Social Science : An Introduction to the Study of Society

by Hunt, Elgin F.; Colander, David C.

• ISBN13: 9780205408474
• ISBN10: 0205408478
• Edition: 12th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

This classic text provides a revised and updated survey of the social sciences, written in an unbiased manner with a multidisciplinary, common sense approach. Comprehensive coverage incorporates elements of anthropology, economics, political science, sociology, history, and geography. The twelfth edition highlights the dramatic political and economic changes that have swept the world in recent years, including extensive examinations of the impact of the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks in the Political Science and Economics chapters.

Table of Contents

Preface	xix
Chapter 1 Social Science and Its Methods
Social Science	3	(11)
Social Science as a System of Rules	6	(3)
The Scientific Method and Its Application	9	(2)
Methodology and the Social Sciences	11	(3)
The Methods of Social Science	14	(9)
Social Science Approaches to Problems	17	(3)
Common Sense in the Social Sciences	20	(1)
The Use of Statistics	20	(1)
The Interdisciplinary Approach	21	(2)
Social Science and Society	23	(1)
Continuing Problems	23	(1)
Values, Terminology, and Rhetoric	24	(1)
Conclusion	24	(3)
Appendix Historical Roots of Social Science	27	(4)
The Enlightenment	20	(10)
From Philosophy to Social Science	30	(1)
Chapter 2 Human origins	31	(22)
The Origin of the Human Species	32	(8)
Darwin and the Theory of Evolution	32	(3)
Recent Developments in Genetics	35	(1)
Some Implications of Recent Developments	36	(1)
Sociobiology	37	(1)
Punctuated Equilibrium versus Gradual Change	38	(2)
The Evolution of Human Beings	40	(9)
Science, Faith, and Controversy	40	(2)
Predecessors of Modern Humans	42	(7)
Conclusion	49	(4)
Chapter 3 Origins of Western Society	53
From the Stone Age to the Agricultural Age	53	(1)
Early Civilizations	54	(9)
The Cradle of Modern Civilization: Mesopotamia and Egypt	54	(4)
Development of the Greek Civilization	58	(1)
The Persian Empire	58	(3)
Roman Civilization	61	(2)
The Middle Ages (A.D. 416-1453)	63	(3)
The Renaissance	66	(2)
The Development of Modern Economic and Political Institutions	68
From Serfdom to Mercantilism	69	(2)
The Emergence of Nation-States	71	(1)
The Industrial and Political Revolutions of the 1750's to the 1850's	71
Conclusion	14
Chapter 4 Society, Culture, and Cultural Change	11	(89)
Culture and the Nature of Society	19	(64)
Culture and Its Role in Human Societies	79	(1)
The Elements of Culture	80	(3)
Cultural Integration	83	(1)
Culture, Society, and Social Change	84	(7)
Popular Theories of Social Change	85	(1)
Factors Causing Cultural Change	86	(3)
Language and Cultural Change	89	(1)
Factors Stabilizing Culture	89	(2)
Social Change versus Social Stability	91	(1)
Social Change and Social Problems	91	(4)
Cultural Lag and Social Problems	92	(2)
Limitations of the Cultural Lag Theory	94	(1)
Contrasts among Cultures	95	(5)
The Interaction of Humans and Society	95	(1)
Cultural Relativism	95	(1)
Approach to the Study of Society	96	(4)
Chapter 5 Geography, Demography, Ecology, and Society	100	(18)
Geography	100	(1)
Demography	101	(10)
Population Estimates	103	(1)
Determinants of Population Growth	103	(2)
The Growth of Population over Time	105	(2)
The Problem of Counting	107	(1)
The Malthusian Theory	107	(1)
Population and Means of Subsistence	108	(1)
The Concept of Optimal Population	109	(1)
The Question of Population Quality	110	(1)
Ecology: The Interaction of Geography, Demography, and Environment	111	(4)
The Ecological Balance	111	(2)
Pollution and Conservation	113	(2)
Conclusion	115	(3)
Chapter 6 Technology and Society	118	(20)
The Industrial Revolution	110	(6)
The Development of Industrialism in the United States	121	(1)
Standardization, Interchangeability, and Mass Production	122	(2)
Technology and Globalization	124	(2)
Machines and Unemployment	126
Technology and Social Change	116	(15)
Problems Created by Technology	127	(1)
Technology, Hierarchy, and Class Systems	127	(2)
Natural Resources, Economics, and Technology	129	(1)
Natural Resources and the Limits of Economic Growth	130	(1)
Global Warming	131	(1)
Technology of the Past	131	(1)
Technology of the Future	131	(7)
The Social Basis for Technological Progress	134	(1)
Future Shock?	135	(3)
Chapter 7 Psychology, Society, and Culture	138	(25)
Socialization of the Individual	139	(2)
