Dialectically, behaviour is a result of a complex interaction between biological elements and social learning. Theories remain popular not because of a lack of academic credibility but because they help maintain the belief that our current arrangement is unchangeable.