Contemporary Society

by Perry, John A.; Perry, Erna K.

• ISBN13: 9780321044624
• ISBN10: 0321044622
• Edition: 9th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-11-01
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Summary

This best-selling text combines up-to-date information, historical background, social science concepts, research, and down-to-earth explanations in an accessible, journalistic style. Contemporary Society offers an overview of the social sciences by presenting a perspective on how the social science disciplines perceive the world around us. The text has been completely updated to reflect the shifts in contemporary society while retaining the centralized theme of change. The authors reinforce the idea that the transition from an industrial to a postindustrial order is fraught with difficulties, as was the transition from an agricultural to an industrial order. The increasing fragmentation of the social order, which leads people away from community and a common purpose to conflict and disunity, is also shown in this framework.

Table of Contents

Preface	xix
Through the Lens of Science	1	(20)
The Social Sciences	2	(1)
The Social World Seen through the Lens of Science	3	(3)
Concepts	4	(1)
Theories	4	(1)
Research	5	(1)
The Scientific Method	6	(3)
Steps of the Scientific Method	6	(2)
The Scientific Spirit: Skepticism, Objectivity, Relativity	8	(1)
The Social Science Disciplines	9	(4)
Anthropology	9	(1)
Economics	10	(1)
Geography	11	(1)
History	12	(1)
Political Science	12	(1)
Psychology	12	(1)
Sociology	12	(1)
Research Methods in the Social Sciences	13	(6)
Consilience	15	(1)
Sample Survey	16	(1)
The Sample Survey	16	(1)
Case Study	17	(1)
Participant Observation	17	(1)
The Experiment	17	(1)
Statistical Analysis	18	(1)
The Chapter in Brief	19	(1)
Terms to Remember	19	(1)
Suggested Readings	20	(1)
In the Beginning ...	21	(22)
The Cosmos as Seen by an Astrophysicist	23	(1)
The Beginnings of Life	24	(1)
Creating Life	24	(1)
The Emergence of the Theory of Evolution	25	(3)
A Revolution in Thought: Darwin and His Theory	27	(1)
Natural Selection	27	(1)
The Role of Heredity	28	(1)
Genetics	28	(4)
Population Genetics: Factors for Change	28	(3)
Human Evolution Designed by Humans	31	(1)
The Long Trek: Human Evolution	32	(4)
Split between Chimpanzee and Human Lines	33	(2)
The Road to Homo Sapiens	35	(1)
Homo Sapiens: Modern Humans	36	(1)
Agriculture: Cultivation and Domestication	37	(2)
The Evolution of Human Nature	39	(1)
Biological Foundations	39	(1)
The Chapter in Brief	40	(1)
Terms to Remember	41	(1)
Suggested Readings	42	(1)
Culture: Product and Guide to Life in Society	43	(25)
Culture: Concept and Importance	45	(4)
Biological Predispositions to Culture	46	(1)
The Birth of Culture	47	(1)
Cultural Evolution and Sociobiology	48	(1)
What, Then, Is Culture?	49	(1)
The Symbolic Nature of Culture	49	(1)
The Necessity of Sharing Symbols	50	(1)
Language: The Most Important System of Symbols	50	(3)
Does Language Create Reality?	52	(1)
The Content of Culture	53	(1)
Material Culture	53	(1)
Nonmaterial Culture	54	(1)
The Components of Nonmaterial Culture: Cognitive and Normative	54	(7)
The Normative System	54	(2)
The Meaning of the Fourth of July	56	(1)
Categories of Norms: Folkways, Mores, Taboos, and Laws	57	(1)
When in Rome...	58	(1)
The Need for Social Control	59	(1)
Overt and Covert, Real and Ideal Norms	60	(1)
Traits, Complexes, and Institutions	60	(1)
Pivotal Institutions	61	(1)
Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativity	61	(1)
Cultural Differences and Universals	62	(3)
