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Political Sociology

     Political sociology is the study of the relations between state, society and citizens. It is traditionally concerned with how social trends, dynamics, and structures of domination affect formal political processes, as well as exploring how various social forces work together to change political policies. From this perspective we can identify three major theoretical frameworks: pluralism, elite or managerial theory and class analysis. Pluralism sees politics primarily as a contest among competing interest groups. Elite or managerial theory is sometimes known as state centered approach. It explains what the state does by looking at constraints from organizational structure and interest that arise from the state as a unique, power concentrating organization. Social class theory analysis emphasizes the political power of capitalist elites. It can split into two parts: one is the power structure approach, whereas another is the structuralist approach. The power structure approach focuses on who rules. The structuralist approach emphasizes on the way a capitalist economy operates; only allowing the state to do some things but not others. All of these theories describe the effects and relationship between state, society, and its citizens. Politics is also a social institution created to fill the social needs of allocating power, determining authority, and preventing chaos. It is made up of political parties, congress, parliament, or can be a monarchy.

Works Cited

Henslin, James M. "Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interactions."Sociology:A Down-to-Earth  Approach: Pearson New International Edition Harlow: Pearson Education Limited, 2014. 93 123. Print

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Body Language

   
     Body language is an important factor in sociology and communication. Body language is a form of human nonverbal communication, which consists of body posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye movements. Humans send and interpret such signals almost entirely subconsciously. It is impossible for social scientists to study body language in any manner that is not applied. Indeed, social scientists are interested in body language precisely because of what it conveys about social interactions and the relationship between nonverbal interlocutors. This dynamic can only be studied in applied contexts.

     Whether you're on a date, at a cocktail, party, or interacting with someone you're not completely comfortable with yet in any other situation, the physical cues you give off can have big repercussions. Not only can bad body language negatively inform others opinions of you, but research shows that it can even subconsciously affect your view of yourself. Things to avoid is blocking or angling away from the person you are have a conversation with. Be aware of your surroundings and what body language is and is not acceptable in that given situation. Give the recipient their space, you don't want to invade their personal bubble.
     Body language helps or can hinder conversation. Communication is key in sociology and expanding of cultures. Having one culture influence another and so on begins with communication and if there is a language barrier body or sign language is helpful. Each language has different meanings and context to use in certain situations to mean different things. Body language is a kind of nonverbal communication, where thoughts, intentions, or feelings are expressed by physical behaviors, such as facial expressions, body posture, gestures, gestures, eye movement, touch and the use of space. Body language is a key element in sociology and will continue to be.

Works Cited

Henslin, James M. "Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interactions."Sociology:A Down-to-Earth  Approach: Pearson New International Edition Harlow: Pearson Education Limited, 2014. 93 123. Print

   

Economy

Economy as a Social Institution

     Economy is the wealth and resources of a country or region, especially in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services. Economics is the social science concerned with how individuals, institution, and society make optimal choices under conditions of scarcity. There is macroeconomics and microeconomics. Macroeconomics is the part of economics concerned with the performance and behavior of the economy as a whole. It focuses on economic growth, the business cycle, interest rates, inflation, and the behavior of major economic aggregates such as the household, business, and government sectors. Microeconomics is the part of economics concerned with decision making by individual units such as household, a firm, or an industry and individual markets, specific goods and services, and product and resource prices (McConnell).
     The economy is the institution that provides for the production and distribution of goods and services, which people in every society need. Sometimes they can provide these things for themselves, and sometimes they rely on others to provide them. When people rely on others for goods or services, they must have something to exchange, such as currency or other goods or services (Henslin). The customs surrounding exchange and distribution of goods and services shape societies in fundamental ways.
     The basic need that economy fills as a social institution is it produces and distributes goods and services to the people. Some organizations that help this process are credit unions, banks, credit card companies, and buying clubs. Economy has values as a social institution and they are making money, paying bills on time, and producing efficiency. They also have norms for their organization and the main one is maximizing profits (Henslin).

Works Cited 

Henslin, James M. "Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interactions."Sociology:A Down-to-Earth  Approach: Pearson New International Edition Harlow: Pearson Education Limited, 2014. 93 123. Print
McConnell, Campbell R., Stanley L. Brue, and Sean Masaki. Flynn. Economics. New York: McGraw-HIll/Irwin, 2010. Print.

