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SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology

Section Number 70816

Catalog Description:

A study of the principles and problems pertaining to group behavior, the relationships among human beings, the development and nature of institutions, and the structure of society. CSU; UC; CAN SOC 2 Closed Captioned

Instructor:

A. Guerra

Class Meetings:

9:00-12:20pm On the following Saturdays: Sept. 8, 22; Oct. 13; Nov. 3, 17; Dec. 1
Room BES-1

Broadcast Days and Times:

Times and days for Cox Cable North -Channel 16 and Adelphia Cable-Channel 67:
Monday/Wednesday 10:00-10:30pm OR Tuesday/Thursday 7:00- 7:30 am OR Friday 9:30-10:00am

Viewing Options

If this course does not air in your area or you don’t have cable you have two options. The first option is you can check out video tapes from the Learning Resource Center on the San Marcos Main Campus Library or the Escondido, Ramona or Mt Carmel sites. The second option is watching the lessons online. All of our classes are video streamed.

Class Outline

Course materials are available the Friday prior to when classes begin. Access your course outline, assignments, handouts and announcements, as well as view video lessons in Blackboard. Log in Blackboard instructions:

USERNAME: STUDENT ID #
PASSWORD: Palomar eServices Password
(Unless you are a returning student and previously changed your password)

To log in go to: http://www.palomar.edu/pconline/

Textbook and Other Required Materials:

Society: The Basics By: Macionis, 9th edition w/Distance Learning pkg

Video Series Entitled:

The Way We Live

Video Lesson Descriptions:

Lesson 1: "Connections"
Text: Sociology. "The Sociological Perspective," Chapter 1, pp. 1-25
(For additional reading on the history of sociology read
Sociology. "Society," Chapter 4, pp. 88-113)
Society: The Basics. "Sociology: Perspective, Theory, and Method,"
Chapter 1, pp. 1-14 and pp. 24-27

The sociological perspective: seeing the general in the particular, the power of society to shape our thoughts, feelings, and actions; transforming personal problems into public issues
The global perspective: how where we live shapes our lives; increasing connections between societies throughout the world
The origins of sociology: the growth of cities; the new, industrial economy; political change
Sociological theory: the structural-functional paradigm, the social-conflict paradigm and the symbolic-interaction paradigm
Applied sociology

Lesson 2: "Truth Be Told"
Text: Sociology. "Sociological Investigation," Chapter 2, pp. 26-55
Society: The Basics. "Sociology: Perspective, Theory, and Method,"
Chapter 1, pp. 14-31

Scientific sociology: the study of society based on systematic observation of social behavior
Interpretive sociology: the study of society that focuses on the meanings people attach to their social world
Critical sociology: the study of society that focuses on the need for social change
Methods of sociological research: experiments, surveys, participant observation, secondary analysis
Giving facts meaning by building theory (using inductive and deductive logical thought)

Lesson 3: "Common Ground"
Text: Sociology. "Culture," Chapter 3, pp. 56-87
Society: The Basics. "Culture," Chapter 2, pp. 32-59

What is culture? (non-material vs. material; as distinguished from "nation" and "society;" means of passing on lessons learned/survival strategies)
The components of culture: symbols, language, values and beliefs, norms, and material culture (including technology)
Cultural diversity: many ways of life in one world (subculture, counterculture, multiculturalism, cultural change, ethnocentrism and cultural relativism)
Theoretical analysis of culture: structural-functional analysis; social-conflict analysis; sociobiology

Lesson 4: "Fitting In"
Text: Sociology. "Socialization," Chapter 5, pp. 114-137
Society: The Basics. "Socialization: From Infancy to Old Age,"
Chapter 3, pp. 60-83

Social experience and human development: nature, nurture and social isolation
Understanding socialization: personality, cognitive development, moral development, gender, the social self, eight stages of development
Agents of socialization: family, school, peer groups, mass media
Socialization and the life course: childhood, adolescence, adulthood, old age, dying

Lesson 5: "Face to Face"
Text: Sociology. "Social Interaction in Everyday Life,"
Chapter 6, pp. 138-161
Society: The Basics. "Social Interaction in Everyday Life," Chapter
4, pp. 84-105

