Social Thinking (2235.YR.011254.1)

General information

Type:	BAS	Curs:	2	Period:	S semester
ECTS Credits:	4 ECTS

Teaching Staff:

Group	Teacher	Department	Language
Year 2	Ferran Macipe Catalán	Ciencias Sociales	ENG

None

None

Lectures
Class discussions
Independent study

This subject aims to provide students with a framework with which to interpret social reality (in particular, the economic, political and social context) based on various interpretation tools. These are primarily sociological in nature, though some require complementary incursions in the anthropological and social-psychological realms. The ultimate goal is to complement students¿ education and enrich their interpretation, comprehension and analysis of governance-specific and related contexts.

A. Understand the anthropological, sociological and psychological foundations of human existence.
B. Understand the impact that social and cultural conditioning factors have on people.
C. Understand the evolution of Western society within the global context and today¿s challenges and future trends.
D. Understand and know how to critically analyse reality-construction processes.
E. For students to exercise their own reflection and critical analysis skills.
F. Use intellectual tools to interrelate, compare and analyse different theories, world views, legitimation processes, etc.
G. Further explore the values inherent to human social development in order to be sensitive to, responsible towards and open-minded with respect to the human phenomenon, as well as adopt a certain degree of civic and social commitment.

1. Social Sciences and the study of reality -The anthropological focus. -The sociological focus. -The psychological focus. -Interpretative paradigms.

2. Society and culture -Cultural anthropology. -Cultures, subcultures and countercultures. -Cultural transformation processes. -Culture shock: ethnocentrism and interculturalism. -Multiculturalism and integration models.

3. Socialisation processes and the construction of personal identites -Socialisation processes. -Construction of roles and identities. -Social deviation and control. -Institutions and legitimation processes.

4. Social stratification -Economic stratification systems. -Status as the means behind stratification. -Gender as the means behind stratification. -Ethnicity as the means behind stratification.

5. Tradition, modernity and postmodernity - From traditional society to modernity - Achievements of modernity - The crisis of modernity - Characteristics of post-modern society

6. Sociology of digital media, news and technology . Hyperreality and information overload . News as consumption . The attention economy and mass distraction

7. Work: the achievement society -From a ¿should¿ to a ¿can¿ culture -Paradoxical freedom for productivity gains -Depression and burnout -Hyperactivity and low tolerance to boredom

8. Consumerism and leisure -A society of consumers -The consumerist mindset -¿The promoters of commodities and the commodities they promote¿ -Identity building and rebuilding

9. Love and emotional bonds -Dissolving social bonds -Non-choice and unloving -Contemporary loneliness

10. Social movements and social change . Collective behavior, crowds, masses, and social movements . Types of social movements . Causes and consequences of social movements . Social movements and social change

The in-class sessions will be based on lectures, though seeking for synergies between general abstraction and examples, applying casuistic methods. In addition, there will be time for interaction and reflection on the concepts explored to help to promote a more proactive attitude amongst students.

Beyond the classroom setting, students are required to carry out a final essay, in which they will apply to themselves all issues addressed in class. The focus of the essay should be exploratory and critical.

- BAUMAN, Z. Consuming Life, Polity Press, 2007.
- BERGER, P. L. Invitación a la sociología. México, Limusa, 2006 (traducción catalana: Invitació a la sociologia, Barcelona, Herder, 2006).
- GIDDENS, A. Sociología. Madrid, Alianza Editorial, 2004.
- HAN, B. The Burnout Society, Stanford University Press, 2010.
- MACIONIS, J. J. PLUMMER, K. Sociología. Madrid, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007.
- NISBET, R. La formación del pensamiento sociológico. Buenos Aires, Amorrortu, 1990.
- ROCHER, G. Introducción a la sociología general. Barcelona, Herder, 1983.

Group	Teacher	Department
Year 2	Ferran Macipe Catalán	Ciencias Sociales