Sociology Department

Sociology 498-02
Senior Seminar
Topic - Ideologies (Ideas in Society)

Spring 2005
Class Time: Fri 9:00-12:40
Class Location: Stev 2091

Dr. John Leveille
Office: Stev 2084J
Phone: 664-4387
Email: leveille@sonoma.edu

Course Description

This research-oriented seminar is built around the sociological concept of ideology. Ideology can be thought of in many different ways. Some define ideology simply as a shared belief system; Others define it as a shared but false belief system; Still others define an ideology as a shared, false belief system that serves to maintain a system of inequality, and ultimately serves the interest of the wealthy and powerful. In this seminar we will explore the various ways of defining ideology and we will then look at several specific types of ideological systems.

The first types of ideologies to be examined are political and economic belief systems (i.e. beliefs about the legitimacy of capitalism and democracy). In this section of the course we ask such questions as: Why do so many poor people believe that the existing capitalist and democratic system is fair or just? Second, we look at scientific beliefs about inequality (i.e. scientific beliefs that legitimate race, class and gender inequalities), and we ask such questions as: How and why are scientific racist theories that proclaim one race to be superior to another embraced or rejected? Or, how and why are scientific theories that claim one race has a higher average IQ than another race embraced or rejected? Third, we look at religious beliefs (i.e. how or if religious beliefs serve to legitimate inequalities), and ask such questions as: Was Marx right when he called religion the opium of the people? Fourth, we look at psychological beliefs about normalcy and deviance (i.e. psychological theories about normalcy, deviance and treatment of the deviants), and ask such questions as: How and why do professionals in the mental health fields define normalcy as they do, i.e. what is normal and what is not normal, and how do they convince others that their treatments – such as psychotherapy and medication – for those deemed not to be normal are legitimate and effective? Lastly, we examine the role of the media in perpetuating ideologies.

The course has two key components: 1) a research component and 2) a seminar component. Students are responsible for completing an original, empirical research project that is build around the concept of ideology. That is, students will be expected to conduct an original, applied piece of research on ideology as part of this course. Each student is also expected to participate in the seminar discussions, take turn leading the discussions, and do the assigned readings.