Essentials of Sociology (with InfoTrac)

by Brinkerhoff, David B.; White, Lynn K.; Ortega, Suzanne T.; Weitz, Rose

• ISBN13: 9780534626761
• ISBN10: 0534626769
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-07-19
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

1. The Study of Society. 2. Culture. 3. Socialization. 4. Social Structure and Social Interaction. 5. Groups, Networks, and Organizations. 6. Deviance, Crime and Social Control. 7. Stratification. 8. Global Inequality and Globalization. 9. Racial and Ethnic Inequality. 10. Sex, Gender, and Sexuality. 11. Age Inequality and Health. 12. Family. 13. Education and Religion. 14. Politics and the Economy. 15. Population and Urban Life. 16. Social Movements, Technology, and Social Change. Glossary. References. Author Index. Subject Index. Photo Credits.

Table of Contents

The Study of Society	1	(32)
What Is Sociology?	2	(2)
The Sociological Imagination	2	(2)
Sociology as a Social Science	4	(1)
The Emergence of Sociology	4	(7)
The Founders: Comte, Spencer, Marx, Durkheim, and Weber	5	(4)
Sociology in the United States	9	(2)
Current Perspectives in Sociology	11	(1)
Structural-Functional Theory	11	(1)
Concept Summary: Major Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology	12	(6)
Conflict Theory	14	(1)
Symbolic Interaction Theory	15	(1)
Interchangeable Lenses	16	(2)
The Science of Society	18	(4)
Defining Science	18	(1)
The Research Process	18	(4)
Strategies for Gathering Data	22	(2)
The Experiment	22	(1)
The Survey	23	(1)
A Global Perspective: Survey Research in Nigeria	24	(2)
Participant Observation	25	(1)
Concept Summary: Research Methods	26	(2)
Alternative Strategies	28	(1)
Sociologists: What Do They Do?	28	(2)
Working in Colleges and Universities	28	(1)
Working in Government	28	(1)
Working in Business	29	(1)
Working in Nonprofit Organizations	29	(1)
Working to Serve the Public	29	(1)
Where This Leaves Us	30	(1)
Summary	30	(1)
Thinking Critically	31	(1)
Sociology on the Net	31	(1)
Suggested Readings	32	(1)
Culture	33	(21)
Introduction to Culture	34	(1)
Theoretical Perspectives on Culture	34	(1)
Bases of Human Behavior: Culture and Biology	35	(3)
Cultural Perspective	35	(2)
Biological Perspective	37	(1)
The Carriers of Culture	38	(4)
Language	38	(2)
Values	40	(1)
Norms	40	(2)
American Diversity: How Feminists Research Culture	42	(1)
Social Control	42	(1)
Concept Summary: Values, Norms, and Laws	43	(1)
Cultural Diversity and Change	43	(2)
Subcultures and Countercultures	43	(2)
Acculturation or Multiculturalism?	45	(1)
Sources of Cultural Diversity and Change	45	(3)
Environment	46	(1)
Isolation	46	(1)
Cultural Diffusion	46	(1)
Technology	46	(1)
Dominant Cultural Themes	46	(1)
A Case Study: American Consumer Culture	47	(1)
Consequences of Cultural Diversity and Change	48	(1)
Culture Shock	48	(1)
Cultural Lag	48	(1)
Uses of Culture	49	(1)
Symbolic Boundaries	49	(1)
Collective Memory	49	(1)
Technology: Models, Magazines, and Self-Esteem	50	(1)
Mass Media and Audiences	51	(1)
Where This Leaves Us	51	(1)
Summary	52	(1)
Thinking Critically	52	(1)
Sociology on the Net	53	(1)
Suggested Readings	53	(1)
Socialization	54	(20)
What Is Socialization?	55	(1)
The Self and Self-Concept	55	(1)
Learning to Be Human	55	(2)
The Necessity of Nurture	56	(1)
Monkeying with Isolation and Deprivation	56	(1)
Theories of Socialization	57	(1)
Freudian Theory	57	(1)
American Diversity: Gender Differences in Mathematics	58	(2)
Piaget and Cognitive Development	58	(2)
Symbolic Interaction Theory	60	(1)
Concept Summary: The Two Schools of Symbolic Interaction	60	(3)
Socialization Through the Life Course	63	(2)
Childhood	63	(1)
Adolescence	63	(1)
Adulthood	64	(1)
Age 65 and Beyond	64	(1)
Resocialization	65	(2)
Total Institutions	65	(1)
A Case Study: Prison Boot Camps and Resocialization	66	(1)
Agents of Socialization	67	(4)