Status: status set; ascribed and achieved status; master status
Role: role set; role conflict and strain; role exit
The social construction of reality: "street smarts;" the Thomas Theorem; ethnomethodology; reality building (class and culture)
Dramaturgical analysis: the presentation of self (performances; non-verbal communication; gender and personal performances; idealization; embarrassment and tact)
Interaction in everyday life: language and humor

Lesson 6: "All Together"
Text: Sociology. "Groups and Organizations, " Chapter 7, pp. 162-187
Society: The Basics. "Groups and Organizations," Chapter 5, pp.106-131

Social groups (primary and secondary; leadership; reference groups; size; diversity, i.e. race/class/gender; networks)
Formal organizations: types; bureaucracies (origins; characteristics; informal aspects; problems); organizational environment; oligarchy
The evolution of formal organizations: scientific management; challenges (race and gender; the Japanese organization; the changing nature of work); the "McDonaldization" of society (emphasis on efficiency, calculability, uniformity/predictability, and control through automation)
The future of organizations: opposing trends (high-paying, "creative" jobs vs. routine jobs) in the post-industrial economy
Computer technology, large organizations and the assault on privacy

Lesson 7: "Against the Grain"
Text: Sociology. "Deviance," Chapter 8, pp. 188-219
Society: The Basics. "Deviance", Chapter 6, pp. 132-159

What is deviance? (social control; the biological context; personality factors; social foundations
Functions of deviance: structural-functional analysis (Emile Durkheim on functions; Merton's Strain Theory; deviant subcultures)
Labeling deviance: symbolic-interaction analysis (labeling theory; medicalization of deviance; Sutherland's Differential Association theory; Hirschi's Control Theory
Deviance and inequality: social-conflict analysis (deviance and power; deviance and capitalism; white collar crime; corporate crime; organized crime)
Deviance and social diversity (hate crimes; deviance and gender)
Crime and the criminal justice system (types and statistics; street criminals; global perspective; police; courts; punishment)

Lesson 8: "Matters of the Flesh"
Text: Sociology. "Sexuality," Chapter 9, pp. 220-245
Society: The Basics. "Sexuality", Chapter 7, pp. 160-185

Understanding sexuality: biological issues; cultural issues; incest
Sexual attitudes in the United States: the sexual revolution and counter-revolution; premarital sex; sex between adults; extramarital sex
Sexual orientation: origins; alternative sexuality
Sexual controversies: teen pregnancy; pornography; prostitution; sexual violence and abuse
Theoretical analyses of sexuality: structural-functional; symbolicinteraction; social-conflict

Lesson 9: "Ups and Downs "
Text: Sociology. "Social Stratification," Chapter 10, pp. 246-269

Dimensions of social inequality: income, wealth, power, occupational prestige, schooling
Social stratification and birth: ancestry, gender, race and ethnicity, religion
Social classes in the U.S.: upper, middle, working, working poor/lower
Impacts of class: health, values, politics, family and gender
Social mobility: myth vs. reality; mobility (race, ethnicity and gender; mobility by income level); the American dream (still a reality?); the global economy and U.S. class structure
Poverty in the U.S.: explanations and extent; link with unemployment; the welfare dilemma; who are the poor; impact on children; homelessness
Stratification and conflict (Karl Marx and class conflict; Max Weber on class, status and power)

Lesson 10: "Worlds Apart"
Text: Sociology. "Global Stratification," Chapter 12, pp. 298-323
Society: The Basics. "Global Stratification," Chapter 9, pp. 220-243

Caste and class systems
Overview of global stratification: terminology; high-income countries; middle-income countries; low-income countries
Global wealth and poverty: severity and extent; poverty and women; poverty and children; slavery; correlates of global poverty (technology; population growth; cultural patterns; social stratification; gender inequality; global power relationships)
Global stratification: theoretical analysis (modernization theory; dependency theory)
Global stratification: economic polarization; world hunger

Lesson 11: "Venus and Mars"
Text: Sociology. "Gender Stratification," Chapter 13, pp. 324-351
Society: The Basics. "Gender Stratification," Chapter 10, pp. 244-269

