INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

PAUL MCLEAN

www.rci.rutgers.edu/~pmclean

1) COURSE OVERVIEW

2) WHY ARE YOU HERE?

Different motivations to think about

3) THINKING SOCIOLOGICALLY:

a) --first, it is turning a critical eye on the social life around you; your own behavior and that of others (e.g. sociologists’ conferences; Gwen Stefani parties; movie-going)

--not just playing the game of life, but also understanding its rules

b) there are STRUCTURAL PATTERNS or REGULARITIES in social life that may defy common sense: examples?

1) Why are almost all social organizations hierarchical? How are disparate types of groups—churches, companies, fraternities—similar, say in dependence on people who are formally subordinates?

2) How will your life chances be shaped by who you are (and how many there are of you? e.g. Education; marriage

c) there are GROUP-LEVEL PROCESSES of which we are barely aware: examples? Naming conventions; styles of intimacy

In general, sociology means turning a critical eye on your own behavior, and the behavior and assumptions of those in your social milieu

AGAIN, PLAYING THE GAME OF LIFE VS. UNDERSTANDING THE RULES OF LIFE