SY101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Symbolic Interactionism, Social Forces
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SY101 Full Course Notes
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Document Summary
Provide unique and enlightening perspectives on social events that differs from common sense understanding. Can be used to analyze how people commonly understand the world. Course theme: sociological perspectives vs. commonsense perspectives of the social world. Four main theoretical traditions in sociology: functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, feminism. Challenged commonsense notions of how suicide occurred, contributing factors. Argued that people believe suicide is selfish, as if there were no social factors. Demonstrated that suicide results from strong social circumstances. E. g. bullying, being impoverished, being a soldier, being socially isolated. Perceived as a sad figure, removed from society. Opposed to younger and middle aged people. Connections between age groups are weakening, norms are changing and phasing out. Social integrations-- connection between individuals and the group. Social control-- regulating norms, values, expectations, individual responsibilities. Suicide occurs if too much or too little of each force. Morals and values in society begin to break down-- during a crisis.
