For Health Science Students - Carter Center

LECTURE NOTESFor Health Science StudentsIntroduction to SociologyZerihun Doda, M.A.Debub UniversityIn collaboration with the Ethiopia Public Health Training Initiative, The Carter Center,the Ethiopia Ministry of Health, and the Ethiopia Ministry of EducationJune 2005

Funded under USAID Cooperative Agreement No. 663-A-00-00-0358-00.Produced in collaboration with the Ethiopia Public Health Training Initiative, The CarterCenter, the Ethiopia Ministry of Health, and the Ethiopia Ministry of Education.Important Guidelines for Printing and PhotocopyingLimited permission is granted free of charge to print or photocopy all pages of thispublication for educational, not-for-profit use by health care workers, students orfaculty. All copies must retain all author credits and copyright notices included in theoriginal document. Under no circumstances is it permissible to sell or distribute on acommercial basis, or to claim authorship of, copies of material reproduced from thispublication. 2005 by Zerihun DodaAll rights reserved. Except as expressly provided above, no part of this publication maybe reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,without written permission of the author or authors.This material is intended for educational use only by practicing health care workers orstudents and faculty in a health care field.

dthatthebelongssocialtoscience.whatThediscipline plays a leading role in the social sciences. Theterm sociology literally means the science of society; forthe term itself in its direct sense denotes that. Sociologyas an academic discipline arose in the first half of 19thcentury (in 1837, to mention the exact year) as a specialscience dedicated to unravel the fundamental lawsgoverning the societal phenomena and human socialrelationship with primary interest in analyzing theproblems and societies of the modern, western world. Ithas, thus, conventionally been accepted to associatesociology with the study of the modern, industrializedsocieties of western world.Health science students learning this discipline have agreat advantage of gaining fresh insights and practicalbenefits in their personal lives and professionalpractices. Sociology along with other sisterly disciplinessuch as anthropology, economics, social icalsciences has now become an essential component ofi

the health and medical sciences curricula in universitiesand other training institutions abroad. Following thisexample, similar institutions in Ethiopia have alsoincluded this course in their curricula.These lecture notes on introductory sociology areprepared for the health and medical sciences studentsin institutions of higher learning in Ethiopia. Its purposeis to provide the students with basic ideas andknowledge in the science of sociology. By learning thematerials presented in this lecture notes, it is believedthat students will be able to understand and sociology. Students may also gain an indirect benefit nsions of health and disease.Specifically, the main learning objective of introductionto sociology is to familiarize the students with the basicideas, issues, concepts and principles of sociology.Students will be able to describe the meaning, scope,methods, history and importance of sociology, and itsrelations to other disciplines. The students will also beable to appreciate the relevance of sociology in theirii

personal and future professional practice. A briefdiscussion of the survey ofsocial problems incontemporary Ethiopian society will also help themunderstand their nature, causes and types; and theirrelations to health and disease.The lecture notes are organized into seven chapters: theFirst Chapter introduces important introductory issuessuch as the definition, subject- matter, theories, historyimportance and basic research methods of sociology,and its relationship to other disciplines. Chapter Twodiscusses the concepts of society and culture that arecentral to sociology. In Chapter Three, the concept ofsocialization is discussed. Here, the meaning, bases,necessity, goals and types of socialization are importantissues of the chapter. Chapter Four deals with someaspects of social organization and social interaction.Threeimportantdimensionsof socialprocesses,namely, social stratification, social mobility and socialchange will be discussed in Chapter Five, while anoverview of social pathologies (focusing on Ethiopia)and methods of social action and intervention will bedealt in the Sixth and Seventh Chapters, respectively.iii

Each chapter begins with learning objectives, ends witha chapter summary and has review questions. Inside thetext, there are illustrative boxes, tables and figureswhich are meant to aid the students in utilizing the notesmore effectively. Throughout the text, key terms andconcepts are highlighted in bold and they are put ces used in preparing these lecture notes arealso cited in the text and they are put in bibliographicalsection. However, it is advisable to use the lecture notesas complementary materials. Students should refer tothe textbooks and other references for detailed andricher knowledge.The author wishes an enjoyable and fruitful reading forthe students.iv

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThese lecture notes are prepared with the financialassistance made by The Carter Center. I, thus, firstof all wish to thank The Caret Center. I also want tothank the College of Health Sciences, DebubUniversity, for giving me the chance to participate inpreparing these lecture notes. My appreciation alsogoes to Ato Alemante Amera, my colleague in theCollege for his constructive comment on ing. I also wish to extend my deepest thanks tointer-institutionalreviewersAtoWoubshetDemewoz, Jimma University; Ato Abraraw ersity College and Dr Mesfin Adissie, AddisAbaba University, Medical Faculty. They haveconstructively contributed to the lecture notes.v

Last but not least, I want to express my deepgratitude to the national reviewers: Dr Gebre Yntisoand Dr Teketel Abebe of the Department ofSociology and Anthropology, who spared theirprecious time to review these lecture notes. Theyhave made valuables comments I say, “thank youvery much!”I finally want to assure all the reviewers whocontributed to this teaching material that all of yourrelevant and precious comments are well taken andincorporated into this final version.Zerihun D. Doffana, MA, Social AnthropologyJune 2005vi