African Genital Rite	62	(2)
Subcultures and Countercultures	64	(1)
The Chapter in Brief	65	(1)
Terms to Remember	66	(1)
Suggested Readings	67	(1)
Group Interaction: From Two to Millions	68	(23)
How Is the Social System Organized and Structured?	69	(4)
Elements of Social Structure: Statuses and Roles	70	(1)
Statuses: Ascribed and Achieved	71	(2)
The Multiplicity of Statuses and Roles	73	(3)
Real and Ideal Roles	74	(1)
Conflict, Strain, and Confusion in Roles	74	(2)
Groups	76	(1)
Group Size	77	(1)
Primary and Secondary Groups	77	(2)
Additional Classification of Groups	79	(1)
Society	79	(4)
Classification of Societies	80	(1)
Classification According to Chief Mode of Subsistence	80	(1)
A Glimpse into the Human Past	80	(1)
Industrial Societies	81	(1)
Classification According to Social Organization	82	(1)
Interaction and Social Processes	83	(1)
Formal Organizations	84	(2)
Formal Organizations and Institutions Distinguished	84	(1)
Characteristics of Formal Organizations	85	(1)
Types of Formal Organizations	85	(1)
Bureaucracy	86	(2)
Informal Side of Bureaucracy	87	(1)
The Chapter in Brief	88	(1)
Terms to Remember	89	(1)
Suggested Readings	90	(1)
Becoming a Person: The Birth of Personality	91	(23)
The Isolated and/or Feral Child	92	(1)
Personality	93	(3)
Personality: A Social Product on a Biological Basis	93	(1)
Heredity and Environment	94	(2)
Becoming Human: Socialization	96	(1)
Goals and Functions of Socialization	96	(1)
Theories of Socialization	97	(2)
The Looking-Glass Self: Cooley	98	(1)
Self in Society: Mead	98	(1)
You Are Who They Say You Are	99	(1)
The Self and the Unconscious: Freud	99	(1)
The Transitional Self: Erikson	100	(1)
Developmental Theories: Piaget	101	(1)
Moral Development: Kohlberg	102	(1)
Agents of Socialization	102	(6)
The Family	103	(1)
The Maternal Bond: Its Impact on Personality	104	(1)
The School	104	(1)
The Peer Group	105	(1)
The Media	106	(1)
Occupational Groups	107	(1)
Reverse Socialization	107	(1)
Resocialization	107	(1)
Socialization through the Life Cycle	108	(3)
Childhood	108	(1)
Adolescence	108	(1)
Adulthood	109	(1)
Old Age	110	(1)
Some Conclusions	111	(1)
The Chapter in Brief	111	(1)
Terms to Remember	112	(1)
Suggested Readings	113	(1)
Deviance and Criminality: The Need for Social Control	114	(26)
Deviance	116	(1)
The Relative Nature of Deviance	117	(1)
Functions of Deviance	118	(1)
Explaining Deviance	118	(3)
Biological Explanations	118	(2)
Why Humans Kill	120	(1)
Psychological Explanations	121	(1)
Mental Disorders	121	(2)
Treatment of Mental Disorders	123	(1)
Deviance as Seen from a Sociological Perspective	123	(5)
Social Integration and Anomie	124	(1)
Natural Born Killers?	125	(1)
Cultural Transmission (Differential Association)	126	(1)
Labeling Theory	127	(1)
Crime: Deviance That Hurts	128	(3)
Classification of Crimes	129	(1)
Social-Order Crimes or Crimes against Morality	130	(1)
White-Collar Crime	131	(1)
Organized Crime	131	(1)
Crime Statistics: How Much Crime, and Who Commits It?	131	(3)
The Criminal Justice System	134	(3)
Imprisonment	135	(1)
Recidivism	136	(1)
What Price Punishment?	136	(1)
The Chapter in Brief	137	(1)
Terms to Remember	138	(1)
Suggested Readings	138	(2)
The Great Divide: Ranking and Stratification	140	(27)
Social Differentiation, Ranking, and Stratification	141	(1)
Stratification	142	(1)
Theoretical Views on Stratification	143	(2)
Structural-Functionalist Perspective	144	(1)
Conflict Perspective	144	(1)
Dimensions of Stratification: Class, Status, and Power	145	(3)
Class	145	(1)
Status	146	(1)
Power	147	(1)
Class, Status, and Power in America	148	(1)
