Explain the difference between a “common sense” and a “sociological” view of human behaviour, giving relevant examples. Sociology is a social science that enables people to understand the structure and dynamics of society. By using a scientific approach, and by critically analysing society using qualitative and quantitative methods, sociologists can find patterns and connections within human behaviour to provide explanations of how society affects people. Sociological views are based on theories that have been tested through unbiased research and attempt to take all values into account. Common sense theories are generally individualistic and naturalistic assumptions that are based on opinions than can vary depending on an individuals …show more content…
Other people within his community may even go as far a labelling the man as lazy, because of his labour-less situation. This would be a common sense view, as the people making the assumptions against the unfortunate man, do not have the necessary evidence to make such a judgement. Mills continues about the unemployed individual, '...but when in a nation of 50 million employees, 15 million men are unemployed, that is an issue, and we may not hope to find its solution within the range of opportunities open to any one individual'. (Mills 1959: 9) It would be nonsensical from a common sense perspective to brandish 15 million people as lazy because they are out of work, so it is the job of the sociologist to find out why. To arrive at sociological perspective, someone would have to analyse the situation stringently to find evidence as to why such a high percentage of the population to be out of work. This could be down to a collapse in a country's economy, and subsequent closure of businesses throughout the nation, due to populate being unwilling to spend money for unessential luxuries, as recently experienced in the United Kingdom amongst other countries. It is not enough to assume that people who receive state benefits are indeed lazy people who shy away from work.
Poverty and downward mobility are unfortunately not the only problems striking the American working class. It is fact that some jobs are simply not needed anymore. That of the laborer is just depleting. Some might even call it a “dying breed” (LaFevre 1) Mike LaFevre is part of the working class that labors day in and
The short article cut from “America’s New Working Class”, by Kathleen R. Arnold, depicts the failure of the American’s federal welfare system. It seems like mostly Americans agree that the propose of federal welfare programs is to provide economic assistance such as food stamps to people who need it. However, Arnold states that the real propose of welfare programs is to maintain a supply of cheap labor in order to make them to have obedient adaptive function and closely keep watch on those welfare recipients. For example, the bad treatment for parole people will only lead them go back the prison; and for those noncompliance workfare recipients, the bad treatment and poor support will lead them to become homeless and malnourish, which make them become much more poverty.
By requiring people on welfare to work, and assisting them to get low-paying jobs if nothing else, the state and local governments give the people incentive to get better paying jobs and keep them. I read an article once that showed the correlation between government-assisted welfare workers and full-time permanent employment of those same workers later. I firmly believe that people will help and support themselves if given a decent chance. This country is founded on the idea of self-sufficiency. We are taught this in the public schools from the first day. We are trained not to cheat, not to steal answers from another person's paper, and not to depend on others to do our work for us. It seems to be an innate human quality that people want to rely on upon themselves and achieve goals on their own. When people who are down on their luck are given a helping hand, often they will move from
I agree with you points regarding both Sociology and Common Sense. It's true that common sense in itself is more of a "street smart" and common knowledge opposed to, Sociology which is the study of understanding people and the behaviors associated with interpreting the society around us and how it functions. You make a good point about how you view Sociology as more of a sociological perspective meaning that its interpreted based on one's viewpoint of it then it being a solid definition. Although I must say, it's true that Sociology does make someone step out of their comfort zone so to speak hence, making an individual 'more
As politicians and media figures laud the relatively lower aggregate unemployment rates and the ‘success’ of ‘welfare reform,’ more careful observers note the hidden unemployment official numbers do not account for and caution the optimists that the real test of the ‘Personal Responsibility Act’ will be as the economy goes into recession. Official unemployment figures go down not only when the unemployed find work, but when ‘discouraged workers’ drop out of the labor force, a process with harsh consequences:
In Australia there is a consensus that think that the unemployed don’t want to work and are not willing to find work; this claiming that they are lazy and conning the government for benefits (if they receive them). However, not all unemployed actually enjoy being without a job to survive and struggle with not having enough job opportunities, not being able to work due to lack of qualifications and not willing to take a job that will lead them to deficit (Csoba, 2010). Looking at it from a conflict theorist’s point of view it is people who have the money and the power that generate these limitations that unemployed members of society face. For
Explanation of common sense and sociological approaches to the study of Human Societies, with examples.
Sociology is a study of society social life, social change, and social causes and consequences of human behaviour and allows us to gain an understanding of the structure and dynamics of today’s society, looking at the interlinking links patterns of human behaviour. Sociology looks at the in which social structure and institutions affect our everyday life. Sociological imagination was founded by C. Wright mills in the 1950`s it is an overall understanding of that some of the things that happen in society may lead to a particular outcome. Mills said
Usually, Individuals who are don't have a job are anticipated to go to heightened lengths to verify that they are in fact really looking for a job, while those who are really not capable to work are exposed to scandalous unfortunate tests that are made to display that they really in fact fit to work. The predominate culture is moving away from social security, and to one of distrust and disbelief.
Sociological theories are in fact statements of how and why and how facts about the social world are related in a particular way. Ranging in scope from clear and concise descriptions of a singular social process to examples for analysis and explanation. Many sociological theories would explain certain aspects of the social world and enable the prediction of future events, while many others would function as broad perspectives in which, guide the further sociological
Sociology is the study of the behavior of people and groups within society. This helps out how society works and thinks, If people understand how society thinks we can improve it. With this in mind, you can apply sociology theories and ideas to any scenario of daily life dealing with person to person interaction or even to an individual in regards to the society.
Sociology is the scientific study of human society. It examines the development of social structures, and the interaction between these structures and human behaviour. Sociologists aim to provide tools of understanding the process of socialisation, and investigate the causes and consequences of things such as labels, belief systems, bureaucracy, gender roles, relationships, and inequality. Becker and Horowitz (1972) claimed that "good sociology is sociological work that
Sociology is the study of the social lives of human beings and how humans live culturally and socially develop relationships. It is crucial to understand the society that humans live in and a series of social behavior that humans undergo. The three major ways you could view sociology, Structural Functionalism, Conflict theory, and Symbolic Interaction. Not everyone will have the same sociological perspective because the different perspectives are truly based on what you believe this world runs on.
Sociology is the study of how social forces influence individuals living within a society. Any society is made of norms, values and beliefs that have the effect of constraining individuals’ thoughts and behaviors. Through understanding and sociological imagination, individuals can remove or at least lessen the social forces’ impacts that are causing the constraints.
Sociology and sociological thinking are a vital part of society, and through examining both society and individuals, sociology is able to make changes to areas such as policies, and attitudes that may have usually negatively affected them, and instead gained a positive result through the careful research, and applied knowledge.