Family	68	(1)
Schools	68	(1)
Peers	69	(1)
Mass Media	70	(1)
Religion	70	(1)
Workplace	70	(1)
Where This Leaves Us	71	(1)
Summary	71	(1)
Thinking Critically	72	(1)
Sociology on the Net	72	(1)
Suggested Readings	73	(1)
Social Structure and Social Interaction	74	(25)
Intertwining Forces: Social Structure and Social Interaction	75	(1)
Social Structures	75	(4)
Status	75	(2)
Roles	77	(1)
Institutions	77	(2)
Types of Societies	79	(2)
Hunting, Fishing, and Gathering Societies	80	(1)
Horticultural Societies	80	(1)
Agricultural Societies	81	(1)
Industrial Societies	81	(1)
A Case Study: When Institutions Die	81	(4)
A Broken Society	82	(1)
Ojibwa Society Before 1963	83	(1)
The Change	83	(1)
The Future of the Ojibwa	84	(1)
A Sociological Response	84	(1)
Social Interaction and Everyday Life	85	(5)
Assumptions about Everyday Life	86	(1)
Managing Everyday Life	87	(1)
Dramaturgy	88	(1)
Whose Definition? The Ex-Wife at the Funeral	89	(1)
Identity Work	90	(2)
Avoiding Blame	90	(2)
A Global Perspective: Identity Work Among Australian Aborigines	92	(2)
Gaining Credit	92	(1)
A Case Study: Identity Work Among the Homeless	93	(1)
Where This Leaves Us	94	(1)
Summary	95	(1)
Thinking Critically	95	(1)
Sociology on the Net	96	(1)
Suggested Readings	96	(1)
Intersections: Culture, Social Structure, and Everyday Life	97	(2)
Groups, Networks, and Organizations	99	(24)
Human Relationships	100	(1)
Social Processes	100	(2)
Exchange	100	(1)
Cooperation	101	(1)
Competition	101	(1)
Conflict	102	(1)
Social Processes in Everyday Life	102	(1)
Groups	102	(6)
How Groups Affect Individuals	103	(1)
Interaction in Small Groups	104	(2)
Decision Making in Small Groups	106	(1)
Types of Groups	107	(1)
Concept Summary: Differences Between Primary and Secondary Groups	108	(2)
Social Networks	110	(2)
Strong and Weak Ties	110	(2)
A Global Perspective: Finding Jobs, Changing Jobs in Singapore and China	112	(4)
Voluntary Associations	112	(3)
Community	115	(1)
Complex Organizations	116	(4)
Classic Bureaucracies	116	(3)
Japanese Bureaucracies	119	(1)
Where This Leaves Us	120	(1)
Summary	121	(1)
Thinking Critically	121	(1)
Sociology on the Net	122	(1)
Suggested Readings	122	(1)
Deviance, Crime, and Social Control	123	(28)
Conformity and Deviance	124	(1)
Understanding Conformity	124	(1)
Defining Deviance	125	(1)
Sociological Theories About Deviance	125	(1)
Structural-Functional Theories	125	(1)
Concept Summary: Theories of Deviance	126	(1)
Concept Summary: Merton's Types of Deviance	127	(5)
Conflict Theory	128	(1)
Symbolic Interaction Theories	129	(3)
Crime	132	(2)
Major Crimes Involving Violence or Property	132	(1)
Victimless Crimes	133	(1)
The Environment: Crimes Against the Environment	134	(6)
White-Collar Crimes	135	(1)
Correlates of Crime: Age, Sex, Class, and Race	136	(4)
Mental Illness	140	(1)
Defining Mental Illness: Labeling and the Medical Model	140	(1)
Correlates of Mental Illness	140	(1)
The Sociology of Law	141	(2)
Theories of Law	142	(1)
What Is Justice?	142	(1)
Why Punish?	143	(1)
The Criminal Justice System	143	(1)
The Police	143	(1)
Technology: Does It Take A Rocket Scientist to Do Police Work?	144	(3)
The Courts	144	(1)
Prisons	145	(2)
American Diversity: Is Capital Punishment Racist?	147	(1)
Where This Leaves Us	148	(1)
Summary	148	(1)
Thinking Critically	149	(1)
Sociology on the Net	149	(1)
Suggested Readings	150	(1)
Stratification	151	(30)
Structures of Inequality	152	(3)
Types of Stratification Structures	152	(1)
Classes---How Many?	153	(2)
Inequality in the United States	155	(5)
Measuring Social Class	155	(1)
Economic Inequality	156	(2)
The Consequences of Social Class	158	(2)
Explanations of Inequality	160	(3)
Structural-Functional Theory	160	(1)
The Conflict Perspective	161	(2)
Concept Summary: A Comparison of Two Models of Stratification	163	(1)
Symbolic Interaction Theory	163	(1)