Systems of Stratification	148	(3)
The Closed Society: Caste	149	(1)
The Estate System	150	(1)
The Open Society: Class System	150	(1)
Determining Social Class	151	(1)
Socioeconomic Status	151	(1)
Social Classes in the United States	151	(8)
The Upper Classes	152	(1)
The Middle Class	152	(1)
The ``New Class''	153	(1)
The Working Class	153	(1)
The Poor	154	(2)
The Homeless	156	(2)
The Ghetto Poor	158	(1)
Welfare: Are We Our Brothers' Keepers?	159	(1)
Social Class and Its Consequences	159	(3)
Family Life	160	(1)
Child Rearing	160	(1)
Education	160	(1)
Religion	160	(1)
Politics	160	(1)
Health	161	(1)
Arrest and Conviction	161	(1)
Values	161	(1)
Social Mobility	162	(3)
The Upwardly Mobile: Who Are They?	162	(1)
Social Mobility in the United States	162	(2)
Global Inequality	164	(1)
The Chapter in Brief	165	(1)
Terms to Remember	165	(1)
Suggested Readings	166	(1)
Minority Status: Race and Ethnicity	167	(24)
Majority--Minorities Relations: Defining the Terms	168	(1)
Common Characteristics of Minorities	169	(1)
The Making of Pluralist Society	170	(1)
Ideologies Regarding the Treatment of Minorities	170	(1)
Majority and Minorities: Processes of Coexistence	171	(1)
In the Way: Obstacles to Pluralism	172	(6)
Prejudice	173	(1)
Hate: Prejudice and Discrimination among Castes in India	174	(1)
Why Are We Prejudiced?	174	(1)
Discrimination	175	(1)
Racism	176	(1)
An Ongoing Controversy: Affirmative Action	177	(1)
Racial Minorities	178	(7)
Native Americans	178	(2)
Asian Americans	180	(1)
African Americans	181	(3)
Hispanic Americans	184	(1)
Ethnic and Religious Minorities	185	(2)
White Ethnics: Catholics	186	(1)
Jewish Americans	187	(1)
The New Face of America	187	(1)
The Chapter in Brief	188	(1)
Terms to Remember	189	(1)
Suggested Readings	190	(1)
Minority Status: Age, Gender, and Sexuality	191	(25)
The Aging Society	192	(5)
Theoretical Framework	193	(1)
Ageism	194	(1)
The Elderly around the World	195	(2)
Women: Differentiation According to Gender	197	(4)
Biological Facts	197	(2)
Cultural Differences	199	(2)
Sex and Gender Differentiated	201	(1)
The Cultural Construction of Gender	201	(9)
``The Opposite Sex Is Neither''	202	(1)
Traditional Gender Roles	202	(1)
Gender Scripts	203	(1)
Male Dominance	204	(1)
Theories of Gender Role Development	205	(1)
Theories of Socialization	206	(2)
Agents of Gender Socialization	208	(2)
Sexuality	210	(3)
Homosexual Behavior	210	(1)
Explanatory Theories of Homosexuality	211	(1)
Acquiring a Homosexual Identity	212	(1)
Bisexuality	213	(1)
The Chapter in Brief	213	(1)
Terms to Remember	214	(1)
Suggested Readings	215	(1)
From the Plow to the Computer: Change, Collective Behavior, and Social Movements	216	(28)
Society and Change	218	(2)
America: Yesterday and Today	219	(1)
Levels of Change	219	(1)
Processes of Social and Cultural Change	220	(4)
Social Change: Planning, Reform, Revolution	220	(1)
Cultural Change: Innovation and Diffusion	220	(2)
The Sources of Change	222	(1)
The Physical Environment	222	(2)
Technology	224	(1)
Results of the First Technological Revolution	224	(1)
The Industrial Revolution	224	(2)
Inventions and Discoveries of the Industrial Revolution	224	(1)
Industrialism	225	(1)
Technology and Social Change	226	(1)
Modernization	226	(3)
Learning to Be Modern	227	(1)
The Theory of Mass Society	228	(1)
Collective Behavior	229	(7)
Crowds	230	(1)
Masses	231	(1)
Mobs and Riots	231	(1)
Rumors	232	(1)
Fashions, Fads, and Crazes	232	(1)
Panics and Mass Hysteria	233	(1)
Publics and Public Opinion	233	(1)
Public Opinion	234	(1)
Public Opinion and the Mass Media	234	(1)
