Synopses & Reviews
Like its predecessors, the sixth edition of this concise text reflects Rick Schaefer's mission to bring readers a comprehensive, up-to-date presentation that teaches them how to think critically about society and their own lives from a wide range of classical and contemporary perspectives. Combining balanced coverage of theory with current research findings, distinctive social policy sections, examples and issues of interest to students, and abundant learning aids and exercises, this text will help students develop a sociological imagination. A complimentary copy of
Contexts: Understanding People in Their Social Worlds, the American Sociological Associations groundbreaking magazine, is packaged with every new copy of the sixth edition.
"In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, sociology has been called on to explain the social consequences of the attacks.... The introductory sociology class provides the ideal laboratory in which to study our own society and those of our global neighbors. Sociology can help students to better understand the workings of their own lives as well as of their society and other cultures."-- Richard T. Schaefer
Synopsis
Like its predecessors, the fifth edition of this concise text reflects Rick Schaefers mission to bring readers a comprehensive, up-to-date presentation that teaches them how to think critically about society and their own lives from a wide range of classical and contemporary perspectives. Combining balanced coverage of theory with current research findings, distinctive social policy sections, examples and issues of interest to students, and abundant learning aids and exercises, this text will help students develop a sociological imagination.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 433-470) and indexes.
About the Author
Growing up in Chicago at a time when neighborhoods were going through transitions in ethnic and racial composition, Richard T. Schaefer found himself increasingly intrigued by what was happening, how people were reacting, and how these changes were affecting neighborhoods and peoples jobs. His interest in social issues caused him to gravitate to sociology courses at Northwestern University, where he received a B.A. in Sociology. "Originally as an undergraduate I thought I would go on to law school and become a lawyer. But after taking a few sociology courses, I found myself wanting to learn more about what sociologists studied and fascinated by the kinds of questions they raised." This fascination led him to obtain his M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Chicago. Dr. Schaefers continuing interest in race relations led him to write his masters thesis on the membership of the Ku Klux Klan and his doctoral thesis on racial prejudice and race relations in Great Britain.Dr. Schaefer went on to become a professor of sociology. He has taught introductory sociology for 30 years to students in colleges, adult education programs, nursing programs, and even a maximum-security prison. Dr. Schaefers love of teaching is apparent in his interaction with his students. "I find myself constantly learning from the students who are in my classes and from reading what they write. Their insights into the material we read or current events that we discuss often become part of future course material and sometimes even find their way into my writing."Dr. Schaefer is author of the third edition of Sociology: A Brief Introduction (McGraw-Hill, 2000). Dr. Schaefer is also the author of Racial and Ethnic Groups now in its eighth edition, and Race and Ethnicity in the United States, second edition. His articles and book reviews have appeared in many journals, including American Journal of Sociology, Phylon: A Review of Race and Culture, Contemporary Sociology, Sociology and Social Research, Sociological Quarterly, and Teaching Sociology. He served as president of the Midwest Sociological Society in 1994-1995.Dr. Schaefers advice to students is to "look at the material and make connections to your own life and experiences. Sociology will make you a more attentive observer of how people in groups interact and function. It will also make you more aware of peoples different needs and interests and perhaps more ready to work for the common good, while still recognizing the individuality of each person."
Table of Contents
List of Boxes List of Social Policy Sections List of Maps Preface
1 Understanding Sociology What Is Sociology? The Sociological Imagination Sociology and the Social Sciences Sociology and Common Sense What Is Sociological Theory? The Development of Sociology Early Thinkers Émile Durkheim Max Weber Karl Marx Modern Developments Major Theoretical Perspectives Functionalist Perspective Conflict Perspective Interactionist Perspective Feminist Perspective The Sociological Approach Developing the Sociological Imagination Theory in Practice Research in Action The Significance of Social Inequality Speaking across Race, Gender, and National Boundaries Social Policy throughout the World SOCIOLOGY IN THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY: Women in Public Places Worldwide RESEARCH IN ACTION: Looking at Sports from Four Theoretical Perspectives APPENDIX: Careers in Sociology
