Discovering SOC119 on YouTube was a turning point. Led by Dr. Sam Richards at Penn State, this course defies traditional academic approaches. Here, memorization gives way to engaging student interactions and deep, articulate discussions on complex sociology issues. With an emphasis on the principles of causality, Dr. Richards fosters authentic curiosity and critical thinking, making SOC 119N: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture not just a class but an immersive exploration into the dynamics of human behavior. (Read about this course here – https://www.soc119.org/background
Background of the methodology
Causality and Culture: Understanding the Drivers of Behavioral Differences
Dr. Sam Richards’ SOC 119 navigates through the intricate maze of causality in human behavior, focusing on the underlying reasons that prompt diverse actions among various cultural groups. The course steers clear of judgment, prioritizing a deeper comprehension of the driving forces behind these cultural norms and practices. This educational journey emphasizes the discovery and understanding of the invisible threads that weave the tapestry of human behavior in different societies.
Sam, the professor, says: … essence all the time what we’re doing is we’re trying to get at causality we want to know what causes certain groups of people to be one way and other groups of people to be another way and in the world you know we’re we’re we’re doing our best to try to figure it out okay we’re doing our best to try to figure it out without being like I don’t know judgmental right without saying that one group is better than another …
Choice and Chance: Deciphering the Duality of Human Agency in Sociology
Dr. Sam Richards highlights the interplay between personal agency and external factors in shaping our lives. Personal agency is our internal power to act, while external factors are the myriad influences we encounter. In sociology, the emphasis is on understanding how these external elements affect our choices, acknowledging the complex interaction between individual agency and societal forces.
Individuals and Groups: The Sociological Lens on Collective Behavior
In sociology, the focus shifts from individual agency to the behaviors and tendencies common within a group. This approach recognizes general patterns in groups, such as fraternities, without negating individual variations. It’s not about diminishing personal decision-making, but rather highlighting shared influences in group contexts.
Agency and Structure: The Sociological Dilemma
Sociology highlights the tension between personal choices and societal influences. Individual decisions, like educational outcomes, are not solely based on agency but are significantly shaped by external factors and societal norms. This understanding underscores the complex interaction between personal responsibility and structural conditions, emphasizing the need for a nuanced view of human behavior.
A Sample Class Where a Student Applies Causality-led understanding Sociology
Influence and Responsibility: A Sociological Exploration
In a compelling educational interaction, a professor engages an 18-year-old student in analyzing the sociological factors behind carjacking, prompted by an image of individuals engaged in the act. The student articulates that, beyond personal choice, carjackers’ actions are significantly swayed by their environment, societal pressures, and exposure to certain behaviors within their communities. This exchange highlights the nuanced nature of decision-making and the crucial role of sociological insights in understanding and addressing criminal conduct.
Sam, the Professor says: I can’t stop it if I just keep saying like hey other kids did it why don’t you do it just stop it’s like I’m missing it I’m not understanding what’s driving them to make a decision like that in which case case like what good is that … that’s why we sound like liberals we sound like we’re saying they’re not responsible you know what we’re saying yeah there’s a way in which if we don’t stop seeing them as fully responsible then we’ll never understand what’s going on but as individuals they’re responsible you know what I mean we’re not going to be like oh you’re not responsible so you don’t have to go to jail now like no no …
Appreciation to the student who applied causality-led sociology and outlined the influences and individual decisions of the people who are carjacking:
Sam, the Professor appreciates: …okay um now dude wait are you you’re a freshman yeah you mean you just started up here a few weeks ago … yeah that’s amazing okay first off if you’re if you’re watching the video and if you’re one of these know-it-all snarky 50 year-olds … that was amazing for an 18-year-old all right
Contrarian Views
The interactive and causal discussion-based method of teaching sociology might not be universally lauded. Here are some potential contrarian views:
- Lengthy Discussions: The class sessions can become prolonged, sometimes making it tedious and boring for participants or observers waiting for the culmination of a point.
- Depth vs. Breadth: This approach might cover various topics superficially, neglecting the deeper, theoretical insights traditional sociology prioritizes.
- Causality Simplification: Focusing on causality could lead to an oversimplified understanding of complex social issues, neglecting the nuanced influences at play.
- Potential Bias: The class format may allow dominant opinions to suppress minority perspectives, risking an imbalanced representation of views.
- Traditional Rigor Lacking: Critics might argue that the class lacks the academic rigor of traditional sociology courses due to its less structured, more conversational nature.
- Sensitivity of Topics: Directly tackling sensitive issues increases the risk of unintentional offense or reinforcement of stereotypes.
- Instructor Expertise: Questions may arise about the instructor’s ability to comprehensively and respectfully address the cultural intricacies of various groups globally.
- Utility and Career Preparation: The practical value of the course for students’ future academic or professional paths could be a point of contention.
MidJourney Prompt with inputs from ChatGPT
A large auditorium filled with hundreds of diverse students (Americans, Indians, Europeans, Middle East People) sitting, while in the foreground, a professor stands and interacts with a small group of students from various ethnicities sitting on chairs around him. They are all engaged in a deep discussion about social issues, with a holographic cityscape beside them, symbolizing urban sociological topics. –ar 16:9
Listening and Patterns 