Religion

Religion as a Social Institution 

     Religion is a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance to show praise or worship towards (Encyclopedia). There are many religions throughout the world. Atheism, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Mormonism and Judaism are just a few. Atheists are people who believe that god or gods are man-made constructs, they do not believe in a particular god. Buddhism is a way of living based on the teaching of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Buddha.  Hinduism is a group of faiths rooted in the religious ideas of India. Islam revealed in its final form by the Prophet Muhammad. Mormonism is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Judaism is based around the Jewish people's covenant relationship with God. Finally, Christianity is the world's biggest faith, and is based on the teaching of Jesus Christ.
     Religion as a social institution deals with the concerns about life after death, the meaning of suffering and loss, and the desire to connect with the Creator (Henslin). These are the basic needs that are filled with religion, because a social institution is a response to a basic need. Everyone understands that we had to come from somewhere and each religion as a specific variation from where we came from. Everyone knows that we live and then die but then what? Religion helps answer that question by reincarnation, nothing, or spend eternity in heaven. Without a purpose given to us by a Creator we would find this life pointless and be asking ourselves why get out of bed? Each religion has their own way of defining our purpose and when we choose a religion we have a feeling of satisfaction at the end of the day instead of disappointment. Religion also has its own way of explaining why people go through trials and tribulations. Some believe it's punishment for morally bad decisions, others believe it is a test put before them by their Creator.
     Each religion has groups of worships or organized places or buildings for praise. The congregation, synagogue, mosque, denomination, charity, clergy, are a few examples of groups of people or a building in which a religious service of worship is conducted. Different religions have a hierarchy of power, some including a priest, minister, pastor, rabbi, imam, teacher, disciple, missionary, or prophet. Most religions have worship services to attend where they honor God or gods and the holy texts such as the Torah, the Bible, and the Qur'an (Henslin). Religion helps define status and provides people with a sense of purpose and accomplishment.
   

Works Cited

"Encyclopedia Britannica Company." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015

Henslin, James M. "Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interactions."Sociology:A Down-to-Earth              Approach: Pearson New International Edition Harlow: Pearson Education Limited, 2014. 93 123. Print

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Culture

     Culture is simply defined as the language, beliefs, values, norms, behaviors, and even material objects that characterize a group and are passed from one generation to the next. Culture influences how a person or society views life and sets the standards for what is and is not accepted. There is material and nonmaterial culture. Material culture is the material objects that distinguish a group of people, such as their art, buildings, weapons, utensils, machines, hairstyles, clothing, and jewelry. Nonmaterial culture is a group's way of thinking and doing. This includes their beliefs, values, and other assumption about the word. It also includes their common patterns of behavior, involving language and other form of interaction. Our culture defines our values, norms, sanctions, folkways, and mores. Since we grow up only knowing and accepting our culture when we experience a new one it can give us what is known as culture shock. Culture shock is the disorientation that people experience when they come in contact with a fundamentally different culture and can no longer depend on their taken-for-granted assumptions about life. Culture also makes it hard for people not to look at another culture and judge their beliefs and traditions. Judging individuals or societies on their norm and behavior in a negative way is known as ethnocentrism. Culture relativism is trying not to judge a culture but rather trying to understand it on its own terms (Henslin). I think culture is what makes everyone unique. It provides our world with diversity and without diversity no one would be curious about new cultures and we would not have the desire to travel and experience these new ways of life. We also would not have cultural diffusion, which is the spread of cultural traits from one group to another. Culture changes, it goes through phases, and a lot of those phases are inspired by other cultures and societies. Without culture we would not be able to define ourselves and grow as a society.

Works Cited

Henslin, James M. "Origins of Sociology." Sociology: A-Down-to-earth Approach 12th ed, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, 2011. 1-32. Print.

Functionalism

Sociological Theory: Functionalism

     Functionalism, also known as functional analysis, is a theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. (Polger). Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, and Emile Durkheim believed functionalism viewed society as a living organism. Robert Merton disagreed with this statement and believed society's composed parts had specific functions, which referred to people's actions. He believed this term helped keep society as a balanced social group. There are two types of functions; manifest and latent, or intended and unintended (Henslin). This theory views society as several small functions or dysfunctions working together, as one unit. 

     This theory makes sense in our society. Each person in our society has a specific job to help further our society as a whole, and with everyone working together we can grow as a society. For example, one man who works in a factory may not seem that important or vital to some people, but if he does not do his job it would cause a chain reaction of dysfunctional events. If he does not work he can not provide for his family, pay his bills, or send his children to school. The family then goes on welfare, electricity and plumbing are shut off, and his children are not being educated to take over as a part of the new generation. They could eventually end up on the streets and be getting in trouble with the law to find money for food. This one person adds to society but without him society has to work extra to support him and his family. Every person has a specific part and role in society and every role is vital and important. All working functions affect the entire society as a whole. 

Works Cited

Polger, Thomas W. "Functionalism." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Internet Encyclopedia of     Philosophy, n.d, Web 29 Nov. 2015

Henslin, James M. "Origins of Sociology." Sociology: A-Down-to-earth Approach 12th ed, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, 2011. 1-32. Print.