The Determinants of Social-Class Position	164	(3)
Microstructure: Status Attainment	164	(1)
Macrostructure: The Labor Market	165	(2)
The American Dream: Ideology and Reality	167	(1)
Social Class and Social Life	167	(8)
The Upper Class	168	(1)
The Middle Class	169	(1)
The Working Class	170	(1)
The Poor	170	(5)
Social Class and Public Policy: Fighting Poverty	175	(1)
American Diversity: Subsidies, Incentives, and Welfare: Who Benefits?	176	(2)
Income Redistribution	176	(1)
Outlawing Discrimination	177	(1)
Increasing Educational Opportunities	177	(1)
Where This Leaves Us	178	(1)
Summary	178	(1)
Thinking Critically	179	(1)
Sociology on the Net	179	(1)
Suggested Readings	179	(2)
Global Inequality and Globalization	181	(27)
Inequality and Development	182	(3)
Three Worlds: Most- to Least-Developed Countries	182	(3)
A Global Perspective: Women and Development	185	(3)
Structural-Functional Analysis: Modernization Theory	186	(1)
Conflict Analysis: World-Systems Theory	187	(1)
Economic Development and the Environment	188	(2)
The Threat to the Environment	188	(1)
The Need for Sustainable Development	189	(1)
Technology: Information Technology and the Global Culture	190	(2)
A Case Study: Economic Development and the Environment in Eastern Europe	191	(1)
Forms and Consequences of Economic Dependence	192	(2)
The Forms of Economic Dependence	192	(1)
The Consequences of Economic Dependence	193	(1)
Competition, Change, and International Relationships	194	(5)
Challenges to the Status Quo	194	(1)
The Developed World's Response	195	(1)
Haiti: A Case Study	196	(3)
Globalization	199	(4)
The Sources of Globalization	199	(1)
Cultural Impact	199	(1)
Economic Impact	200	(1)
Political Impact	201	(1)
World Opinion	201	(1)
A Case Study: Globalization, Global Inequality, and 9/11	201	(2)
Where This Leaves Us	203	(1)
Summary	203	(1)
Thinking Critically	204	(1)
Sociology on the Net	204	(1)
Suggested Readings	205	(1)
Intersections: Are Economic Development and Traditional Cultural Values Incompatible?	206	(2)
Racial and Ethnic Inequality	208	(24)
Race and Ethnicity	209	(1)
A Framework for Studying Racial and Ethnic Inequality	209	(3)
The Social Construction of Race and Ethnicity	209	(1)
The Semi-Caste Model	210	(1)
Majority and Minority Groups	211	(1)
The Maintenance of Inequality: Basic Processes	212	(4)
Prejudice	212	(2)
Discrimination	214	(1)
Segregation	215	(1)
Race and Ethnic Inequalities in the United States	216	(8)
White Ethnic Groups	216	(1)
African Americans	217	(2)
Hispanic Americans	219	(2)
Asian Americans	221	(1)
Native Americans	222	(1)
Arab Americans	223	(1)
The Future of Racial and Ethnic Inequality in the United States	224	(1)
The Persistence of Inequality	224	(1)
The Environment: Environmental Racism	225	(1)
Combating Inequality: Race versus Class	226	(1)
Ethnic Relations in Comparative Perspectives	226	(2)
A Case Study: Bosnia	227	(1)
Where This Leaves Us	228	(1)
Summary	229	(1)
Thinking Critically	230	(1)
Sociology on the Net	230	(1)
Suggested Readings	231	(1)
Sex, Gender, and Sexuality	232	(24)
Sexual Differentiation	233	(2)
Sex versus Gender	233	(1)
Gender Roles Across Cultures	233	(2)
Perspectives on Gender Inequality	235	(1)
Structural-Functional Theory: Division of Labor	235	(1)
Conflict Theory: Segmented Labor Markets and Sexism	235	(1)
The Environment: Ecofeminism	236	(3)
Symbolic Interactionism: Gender Inequality in Everyday Life	238	(1)
Gender as Social Construction and Social Structure	239	(2)
Developing Gendered Identities	239	(1)
Reinforcing Biological Differences	239	(1)
``Doing Gender''	240	(1)
Gender as Social Structure	240	(1)
Differences in Life Chances by Sex	241	(5)
Health	241	(1)
Education	241	(2)
Work and Income	243	(3)
Technology: How Is Technology an Equity Issue?	246	(1)
Gender and Power	247	(3)
Unequal Power in Social Institutions	248	(1)