Propaganda and Censorship	235	(1)
Social Movements	236	(1)
Types of Social Movements	236	(1)
Reformist Movements	237	(1)
Revolutionary Movements	237	(3)
Factors Encouraging Revolutionary Movements	238	(2)
The Chapter in Brief	240	(2)
Terms to Remember	242	(1)
Suggested Readings	243	(1)
Population, Urbanization, and Environment	244	(32)
Demographic Processes: Dynamics of Population Change	246	(6)
Birthrates	246	(1)
Death Rates	247	(1)
Migration	248	(2)
Immigration	250	(1)
Internal Migration	250	(2)
Characteristics and Composition of a Population	252	(3)
Sex Ratio	252	(1)
Age Structure	253	(1)
Tomorrow's America	254	(1)
Population around the World	255	(1)
Malthus and Marx	255	(1)
Demographic Transition	255	(2)
Population Policies	257	(3)
The Urban Society	260	(1)
Urbanization	260	(1)
The Industrial Revolution and the Growth of Cities	260	(3)
Urbanism	261	(1)
Urban Theories	262	(1)
American Cities	263	(2)
Suburbia	263	(1)
The Impact of the Consumer Culture on the Growth of Suburbia	264	(1)
Suburbia and Social Class	264	(1)
Metropolitanization and Megalopolis	265	(1)
Megalopolis	266	(1)
The Urban Crisis	266	(1)
Slums and Ghettos	267	(1)
Population Drain	267	(1)
Attempts to Reclaim the City	267	(2)
Urban Renewal	268	(1)
The Future of Cities	268	(1)
The Natural Environment	269	(4)
The World We Live In	269	(1)
The Ecosystem	269	(1)
Ecology	270	(1)
Disruption of Ecosystems	271	(1)
Environmental Pollution	271	(2)
The Chapter in Brief	273	(1)
Terms to Remember	274	(1)
Suggested Readings	275	(1)
Pivotal Institutions: Marriage and the Family	276	(25)
The Basic Institution: The Family	277	(2)
Family Forms	277	(1)
Kinship Systems	278	(1)
Family Functions	278	(1)
Marriage	279	(7)
Limitations on Marriage	280	(1)
Love and Marriage in America	280	(2)
The Stages of Marriage	282	(1)
Arranged Marriages	282	(2)
The Scientific Study of Marriage?	284	(1)
The Role of Power in Marriage	285	(1)
Changing Marital Patterns	285	(1)
Divorce	286	(5)
Remarriage	286	(2)
Divorce as the New Norm	288	(1)
Consequences of Divorce: Wounds That Do Not Heal	289	(2)
The New American Family	291	(4)
Forms of the New American Family	291	(4)
Some Unintended Effects of the Changing American Family	295	(4)
Child Care	295	(1)
Family Violence	296	(2)
Teenage Pregnancy	298	(1)
The Chapter in Brief	299	(1)
Terms to Remember	300	(1)
Suggested Readings	300	(1)
Pivotal Institutions: Religion and Education	301	(33)
The Great Religions of the World	302	(1)
Religion in the Social Sciences	303	(3)
Religion as Social Integration	304	(1)
A Functionalist View of Religion	304	(1)
A Conflict View of Religion	305	(1)
Religion and Social Control	306	(4)
The Institutional Context	307	(1)
Common Features of Religions	307	(3)
Religion in America	310	(4)
Religiosity in America	310	(1)
Religious Affiliation and Social Class	311	(1)
Religion, Race, and Ethnicity	312	(1)
The Sanctification of the American Way of Life	313	(1)
Contemporary Trends	314	(3)
Fundamentalism	314	(1)
Science and Religion	315	(1)
The Electronic Church	316	(1)
The Role of Women in Religion	316	(1)
Education	317	(14)
Education in America	317	(2)
The Functionalist View of Education	319	(2)
The Conflict View of Education	321	(1)
Characteristics of American Education	322	(1)
Education, Class, and Race	322	(2)
Closing the Performance Gap	324	(1)
Attempts at Making Education Work	325	(1)
The Role of the Family	326	(2)
The Crisis in American Education	328	(1)
Higher Education	329	(1)
Some Contemporary Issues in Higher Education	330	(1)
The Chapter in Brief	331	(1)
Terms to Remember	332	(1)