Gender and inequality: male-female differences; gender in global perspective; patriarchy and sexism
Gender and socialization: family, peer group, schooling, and the mass media
Gender and social stratification: working men and women; housework; gender and education, politics, the military; minority women; violence against women
Theoretical analysis of gender: structural-functional analysis; social-conflict analysis
Feminism: basic ideas; types; opposition

Lesson 12: "Colors"
Text: Sociology. "Race and Ethnicity," Chapter 14, pp. 352-381
Society: The Basics. "Race and Ethnicity," Chapter 11, pp. 270-299

Social meaning of race, ethnicity and minority
Prejudice: stereotypes, racism, theories of prejudice
Discrimination: institutional prejudice and discrimination; the cycle of prejudice and discrimination
Majority and minority: patterns of interaction (pluralism, assimilation, segregation, genocide)
Race and ethnicity in the U.S.: Native Americans, White Anglo- Saxon Protestants, African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, White Ethnic Americans

Lesson 13: "Golden Years"
Text: Sociology. "Aging and the Elderly," Chapter 15, pp. 382-405
Society: The Basics. "Socialization: From Infancy to Old Age,"
Chapter 3, pp. 68 and 76-78
"Family and Religion," Chapter 13, pp. 343-344
"Education and Health," Chapter 14, p. 390

The graying of the United States: birth rate and life expectancy; cultural change; "young old" and "old old"
Growing old: biology and culture (biological changes; psychological changes; aging and culture; age stratification: a global assessment)
Growing old: transitions and challenges (finding meaning; social isolation; retirement; aging and poverty; care giving; ageism)
Theoretical analysis of aging: structural-functional analysis (aging and disengagement); symbolic-interaction analysis (aging and activity); social-conflict analysis (aging and inequality)
Death and dying: historical patterns of death; modern separation of life and death; ethical issues; bereavement

Lesson 14: "Working World"
Text: Sociology. "The Economy and Work," Chapter 16, pp. 406-431
Society: The Basics. "Economics and Politics," Chapter 12,
pp. 300-316 and 330-333

Historical overview of the economy: agricultural, industrial and information revolutions; sectors of the economy; the global economy
Economic systems: capitalism; socialism; welfare capitalism and state capitalism; changes in socialist countries
Work in the post-industrial economy
Corporations: economic concentration; conglomerates; competition; corporations and globalization

Lesson 15: "Balance of Power"
Text: Sociology. "Politics and Government," Chapter 17, pp. 432-459
Society: The Basics. "Economics and Politics," Chapter 12, pp. 316-333

Politics and government: traditional authority; rational-legal authority; charismatic authority
Politics in global perspective: monarchy; democracy; authoritarianism; totalitarianism
Politics in the U.S.: the political spectrum; special interest groups; voter apathy; the growth of government
Theoretical analysis of power in society: the pluralist model; the power-elite model; the Marxist model
Power beyond the rules: revolution; terrorism
War and peace: the causes of war; costs and causes of militarism; nuclear weapons; pursuing peace

Lesson 16: "Family Matters"
Text: Sociology. "Family," Chapter 18, pp. 460-487
Society: The Basics. "Family and Religion," Chapter 13,
pp. 334- 351 and 365-367

The family: basic concepts (global variations; marriage patterns; residential patterns; patterns of descent; patterns of authority)
Theoretical analysis of the family: functions of the family (structural-functional analysis); inequality and the family (social-conflict analysis); constructing family life (micro-level analysis)
Stages of family life: courtship; ideal and real marriage; child rearing; the family in later life
U.S. families: class, race and gender
Transitions and problems in family life: divorce; remarriage; family violence
Alternative family units: single-parent families; cohabitation; gay and lesbian couples; singlehood
New reproductive technology and the family

Lesson 17: "In God We Trust"
Text: Sociology. "Religion," Chapter 19, pp. 488-515
Society: The Basics. "Family and Religion," Chapter 13, pp. 351-367