2 Sociological Research What Is the Scientific Method? Defining the Problem Reviewing the Literature Formulating the Hypothesis Collecting and Analyzing Data Developing the Conclusion In Summary: The Scientific Method Major Research Designs Surveys Observation Experiments Use of Existing Sources Ethics of Research The Right to Know versus the Right to Privacy Preserving Confidentiality Neutrality and Politics in Research Technology and Sociological Research Social Policy and Sociological Research: Studying Human Sexuality SOCIOLOGY IN THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY: “Sent-down” in China RESEARCH IN ACTION: Framing Survey Questions about Interracial Friendships TAKING SOCIOLOGY TO WORK: Paul Donato, Chief Research Officer, NielsenMedia Research
3 Culture Culture and Society Development of Culture around the World Cultural Universals Innovation Globalization, Diffusion, and Technology Elements of Culture Language Norms Sanctions Values Culture and the Dominant Ideology Cultural Variation Aspects of Cultural Variation Attitudes toward Cultural Variation Social Policy and Culture: Bilingualism SOCIOLOGY IN THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY: Life in the Global Village SOCIAL INEQUALITY: Cultural Sensitivity on the Beat
4 Socialization The Role of Socialization Environment: The Impact of Isolation The Influence of Heredity Sociobiology The Self and Socialization Sociological Approaches to the Self Psychological Approaches to the Self Socialization and the Life Course The Life Course Anticipatory Socialization and Resocialization Agents of Socialization Family School Peer Group Mass Media and Technology Workplace The State Social Policy and Socialization: Child Care around the World SOCIOLOGY IN THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY: Raising Amish Children RESEARCH IN ACTION: Impression Management by Students after Exams
5 Social Interaction and Social Structure Social Interaction and Reality Defining and Reconstructing Reality Negotiated Order Elements of Social Structure Statuses Social Roles Groups Social Networks and Technology Social Institutions Social Structure in Global Perspective Tönniess Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft Lenskis Sociocultural Evolution Approach Social Policy and Social Structure: The AIDS Crisis RESEARCH IN ACTION: Womens Social Networks SOCIAL INEQUALITY: Disability as a Master Status
6 Groups and Organizations Understanding Groups Types of Groups Studying Small Groups Understanding Organizations Formal Organizations and Bureaucracies Characteristics of a Bureaucracy Bureaucracy and Organizational Culture Voluntary Associations Technology Impact on the Workplace Telecommuting Electronic Communication Social Policy and Organizations: The State of the Unions SOCIOLOGY IN THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY: Management, Russian Style RESEARCH IN ACTION: Pizza Delivery Employees as a Secondary Group
7 The Mass Media Sociological Perspectives of the Media Functionalist View Conflict View Feminist View Interactionalist View The Audience Who Is in the Audience? The Segmented Audience Audience Behavior The Media Industry Media Concentration The Medias Global Reach Social Policy and Mass Media: Media Violence SOCIOLOGY IN THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY: Good Morning, Bhutan! SOCIAL INEQUALITY: The Color of Network TV
8 Deviance and Social Control Social Control Conformity and Obedience Informal and Formal Social Control Law and Society Deviance What Is Deviance? Explaining Deviance Crime Types of Crime Crime Statistics Social Policy and Socialization: The Death Penalty in the United States andWorldwide RESEARCH IN ACTION: Defining Deviancy Down: From Professional Wrestling to the Backyards SOCIAL INEQUALITY: Discretionary Justice TAKING SOCIOLOGY TO WORK: Tiffany Zapata-Mancilla, Victim WitnessSpecialist, Cook County States Attorneys Office
9 Stratification in the United States and Worldwide Understanding Stratification Systems of Stratification Perspectives on Stratification Is Stratification Universal Stratification by Social Class Measuring Social Class Wealth and Income Poverty Life Chances Social Mobility Open versus Closed Stratification Systems Types of Social Mobility Social Mobility in the United States Stratification in the World System The Legacy of Colonialism Multinational Corporations Modernization Stratification within Nations: A Comparative Perspective Social Policy and Stratification: Rethinking Welfare in North America and Europe SOCIOLOGY IN THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY: Slavery in the Twenty-first Century RESEARCH IN ACTION: When Jobs Disappear
10 Racial and Ethnic Inequality Minority, Racial, and Ethnic Groups Minority Groups Race Ethnicity Prejudice and Discrimination Discriminatory Behavior Institutional Discrimination Studying Race and Ethnicity Functionalist Perspective Conflict Perspective Interactionist Perspective Patterns of Intergroup Relations Amalgamation Assimilation Segregation Pluralism Race and Ethnicity in the United States Racial Groups Ethnic Groups Social Policy and Race and Ethnicity: Global Immigration RESEARCH IN ACTION: Prejudice against Arab Americans and Muslim Americans SOCIAL INEQUALITY: The Latino Middle Class TAKING SOCIOLOGY TO WORK: Delores Cleary, Assistant Professor, Central Washington University
