Sociological Perspective: Sociology And Sociology

What is sociology and what does the sociological perspective entail? How does a mastery of the sociological perspective help you better understand your social world and your personal life?

Sociology has been around since the Age of Enlightenment, as both the French and other European men desired to learn more about society. This widespread desire to evaluate the science of society led to sociology, which is now officially defined as the study of the development, structure and functioning of human society. Sociologists can study virtually any topic as long as it has a relation to a society, which means sociology can be argued to include virtually every subject or thing one can think of. The sociological perspective entails a look on human

In this excerpt from her book, Gaines explores the link between teen suicides and society, and concludes the high rates of teenage suicide are due to the “burnout” culture. Gaines linked the human behavior of suicide to the whole of society in societies treatment of kids who are not the smartest, or the most engaged, or the most well behaved, who are relegated to the category of “burnout” forever. “… it was adult organization of young people’s social reality over the last few hundred years that had created this miserable situation…” [CITATION]. Thus, Gaines demonstrated the link between a person’s behavior and

However, Schwalbe stipulates, the point of being sociologically mindful is not “…to arrive at a paralyzing state of doubt about what we know, but to more wisely decide how much faith to put into what we know.” [CITATION] Sociologists study the world in multiple ways, but typically through observational or survey research. The most common method of survey research employed by sociologists is gaining information through interviews that they conduct themselves, in person as opposed to sending out surveys for participants to fill out. Donna Gaines used interviews in “Teenage Wasteland”, and Emily Kane used interviews in “No Way My Boys Are Going to Be Like That!”. The second common form of research used by sociologists is observational. The typical form of observational research, where the sociologist goes out into the field and observes behaviors and reactions can be seen in “An Intersection of Biography and History” by Mary Romero. A less typical form of observational research can be seen in “Civilize Them With a Stick” by Mary Crow Dog with Richard Erdoes. This is unusual because Mary, instead of seeking to put herself in the environment she was studying to observe others, was forced into the environment as a young child, and is using her knowledge as a sociologist to go back in her memories and explore the society of the boarding school she