Section 1
        Examining Social Life
          Pages 4-8
      Section 1 Objectives
  • 1. Describe what sociology is and explain what 
   it means to have a sociological imagination.
  • 2. Explain how sociology is similar to and 
   different from other social sciences. 
   The Natural and Social Sciences
  • The broad study of science can be divided into 
   the natural and social sciences. The natural 
   sciences examine and analyze the natural 
   world.  These sciences include biology, 
   chemistry, geology, and physics.  The social 
   sciences examine and analyze the social world, 
   or the world of human beings.  These sciences 
   include anthropology, economics, history, 
   political science, psychology, and sociology. 
    The Sociological Perspective
  • Sociology: studies human society and social 
   behavior.
  • Social sciences: the disciplines that study human 
   social behavior or institutions.
  • Social interaction: how people relate to one another 
   and influence each other’s behavior. Sociologists 
   focus on the group rather than on the individual.
  • Social phenomena: observable facts or events that 
   involve human society.
       Why study sociology?
  • Sociological perspective:  It helps you gain a perspective 
   on and view yourself and the world around you.  Look 
   beyond commonly held beliefs to the hidden meanings 
   behind human actions. The sociological perspective helps 
   you see all people are social beings.  Your behavior is 
   influenced by social factors and that you have learned 
   your behavior from others.  This allows you see beyond 
   your own day to day life by viewing the world through 
   others’ eyes. 
  • It’s a scientific systematic way, rather than depending on 
   common sense explanations.