What is Sociology? - Dong Won Shin(신동원)

1) Summarize

• The definition of sociology

 Sociology is a part of social science. It uses empirical investigation and critical analysis to improve the knowledge about human social structure and activity. Sociology ranges from detailed subject area (e.g., social interaction) to broad subject area (e.g., social life). It usually has handled social relations, social stratification, human behavior, culture and deviance with qualitative and quantitative survey method. As time goes by, the scope of sociology has expanded to other subjects which is not strongly related with it. For instance, we can find social activities in economics or science. As social territory is changing, sociology has several definition. Therefore, We can say sociology is the study of society, social relations or other any things you can prefer.

• Sociological perspective

 Sociological perspective which means sociological imagination is the ability to solve personal problems with scientific methods. If you want to understand and deal with social world and events accurately, you should follow this process. First, formulate a hypothesis. Then, Collect empirical data through operationalization. Finally, verify your hypothesis without values, beliefs, and pre-conceived notions you have. This will help you cope with social phenomena by situating outside of personal and self-centric view.

• Differences between sociology and other social sciences

 Other social sciences only study their own limited fields. For example, psychology examines the human mind and behavior in micro-level. Communication studies the process of discussion through various media. Economics is the production and allocation of wealth in society. However, sociology has a broad range of topics and can study other domain of knowledge. For instance, sociologists can research from gender(micro-level) to deviance(macro-level). Also, they can examine the role of social activity in the creation of scientific knowledge.

• History of sociology

1. The birth of sociology

 The term sociology was made by Auguste Comte in 1838 from the Latin word socius and the Greek word logia. He argued 'The Law of Three stages' which isn't used in sociology nowadays. Comte thought that sociologists have to approach phenomena "positivistic" way to find the laws governing the social universe. Other early sociological theorists from the late 19th and early 20th centuries (e.g., Karl Marx, Max Weber, and etc.) researched various topics like history, philosophy and economics. Their influence has been continued on sociology today.

  2.  The development of the sociology

 In the mid-19th century, the English philosopher Herbert Spencer published the book which used the term sociology the first time. In 1890, the first Sociology course was opened at the University of Kansas in the United States. In addition, the first university department of sociology was established in 1892 at the University of Chicage in the United States. In 1893, Rene Worms founded the small Institut International de Sociologie and International cooperation in sociology began. In Europe, department of sociology was founded in 1895 at the University of Bordeaux. In 1905, the American Sociological Association was established. In 1919, a sociology department was established in Germany and in 1920 in Poland. After the Second World War, in the United Kingdom, the first sociology departments were founded.

2) Thoughts of new, interesting, or unusual items

 All things I studied this week in sociology class and reading materials are interesting to me. Before this class, I thought sociology isn't related to science. I considered sociology as an ambiguous and metaphysical discipline but this prejudice is wrong. Sociology has empirical aspect like operationalization but that doesn't mean it overlooks qualitative parts of social phenomena. It highly regard both quantitative and qualitative aspects.

 I'm surprised at the scope of sociology. It deals with social world from micro level to macro level. Also, it can be related with any subjects you want. Therefore, the definition of sociology is various and I can't define sociology yet.

 The history of sociology is short because it occured in response to the challenges of modernity. I'm glad to study this modernistic discipline because it's useful in rapidly changing world.

3) Why does fashion change?

 Nowadays, the world is changing more faster than ever and this speed will increase as time goes by. Human responds to environment and this human nature is applied to fashion. Therefore, fashion changes fast today.
 Lipstick effect is a typical theory that can prove fashion changes bacause of surroundings. Lipstick effect is the theory that when economic crisis occurs, consumers will be more willing to buyless costly luxury goods (e.g., lipstick). There is a graph that shows sales volume of lipsticks following the year.

 If you see this graph, you can find clear rise of lipstick sales in 2001. In 2001, there is serious economic crisis because of the September 11 attacks. A lot of americans were depressed and sad. Thus, the consumer confidence in United States shrank dramatically and economic crisis began. When they faced economic crisis, they bought more buyless costly luxury goods to relieve their feelings.
 Like this, fashion is influenced by consumers' psychological change that circumstances cause. When the environment changes, people respond to this and fashion changes.

Reference

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Sociology/Introduction

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipstick_effect

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks

The picture of Auguste Comte: http://laphiloduclos.over-blog.com/2014/03/la-societe-et-l-individu-explication-d-un-texte-de-auguste-comte.html

The picture of Herbert Spencer: http://es.slideshare.net/OrtizMarisol/exposicin-herbert-spencer

The graph of lipstick sales: http://www.economist.com/node/12995765