Crash Course Sociology - Introduction Lecture

Introduction

• Speaker: Nicole Sweeney
• Key Question: How does the world of people work?
  • Who goes to college and why?
  • Why do people march in the streets?
  • Cultural preferences (e.g., Broadway vs. hip-hop)
• Subject: Sociology
  • Understanding oneself and place in the world

The Origins and Definition of Sociology

• Founder: Auguste Comte (French philosopher, 1800s)
• Objective: Systematic science to study society and solve its problems
• Definition: Scientific study of society and human behavior

Society and Culture

• Society: Group sharing culture and territory
• Culture: Integral to all social interactions
  • Example: Influence of society on personal music taste

Scope of Sociology

• Broad field: Part of social sciences; includes economics, psychology, etc.
• Focus: Patterns in social behavior at all societal levels
• Sociological Perspective:
  • General in the Particular: Social behavior in a wider context
  • Strange in the Familiar: Seeing everyday life as if for the first time

Key Concepts in Sociology

• Social Location: Classifying oneself by various social identity factors
  • Influence: Social location affects choices and opportunities
  • Example: College attendance influenced by social class
• Marginalization and Power
  • Marginalized Groups: Outside centers of power
  • Power and Inequality: Economic, political, social, cultural
  • Example: Accent discrimination as a form of cultural inequality

Purpose and Impact of Sociology

• Understanding Society: To improve it
• Historical Context: Rise during 18th-19th century Europe amid economic, social, political changes
• Goal: Inform good public policy, understand big and small societal aspects

Conclusion

• Overview: Sociology studies society broadly and deeply
• Next Steps: Introduction to theories and paradigms of sociology
• Production Notes
  • Filming location: Dr. Cheryl C. Kinney Crash Course Studio, Missoula, MT
  • Support: Patreon contributions
  • Special thanks to contributors and patrons