Theoretical analysis of religion: functions of religion (structuralfunctional analysis); constructing the sacred (symbolic-interaction analysis); inequality and religion (social-conflict analysis)
Religion and social change: Protestantism and capitalism; liberation theology
Types of religious organization: church; sect; cult
Religion in history: religion in pre-industrial societies; religion in industrial societies
World religions: Christianity; Islam; Judaism; Hinduism; Buddhism; Confucianism
Religion in the United States: religious affiliation; religiosity; religion and social stratification
Religion in a changing society: secularization; civil religion; a postdenominational society; religious revival

Lesson 18: "Learning Curves "
Text: Sociology. "Education," Chapter 20, pp. 516-539
Society: The Basics. "Education and Medicine," Chapter 14,
pp. 368-382 and 399-403

A global survey: schooling in India, Japan, Great Britain and the United States
Functions of schooling: socialization; cultural innovation; social integration; social placement; latent functions
Schooling and social inequality: social control; standardized testing; school tracking; inequality between schools; access to higher education; credentialism; privilege and personal merit
Problems in the schools: discipline and violence; student passivity; dropping out; academic standards
Recent issues in education: school choice; schooling people with disabilities; adult education; the teacher shortage; bilingual education

Lesson 19: "Taking the Pulse"
Text: Sociology. "Health and Medicine," Chapter 21, pp. 540-567
Society: The Basics. "Education and Medicine," Chapter 14, pp. 382-403

What is health: health and society
Health: a global survey (health in history; health in low-income countries; health in high-income countries)
Health in the United States: who is healthy (age, gender, class and race); cigarette smoking; eating disorders; sexually transmitted diseases; ethical issues surrounding death
The medical establishment: the rise of scientific medicine; holistic medicine; paying for health (a global survey); medicine in the United States
Theoretical analysis of health and medicine: structural-functional analysis; symbolic-interaction analysis; social-conflict analysis

Lesson 20: "Rise and Fall"
Text: Sociology. "Population, Urbanization and Environment,"
Chapter 22, pp. 568-599
Society: The Basics. "Population, Urbanization, and the
Environment," Chapter 15, pp. 404-435

Demography: the study of population (fertility; mortality; migration; population growth; population composition)
History and theory of population growth: Malthusian theory; demographic transition theory; global population today (a brief survey)
Urbanization: the growth of cities (the evolution of cities; the growth of U.S. cities; suburbs and urban decline; postindustrial sunbelt cities; megalopolis: regional cities; edge cities; the rural rebound
Urbanism as a way of life (Ferdinand Tonnies: Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft; Emile Durkheim: mechanical and organic solidarity; George Simmel: the blasé urbanite; The Chicago School: Robert Park and Louis Wirth)
Urbanization in poor societies
Environment and society: the global dimension; technology and the environmental deficit; culture (growth and limits); solid waste (the disposable society); water and air; the rain forests; environmental racism
Looking ahead: toward a sustainable world

Lesson 21: "Mass Appeal"
Text: Sociology. "Collective Behavior and Social Movements,"
Chapter 23, pp. 600-623
Society: The Basics. "Social Change: Modern and Postmodern
Societies," Chapter 16, pp. 439-442 and 460-463

Studying collective behavior
Localized collectivities: mobs and riots; crowds, mobs and social change; explaining crowd behavior
Dispersed collectivities: mass behavior (rumor and gossip; public opinion and propaganda; panic and mass hysteria; fashions and fads)
Social movements (types of social movements; explaining social movements; gender and social movements; stages in social movements; social movements and social change)

Lesson 22: "Waves of Change"
Text: Sociology. "Social Change: Traditional, Modern and
Post-Modern Societies," Chapter 24, pp. 624-649
Society: The Basics. "Social Change: Modern and
Postmodern Societies," Chapter 16, pp. 436-363

What is social change?
Causes of social change: culture and change; conflict and change; ideas and change; demographic change
Modernity: four dimensions of modernization; the loss of community (Ferdinand Tonnies); the division of labor (Emile Durkheim); rationalization (Max Weber); capitalism (Karl Marx)
Theoretical ideas of modernity: structural-functional theory (modernity as mass society); social-conflict theory (modernity as class society); modernity and the individual; modernity and progress; modernity: global variation
Looking ahead: modernization and our global future