Unequal Power in Interaction	248	(1)
A Case Study: Sexual Harassment	248	(1)
Fighting Back: The Feminist Movement	249	(1)
The Sociology of Sexuality	250	(3)
Premarital Sexuality	250	(1)
Marital Sexuality	251	(1)
Sexual Minorities	251	(2)
Where This Leaves Us	253	(1)
Summary	253	(1)
Thinking Critically	254	(1)
Sociology on the Net	254	(1)
Suggested Readings	255	(1)
Age and Health Inequalities	256	(28)
The Structures of Aging and Health Care	257	(1)
Age Differentiation and Inequality	257	(2)
The Status of Young People	257	(2)
American Diversity: The ``Graying'' and ``Browning'' of America	259	(5)
The Status of People 65 and over	259	(3)
Youth versus Age: The Battle over the Public Purse	262	(2)
Explanations for Age Stratification	264	(1)
Structural-Functional Perspective	264	(1)
Concept Summary: A Comparison of Three Explanations of Age Stratification	264	(3)
Conflict Perspective	265	(1)
Modernization Theory of Aging	265	(1)
Symbolic Interactionist Theory	266	(1)
Evaluating the Theories	266	(1)
Health and Health Care	267	(4)
Social Epidemiology	268	(1)
A Case Study: Declining Life Expectancy in Eastern Europe	269	(2)
The U.S. Health-Care System	271	(7)
Physicians	271	(2)
Nurses	273	(1)
The High Cost of Medical Care: Who Pays?	274	(4)
Technology: Technology and the Meaning of Life	278	(1)
Where This Leaves Us	279	(1)
Summary	280	(1)
Thinking Critically	280	(1)
Sociology on the Net	281	(1)
Suggested Readings	281	(1)
Intersections: Cross-Cutting Statuses: Race, Sex, and Age	282	(2)
Family	284	(26)
Marriage and Family: Basic Institutions of Society	285	(2)
Universal Aspects	285	(1)
Cross-Cultural Variations	286	(1)
The U. S. Family over the Life Course	287	(7)
Childhood	288	(1)
Adolescence	289	(1)
The Transition to Adulthood	289	(1)
Early Adulthood: Dating and Mate Selection	290	(2)
Middle Age	292	(1)
Age 65 and Beyond	293	(1)
Roles and Relationships in Marriage	294	(2)
Gender Roles in Marriage	294	(1)
The Parental Role: A Leap of Faith	294	(1)
Marital Happiness	295	(1)
Technology: Kinkeeping, Gender Roles, and The Internet	296	(1)
Contemporary Family Choices	296	(3)
Marriage or Cohabitation	297	(1)
Having Children. . . or Not	297	(2)
American Diversity: Is the Gay Family a Contradiction in Terms?	299	(2)
Work versus Family	300	(1)
Problems in the American Family	301	(6)
Violence	301	(1)
Divorce	302	(3)
How Serious Are These Problems?	305	(2)
Where This Leaves Us	307	(1)
Summary	307	(1)
Thinking Critically	308	(1)
Sociology on the Net	308	(1)
Suggested Readings	309	(1)
Education and Religion	310	(31)
Educational and Religious Institutions	311	(1)
The Sociological Study of Education: Theoretical Views	311	(3)
Structural-Functional Theory: Functions of Education	311	(1)
Conflict Theory: Education and the Perpetuation of Inequality	312	(2)
Education, Symbolic Interactionism, and Self-Fulfilling Prophecies	314	(2)
Interactions with Teachers	314	(1)
Self-Fulfilling Prophecies	315	(1)
Current Controversies in American Education	316	(2)
Tracking	316	(1)
High-Stakes Testing	317	(1)
American Diversity: What Do IQ Tests Measure?	318	(3)
School Choice	318	(3)
College: Who Goes and What Does It Do for Them?	321	(2)
Who Goes?	321	(1)
The Bottom Line---What Will College Do for Me?	322	(1)
The Sociological Study of Religion: Theoretical Views	323	(4)
What Is Religion?	323	(1)
Why Religion?	324	(1)
Durkheim: Structural-Functional Theory of Religion	325	(1)
Conflict Theory: Marx and Beyond	326	(1)
Weber: Religion as an Independent Force	326	(1)
Tension between Religion and Society	327	(2)
Concept Summary: Distinctions Between Churches and Sects	329	(4)
Churchlike Religions	329	(1)
Sectlike Religions	330	(1)
A Case Study: Islam	331	(2)
Religion in the United States	333	(5)
U.S. Civil Religion	333	(2)
Trends and Differentials in Religiosity	335	(1)
Consequences of Religiosity	336	(1)