11 Stratification by Gender and Age Social Construction of Gender Gender Roles in the United States Cross-Cultural Perspective Explaining Stratification by Gender The Functionalist View The Conflict Response The Feminist Perspective The Interactionist Approach Women: The Oppressed Majority Sexism and Sex Discrimination Sexual Harassment The Status of Women Worldwide Women in the Workforce of the United States Women: Emergence of a Collective Consciousness Aging and Society Explaining the Aging Process Functionalist Approach: Disengagement Theory Interactionist Approach: Activity Theory The Conflict Approach Age Stratification in the United States The “Graying of America” Wealth and Income Ageism Competition in the Labor Force The Elderly: Emergence of a Collective Consciousness Social Policy and Gender Stratification: The Battle over Abortion from a Global Perspective SOCIOLOGY IN THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY: The Head Scarf and the Veil: Complex Symbols SOCIAL INEQUALITY: Theory of Cumulative Disadvantage TAKING SOCIOLOGY TO WORK: Stacey Karp, President of San Francisco Chapter of NOW (National Organization for Women)
12 The Family and Intimate Relationships Global View of the Family Composition: What Is the Family? Kinship Patterns: To Whom Are We Related? Authority Patterns: Who Rules? Studying the Family Functionalist View Conflict View Interactionist View Feminist View Marriage and Family Courtship and Mate Selection Variations in Family Life and Intimate Relationships Child-Rearing Patterns in Family Life Divorce Statistical Trends in Divorce Factors Associated with Divorce Impact of Divorce on Children Divorce Lifestyles Cohabitation Remaining Single Lesbian and Gay Relationships Marriage without Children Social Policy and the Family: Reproductive Technology SOCIOLOGY IN THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY: Domestic Violence RESEARCH IN ACTION: The Lingering Impact of Divorce
13 Religion and Education Durkheim and the Sociological Approach to Religion World Religions The Role of Religion The Integrative Function of Religion Religion and Social Support Religion and Social Change Religion and Social Control: A Conflict View Religious Behavior Belief Ritual Experience Religious Organization Ecclesiae Denominations Sects New Religious Movements or Cults Comparing Forms of Religious Organization Sociological Perspectives on Education Functionalist View Conflict View Interactionist View Schools as Formal Organizations Bureaucratization of Schools Teachers: Employees and Instructors Student Subculture Social Policy and Religion: Religion in the Schools SOCIOLOGY IN THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY: Jainism in India and the United States RESEARCH IN ACTION: Violence in the Schools TAKING SOCIOLOGY TO WORK: Ray Zapata, Business Owner and Former Regent, Texas State University
14 Government, the Economy, and the Environment Economic Systems Capitalism Socialism Power and Authority Power Types of Authority Political Behavior in the United States Political Socialization Participation and Apathy Women in Politics Models of Power Structure in the United States Power Elite Models Pluralist Model The Changing Economy The Face of the Workforce Deindustrialization E-commerce The Contingency Workforce The Environment Environmental Problems: An Overview Functionalism and Human Ecology Conflict View of Environmental Issues Environmental Justice Social Policy: Affirmative Action SOCIOLOGY IN THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY: Terrorist Violence SOCIAL INEQUALITY: Working Women in Nepal TAKING SOCIOLOGY TO WORK: Peter Schaefer, Research Coordinator, Safer Yards
15 Population, Health, and Communities Demography: The Study of Population Malthuss Thesis and Marxs Response Studying Population Today Elements of Deomography World Population Patterns Demographic Transition The Population Explosion Fertility Patterns in the United States The Baby Boom Stable Population Growth Sociological Perspectives on Health and Illness Functionalist Approach Conflict Approach Interactionist ApproachLabeling ApproachSocial Epidemiology and Health Social Class Race and Ethnicity Gender Age How Did Communities Originate? Early Communities Preindustrial Cities Industrial and Postindustrial Cities Urbanization Functionalist View: Urban Ecology Conflict View: New Urban Sociology Types of Communities Central Cities Suburbs Rural Communities Social Policy: World Population Policy RESEARCH IN ACTION: Store Wars SOCIAL INEQUALITY: To Inform or Not to Inform? How Race and Ethnicity Affect Views of Patient Autonomy
16 Social Movements, Social Change, and Technology Social Movements Relative Deprivation Resource Mobilization Gender and Social Movements New Social Movements Theories of Social Change Evolutionary Theory Functionalist Theory Conflict Theory Global Social Change Resistance to Social Change Economic and Cultural Factors Resistance to Technology Technology and the Future Computer Technology Biotechnology Technological Accidents Technology and Society Culture and Social Interaction Social Control Stratification and Inequality Social Policy and Technology: Privacy and Censorship in a Global Village RESEARCH IN ACTION: Virtual Social Movements SOCIAL INEQUALITY: Global Disconnect
Glossary References Acknowledgments Photo Credits Index edits Index