Significance of the Early Years of Childhood	139	(1)
Significance of Differences in Individual Environment	140	(1)
Effects of Extreme Isolation on Children	141	(1)
Personality and Its Development	141	(9)
The Nature/Nurture Debate	143	(2)
Explanations of Behavior	145	(1)
The Well-Adjusted Individual	146	(1)
Adjustment and Normality	147	(1)
The Freudian Concept of Personality	147	(3)
Pop Psychologies	150	(1)
Intelligence, Personal Adjustment, and Normality	150	(6)
Testing for Intelligence	150	(5)
Intelligence and Personal Adjustment	155	(1)
Deviance	156	(4)
Major Theories on Deviance	156	(2)
Sociological Explanations of Deviance	158	(1)
Economic Explanations of Deviant Behavior	159	(1)
Summary of Various Perspectives on Deviance	160	(1)
Conclusion	160	(3)
Chapter 8 The Family	163	(18)
Variations in the Family Pattern	163
Number of Mates	164	(1)
Selection of Mates	164	(2)
Family Control	166	(1)
Reckoning of Descent	166
Functions of the Family in Society	161
Social Change and Family Functions: An Example	168	(1)
Variations of Family Patterns and the Functions of the Family	168
The Family in the United States Today	111	(70)
Dating	174	(1)
Sex and Singles	175	(1)
Children	176	(1)
Senior Citizens	177	(1)
Family Disorganization and Divorce	178	(3)
Singles	181	(1)
Living Together	182	(1)
Homosexual and Lesbian Households	182
The Family in Transition	181	(1)
Technology's Effect on the Family	183	(1)
The Future of the Family	183
Chapter 9 Religion	181
The Nature of Religion	188	(2)
The Great Religions of Today	190
Hinduism	191	(1)
Buddhism	192	(1)
Judaism	193	(4)
Islam	197	(3)
Christianity	200
The Role of Religion in Society	103	(5)
Religion as a Source of Moral Values	204	(1)
Impact of Religion on Education, the Arts, and Literature	204	(1)
The Potential Conflict between Religion and Government	205
Chapter 10 Education	108	(125)
Schools as Agencies of Social Control	109	(101)
The Dual Thrust of U.S. Education	209	(1)
Education and U.S. Democracy	209	(1)
The Development of U.S. Education	210	(7)
Democratic Structure of the U.S. School System	213	(1)
Formalization of the School System	214	(3)
Examining the School System	217	(12)
Technological Change and Teaching	217	(1)
Private Schools and Home Schooling	217	(1)
Charter Schools, Privatization, and the Problem of School Finance	218	(2)
Textbooks	220	(1)
School Dropouts	220	(1)
Multiculturalism, Collaborative Learning, and Institutional Fairness	221	(1)
How Good Are U. S. Schools?	222	(2)
The Search for Excellence	224	(1)
Changes in the College Curriculum	225	(2)
Is the U.S. Educational System Equal?	227	(1)
How Much Education Should the Average Citizen Receive?	228	(1)
Interaction of Economics, Politics, and Social Institutions	229	(4)
Chapter 11 Social and Economic Stratification	233	(18)
Types of Social Stratification	234	(5)
Estates	234	(1)
Castes	234	(1)
Social Classes	235	(4)
Social Mobility	239	(2)
Economic and Social Inequality	241	(2)
Causes of Income Inequality	241	(1)
Measuring Poverty	242	(1)
Reducing Social and Economic Inequality	243	(8)
Who Are the Upwardly Mobile?	245	(1)
Rising Incomes and Class Distinctions	246	(1)
Class Consciousness in the United States	247	(1)
Class Consciousness and the Labor Movement	248	(1)
Some Conclusions about the U.S. Class System	249	(2)
Chapter 12 Stratification, Minorities, and Discrimination	251	(34)
Race and Ethnicity	251	(5)
Questions of Ethnic and Racial Superiority	252	(3)
Racial and Ethnic Prejudice and Discrimination	255	(1)
The Melting Pot	255	(1)
Minorities	256	(26)
Native Americans	256	(1)
African Americans	257	(9)
Hispanics	266	(2)
Asians	268	(2)
Immigrants and Minorities	270	(3)
Religious Minorities	273	(1)
Sexual Minorities	274	(5)
Senior Citizens	279	(3)
Conclusion	282	(3)
Chapter 13 The Functions and Forms of Government	285	(24)
The Primary Functions of Government	286	(4)
Maintaining Internal Order and External Security	286	(1)
Ensuring Justice	286	(2)
Safeguarding Individual Freedoms	288	(1)
Regulating Individuals' Actions	288	(1)
Promoting the General Welfare	289	(1)
Debates about the Nature of Government	290	(4)
Political Theory and Government	290	(1)
Three Views of the Nature of Government	291	(3)
Elements of Truth in Each of the Views	294	(1)
Forms of Government	294	(12)
Democracies	294	(5)
Autocracy	299	(7)
Governments Are Far from Simple	306	(3)
Chapter 14 Democratic Government in the United States	309	(22)
Historical Development of U.S. Government	309	(2)