Suggested Readings	333	(1)
Government: The Institution and the Theories and Ideologies That Underlie it	334	(23)
The Institution of Government	335	(1)
Government and Politics	335	(2)
The Purpose of Government	336	(1)
The Functions of Government	336	(1)
Political Power: Legitimacy and Authority	337	(3)
Legitimacy	338	(1)
Authority	338	(1)
Types of Legitimate Authority	338	(2)
The State	340	(2)
Theoretical Views of the State	342	(1)
The Nation-State	342	(2)
Nationalism	343	(1)
The Ideologies behind the Nation-State	344	(2)
The Role of Ideology	345	(1)
Political Ideology	346	(1)
Autocratic Ideologies	346	(4)
Authoritarianism and Totalitarianism	347	(1)
Totalitarianism	347	(1)
Totalitarianism of the Right: Fascism and Nazism	347	(1)
Totalitarianism of the Left: Communism	348	(1)
Historical Prediction: The Dialectic	349	(1)
Communism and the USSR	350	(1)
Democratic Ideologies: Democracy	350	(3)
Communism in China	351	(1)
Democratic Capitalism	352	(1)
Socialism	353	(1)
Democratic Socialism	353	(1)
The Chapter in Brief	354	(1)
Terms to Remember	355	(1)
Suggested Readings	356	(1)
The Government of the United States of America	357	(23)
The Constitutional Convention	359	(1)
The Constitutional Convention	359	(1)
What Is a Constitution?	360	(1)
The Constitution of the United States	361	(4)
Federalism	361	(1)
Constitutional Limits and Obligations	362	(1)
How Federalism Has Worked	363	(1)
Trend toward Centralization	364	(1)
The Impact of the Federal Government	364	(1)
Separation of Powers	365	(2)
How Checks and Balances Work	366	(1)
Criticism of the Separation of Powers	367	(1)
The Presidency: The Executive Branch	367	(3)
The Nature of the Presidency	368	(1)
The Roles of the President	368	(2)
Congress: The Legislative Branch	370	(4)
The Issue of Representation	371	(1)
Congressional Committees	371	(1)
The Subordinate Role of Congress	372	(2)
The Supreme Court: The Judicial Branch	374	(3)
The Court System	375	(1)
Functions of the Judicial System	375	(2)
The Importance of Limited Government	377	(1)
The Chapter in Brief	378	(1)
Terms to Remember	379	(1)
Suggested Readings	379	(1)
We, the People: Democracy in Action	380	(25)
American Democracy	381	(1)
How Is America Governed?	382	(3)
Elitism	383	(1)
Pluralism	384	(1)
Conflict and Consensus	384	(1)
A Realistic Democracy	385	(1)
Interest Groups	385	(5)
Functions of Interest Groups	386	(1)
Formation and Growth of Interest Groups	387	(1)
Lobbyists	388	(1)
Political Action Committees	388	(1)
Shortcomings of Interest Groups	388	(1)
The Business of Persuasion	389	(1)
Political Parties	390	(5)
Purpose of Political Parties	391	(1)
Functions of Political Parties	391	(1)
Features of the American Party System	392	(1)
The Party System in Decline	393	(1)
Dealignment or Realignment?	394	(1)
The High Cost of Campaigning	395	(2)
Voting	397	(2)
Political Opinion Making	399	(3)
Public and Political Opinion	400	(1)
The Mass Media	400	(1)
A Question of Values	401	(1)
Sound Bites	402	(1)
The Chapter in Brief	402	(1)
Terms to Remember	403	(1)
Suggested Readings	403	(2)
The Economy: Concepts and History	405	(27)
The Economic Institution	406	(5)
Economic Decision Making	407	(1)
Basic Elements of the Economy	408	(1)
Factors of Production	408	(1)
Economic Choices and Opportunity Costs	409	(1)
Limits to Output: The Production Possibilities Frontier	409	(1)
Specialization of Labor	409	(1)
Trade, Barter, and Money	410	(1)
Contemporary Economic Systems: How Choices Are Made	411	(1)
Western Economies in Historical Perspective	411	(2)
The Birth of Capitalism	412	(1)
Aspects of Industrial Capitalism	413	(5)