The Religious Right	337	(1)
Technology: The Electronic Church	338	(1)
Where This Leaves Us	338	(1)
Summary	339	(1)
Thinking Critically	339	(1)
Sociology on the Net	340	(1)
Suggested Readings	340	(1)
Politics and the Economy	341	(33)
Political and Economic Institutions	342	(1)
Power and Political Institutions	342	(2)
Coercion	342	(1)
Authority	342	(2)
Concept Summary: Power	344	(1)
Political Institutions	344	(1)
Power and the State	344	(3)
Jurisdiction	344	(1)
State Coercion	345	(1)
Authoritarian Systems	345	(1)
Democracies	346	(1)
Who Governs? Models of U.S. Democracy	347	(1)
Structural-Functional Theory: The Pluralist Model	347	(1)
Concept Summary: Comparison of Three Models of American Political Power	347	(2)
Conflict Theory: The Power-Elite Model	348	(1)
A Third Perspective: The State Autonomy Model	349	(1)
Individual Participation in U.S. Government	349	(4)
Who Votes?	349	(2)
Which Party?	351	(1)
Why So Few Voters?	352	(1)
A Case Study: Felon Disenfranchisement	352	(1)
Modern Economic Systems	353	(1)
Capitalism	353	(1)
A Global Perspective: Democratic Socialism in Sweden	354	(2)
Socialism	354	(1)
The Political Economy	355	(1)
Mixed Economies	356	(1)
The U.S. Economic System	356	(5)
The Postindustrial Economy	356	(1)
The Dual Economy	357	(3)
The Segmented Labor Market	360	(1)
Work in the United States	361	(6)
Occupations	361	(3)
The Meaning of Work	364	(1)
Technology and the Future of Work	365	(1)
Globalization and the Future of Work	366	(1)
Technology: The Luddites: Down With Machines	367	(1)
Where This Leaves Us	368	(1)
Summary	369	(1)
Thinking Critically	370	(1)
Sociology on the Net	370	(1)
Suggested Readings	371	(1)
Intersections: Politics, Religion, and the Culture War	372	(2)
Population and Urban Life	374	(32)
Populations, Large and Small	375	(1)
Understanding Population Growth	375	(3)
Population in Former Times	376	(1)
The Demographic Transition in the West	377	(1)
The Demographic Transition in the Non-West	378	(1)
Population and Social Structure: Two Examples	378	(4)
Ghana: Is Fertility Too High?	378	(1)
Europe: Is Fertility Too Low?	379	(3)
Population and Social Problems: Two Examples	382	(2)
Environmental Devastation: A Population Problem?	382	(1)
Poverty in the Least-Developed World	383	(1)
A Global Perspective: International Migration	384	(2)
Population in the United States	386	(3)
Fertility	386	(1)
Mortality	386	(1)
Migration	386	(3)
Urbanization	389	(5)
Theories of Urban Growth and Decline	390	(1)
The Nature of Modern Cities	391	(1)
Urbanization in the United States	392	(1)
Urbanization in the Less-Developed World	393	(1)
Place of Residence and Social Relationships	394	(5)
Urban Living	394	(2)
Suburban Living	396	(2)
Small-Town and Rural Living	398	(1)
Where This Leaves Us	399	(1)
Summary	400	(1)
Thinking Critically	401	(1)
Sociology on the Net	401	(1)
Suggested Readings	402	(1)
Intersections: Fertility, Mortality, and Social Structure	403	(3)
Social Movements, Technology, and Social Change	406	(27)
How Societies Change	407	(1)
Social Movements	407	(3)
Theories of Social Movements	409	(1)
Concept Summary: Theories of Social Movements	410	(6)
How Do Social Movements Operate?	411	(3)
Factors Associated with Movement Success	414	(1)
The Role of the Mass Media	415	(1)
The Environment: Lynx, Minks, and Suburbia: How the Environmental Movement Works	416	(5)
Countermovements	417	(2)
A Case Study: The Gay and Lesbian Rights Movement	419	(2)
Technology	421	(4)
Two Theories of Technologically Induced Social Change	421	(1)
The Costs and Benefits of New Technologies	422	(3)
Technology: Biotechnology's Power, Promise, and Peril	425	(4)
Where This Leaves Us	429	(1)
Summary	430	(1)
Thinking Critically	431	(1)
Sociology on the Net	431	(1)
Suggested Readings	432	(1)
Glossary	433	(7)
References	440	(23)
Photo Credits	463	(1)
Author Index	464	(16)
Subject Index	480