The Structure of U.S. Government	311	(4)
Structure of the National Government	311	(3)
The Nature of Our National Government	314	(1)
The Political Process	315	(18)
Political Parties	326	(1)
Elections	327	(3)
The Fourth Estate	330	(1)
The Political Elite	331	(1)
The Military-Industrial Complex and Pressure Groups	331	(2)
Evaluation of the Democratic Political Process	333
Chapter 15 Governments of the World	331	(28)
French Government	331	(11)
The French Parliamentary System	338	(1)
The French Executive Branch	339	(3)
Mexican Government	342	(4)
Japanese Government	346	(3)
Russian Government	349	(3)
Saudi Arabian Government	352	(3)
Some lessons about Governments	355	(1)
Future Changes in Governments	356	(3)
Chapter 16 The Organization of Economic Activities	359	(22)
The Nature of an Economy	359	(4)
Functions of an Economy	360	(1)
Economics and the Social Sciences	360	(1)
Economic Wants and Economic Goods	360	(1)
The Economic Aspects of Culture	361	(1)
The Great Economic Problem	361	(1)
Planned and Unplanned Economies	362	(1)
The Evolution of Economic Systems	363	(2)
From Feudalism to Mercantilism	363	(1)
From Mercantilism to a Market Economy	364	(1)
From a Market Economy to a Mixed Economy	365	(1)
Market Economies	365
How a Market Economy Works	366	(3)
The Role of Government in Market Economies	369
The Changing Nature of the U.S. Economy	310	(1)
The Upheaval in the Formerly Socialist Economies	311	(1)
Historical Development of Socialist Thought	371	(1)
Socialism and Communism	371	(2)
How Planned and Unplanned Economies Work	373	(1)
Problems with Central Planning	374	(1)
Why Central Planning Did Not Meet Its Goals	374	(2)
Transition Problems from a Planned to an Unplanned Economy	376
The Continuing Evolution of Economies	311	(70)
Chapter 17 Government and the Economy	381	(10)
Government's Direct Role in the Economy	381	(10)
Government-Supplied Goods	383	(1)
The U.S. Social Security System	384	(1)
Other Government Spending Programs	385	(2)
Government's Macroeconomic Role	387	(4)
Government's Indirect Role in the Economy	391	(2)
The Problem of Regulating the Economy	391	(2)
Government Inefficiency and Waste	393	(1)
Conclusion	393
Chapter 18 International Political Relations	391	(29)
The State in International Relations	391	(10)
The Nation-State	399	(1)
The Establishment and Disappearance of Nation-States	400	(1)
Power in the World Community	401	(9)
The Nature and Sources of National Power	401	(6)
Other Sources of Power	407	(1)
Maintaining Security	408	(2)
Foreign Policies	410	(3)
Geography and Foreign Policy	410	(1)
Values, Ideologies, and Foreign Policy	411	(2)
The United States in the World Community	413	(7)
The President and Foreign Policy	414	(2)
U.S. Foreign Policies	416	(4)
Chapter 19 International Economic Relations	420	(18)
The Terminology of Trade	411	(2)
The Balance of Trade and the Balance of Payments	421	(1)
Visible and Invisible Trade	422
Advantages and Disadvantages of International Trade	413	(3)
Three Advantages of Trade	423	(1)
Disadvantages of Trade	424	(1)
Why You Can't Get the Advantages without the Disadvantages	425
Restrictions on International Trade	416	(15)
Tariffs on Imports	427	(2)
Import Quotas	429	(1)
Removing Trade Restrictions	430	(1)
Globalization and Trade Restrictions	431	(1)
Foreign Exchange	431	(4)
The Meaning of Foreign Exchange	431	(2)
Fixed and Flexible Exchange Rate Systems	433	(2)
Conclusion	435	(3)
Chapter 20 The Political Economies of Developing Countries	438	(23)
Problems of Developing Countries	441	(7)
The Political Consensus Problem	441	(1)
The Corruption Problem	442	(1)
The Economic Problem	443	(2)
The Debt Problem	445	(1)
The Population Problem	446	(1)
The Brain Drain Problem	446	(1)
Mission Impossible: Advice to a Potential Leader	447	(1)
Options of Developing Countries	448	(1)
Political Options	448	(1)
Economic Options	448	(1)
Foreign Policy Options	448	(1)
Population Options	448	(1)
The Brain Drain Option	449	(1)
Who Will Be the Next Leader?	449	(1)
Case Studies	449	(9)
China	449	(4)
Mexico	453	(3)
Uganda	456	(2)
Conclusion	458	(3)
Chapter 21 International Institutions and the Search for Peace	461	(24)
The Problem of War	461	(1)
The Causes of War	462	(2)
Approaches to the Problem of War	464
The United Nations	461	(13)
Is the UN Worth It?	468	(2)
The UN's Role in Keeping the Peace	470	(3)
Other UN Approaches	473	(1)
The Outlook for Peace	474	(11)
Trouble Spots of the World	476	(6)
The War on Global Terrorism	482	(3)
Index	485