The Corporate Form of Industrial Organization	414	(2)
From Competition to Advertising	416	(1)
Diversification and Multinationalism	416	(2)
The Nature of Work in the Industrial Society	418	(1)
Shifting Sectors	418	(1)
Professionalization	418	(1)
The Corporate Bureaucracy	419	(3)
The Executive	419	(2)
Middle Management: White-Collar Workers	421	(1)
Industrial Workers	421	(1)
The Factory System	422	(1)
The American Labor Movement	422	(5)
Methods of Production: Craft, Mass, and Lean	423	(1)
Collective Bargaining	424	(1)
The Labor Movement Today	424	(2)
Decline of Unionism	426	(1)
American Labor versus the Global Economy	427	(1)
The Importance of Productivity	428	(1)
A Changing Workforce in a Changing Economy	428	(1)
The Chapter in Brief	429	(1)
Terms to Remember	430	(1)
Suggested Readings	430	(2)
Principles of Economic Behavior: Microeconomics and Macroeconomics	432	(28)
The Small Picture and the Large Picture	433	(1)
Market Mechanisms	433	(4)
Who Makes Decisions?	433	(1)
Who Participates in the Economy?	434	(1)
Markets	434	(1)
The Circular Flow	435	(2)
Market Forces	437	(3)
Demand, Supply, and Price	437	(1)
Equilibrium	438	(1)
The Principle of Laissez-Faire and Public Needs	439	(1)
A Macroview	440	(7)
The Public Interest: Socioeconomic Goals	440	(1)
Full Employment	441	(1)
Desirable Mix of Output	442	(1)
High and Equitably Distributed Incomes	443	(1)
Reasonable Price Stability	444	(1)
Adequate Growth	445	(2)
Instruments of Public Policy	447	(1)
Fiscal Policy	447	(2)
The Function of Price and Employment Stabilizers	447	(1)
The Federal Budget	448	(1)
Fiscal Decision Making	448	(1)
Monetary Policy	449	(2)
Banks	449	(1)
Interest Rates	449	(1)
Regulating Banks	449	(1)
The Federal Reserve, or the Fed	450	(1)
Incomes Policy	451	(4)
Economic Problems and Government Response	452	(1)
Business Cycles	452	(1)
Demand-Side Theories	453	(1)
Theory and Reality	454	(1)
Evaluating the Economy: Instruments and Criteria	455	(1)
Fitting into the Global Economy	455	(1)
The Chapter in Brief	456	(2)
Terms to Remember	458	(1)
Suggested Readings	459	(1)
Nation among Nations: Perspectives on International Relations	460	(32)
Regions of the World	462	(10)
Europe	462	(1)
The Former Soviet Union	463	(1)
The Middle East	464	(1)
Asia	465	(3)
Pacific Rim	468	(1)
Sub-Saharan Africa	468	(2)
Latin America	470	(1)
Anglo America	471	(1)
Other Ways of Classifying States	471	(1)
Rich Nations, Poor Nations	471	(1)
Interaction among Nations	472	(1)
Theoretical Perspectives	472	(1)
Realism	472	(1)
Contemporary Perspectives	473	(1)
Pluralism	473	(1)
Globalism	473	(1)
Neorealism	474	(1)
Participants in the International System	474	(2)
Actors in International Relations	474	(1)
The State and the Nation	474	(1)
Nonstate Actors	475	(1)
The Goals of States	476	(2)
The Competition of Objectives	477	(1)
Means of Achieving Goals: Foreign Policy	478	(2)
Types of Foreign-Policy Decisions	479	(1)
Goals of American Foreign Policy	480	(1)
The Role of Ideology	480	(1)
Instruments of Foreign Policy	481	(4)
The United Nations	481	(1)
Foreign Aid	482	(1)
Collective Security	483	(1)
The Military	483	(1)
Propaganda	484	(1)
Diplomacy and Diplomats	485	(1)
Treaties and Alliances	485	(1)
Morality in Foreign Policy	486	(1)
Power	486	(1)
The Balance-of-Power System	487	(2)
The Multipolar System	488	(1)
The World Wars	488	(1)
The Bipolar System	488	(1)
A New Multipolar World	489	(1)
The Chapter in Brief	489	(1)
Terms to Remember	490	(1)
Suggested Readings	491	(1)
The Constitution of the United States	492	(12)
References	504	(12)
Photo Credits	516	(1)
Index	517