TABLE OF CONTENTSPreface .iAcknowledgement.vTable of Contents .viiList of Illustrative Boxes, List Tables and List of Figures .xivCHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTIONLearning Objectives .11.1. Definition and Subject Matter of Sociology .21.1.1. What is Sociology? .21.1.2. Brief Historical Overview.61.1.3. Subject Matter, Scope and Concerns ofSociology.141.1.4. Levels of Sociological Analysis and Fields ofSpecializations in Sociology .161.1.5. Major Theoretical Perspectives .201.2. The Significance of Learning Sociology .341.3. Sociological Research Methods .381.3.1. The Scientific Method .381.3.2. Steps in Sociological Research .411.4. The Relationship between Sociology and OtherDisciplines .551.5. Chapter Summary .57Review Questions .60vii

CHAPTER TWO: SOCIETY AND CULTURELearning Objectives .612.1. The Concept of Society:.622.1.1. Definition .622.1.2. Basic Features of Society .642.1.3. Conceptualizing Society at Various Levels662.1.4. Types of Society.672.2 The Concept of Culture .692.2.1 Definition .692.2.2. Basic Characteristics of Culture.722.2.3. Elements of Culture .762.2.4. Cultural Variability and Explanations .832.2.5. Ethno-centrism and Cultural Relativismand Culture Shock.862.2.6. Cultural Universals, Alternatives andSpecialties .902.2.7. The Concepts of Culture Lag and CultureLead.942.2.8. Global Culture an Cultural Imperialism .952.3 Chapter Summary .96Review Questions .98viii

CHAPTER THREE: SOCIALIZATIONLearning Objectives .3.1. The Concept of Socialization: Definition and Necessity .991003.2 Goals of Socialization. 1023.3. Human Biological Bases of Socialization . 1043.4. Modes of Social Learning . 1073.5. Patterns of Socialization. 1103.6. Types of Socialization . 1113.6.1. Primary or Childhood Socialization . 1123.6.2. Secondary or Adult Socialization . 1133.6.3. Re-socialization and De-socialization . 1143.6.4. Anticipatory of Socialization . 1163.6.5. Reverse Socialization . 1163.7. Agents and Components of Socialization . 1173.8. Multiple and Contradictory Influences of Socialization 1203.9. Chapter Summary . 121Review Questions . 124CHAPTER FOUR: SOCIAL ORGANIZATION AND SOCIALINTERACTIONLearning Objectives . 1254.1. The Concept of Social Organization . 1264.2. Social Groups . 1284.2.1. Definition of a Social Group . 1284.2.2. Basic Features of Social Groups . 129ix

4.2.3. Classification of Social Groups . 1304.2.4. Quasi-Social Groups . 1344.3. Social Interaction and Relationship. 1384.3.1. Social Status and Social Roles . 1394.3.2. Social Interactions in Everyday Life . 1424.4. Social Institutions . 1474.4.1. Definition and Main Features of SocialInstitutions . 1474.4.2. Major Types and Functions of SocialInstitution . 1484.5. The Concept of Social Control . 1544.5.1. Definition and Necessity . 1544.5.2. Types of Social Control . 1564.6. Chapter Summary . 157Review Questions . 160CHAPTER FIVE: SOCIAL PROCESSESLearning Objectives . 1625.1. The Concept of Social Process . 1635.2. Modes of Social Processes . 1645.2.1. Competition . 1645.2.2. Cooperation . 1655.2.3. Conflict . 1655.2.4. Accommodation . 1665.2.5. Assimilation . 166x

5.3. Social Stratification . 1675.3.1. Definition . 1675.3.2. The Importance of Studying SocialStratification . 1695.3.3. Theories of Social Stratification . 1705.3.4. Forms of Social Stratification . 1715.3.5. Consequences of Social Stratification on theLives of Individuals . 1765.4. Social Mobility . 1775.4.1. Definition of Social Mobility . 1775.4.2. Types of Social Mobility . 1795.4.3. Avenues to Social Mobility . 1815.4.4. Barriers to Social Mobility . 1835.5. Social Change . 1845.5.1. Definition and Basic Features . 1845.5.2. Theories of Social Change . 1865.5.3. Factors That Facilitate and Hinder PositiveSocial Change . 1895.6. Chapter Summary . 190Review Questions . 194xi

CHAPTER SIX: AN OVERVIEW OF SOCIALPATHOLOGIESLearning Objectives . 1966.1. The Concept of Social Pathology . 1976.2. The Universality and Locality of Some SocialPathologies . 1996.3. The Concepts of Social Deviance and Crime . 2006.4. A Survey of Social Pathologies in Ethiopia . 2026.4.1. Vulnerability to Famine and the Problem ofFood Insecurity. 2036.4.2. Prostitution . 2056.4.3. Unemployment . 2076.4.4. The Youth and Drug Addiction. 2086.4.5. Rural to Urban Migration, the Refugee Problemand Health . 2096.4.6. Population Explosions and EcologicalDegradation . 2146.4.7. Growth of Urbanization, Urban Poverty,Housing Problem, Homelessness & Begging . 2156.5. Chapter Summary . 218Review Questions . 220xii

CHPATER SEVEN: METHODS OF SOCIAL ACTION ANDINTERVENTIONLearning Objectives . 2217.1 What Is Social Action? . 2227.2. Methods of Social Work . 2237.2.1. Main Concern of Social Work . . 2237.2.2. Basic Principles. 2257.2.3. Types of Methods of Social Work . 2267.3 The Limitations and Challenges of SocialWelfare Programs . 2307.4. Planned Social Change, Client System andChange Agents . 2327.5. The Role of Health Professionals as Change Agents 2337.6. Chapter Summary . 235Review Questions . 237Glossary . 239References . 268xiii