Toward a Sociological Imagination Bridging Specialized Fields

by Phillips, Bernard; Kincaid, Harold; Scheff, Thomas; Jacobsen, Chanoch; Kimberly, James C.; Lachmann, Richard; Maines, David R.; Britt, David W.; Retzinger, Suzanne M.; Scheff, Thomas J.; Becker, Howard S.

• ISBN13: 9780761823421
• ISBN10: 0761823425
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-07-09
• Publisher: UPA

Summary

Toward A Sociological Imagination builds on the ideas C. Wright Mills expressed in The Sociological Imagination for an approach to the scientific method broad enough to open up to the full range of knowledge within the sociology discipline. In this book, nine sociologists and one philosopher provide detailed tests of the utility of the approach within diverse substantive sociological areas. These areas include, deviance and anomie, stratification and occupational mobility, the origins of capitalism, combining narrative sociology with modeling, racial and ethnic relations, unacknowledged emotions within the psychiatric interview, the genesis of violence, and the impact of moving from a vernacular to a theoretical approach to language.

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Contributors	xi
PART ONE THE FRAMEWORK
Reconstructing the Scientific Method	3	(46)
``Toward a Reflexive Sociology'': A Second Look	49	(20)
Bernard Phillips
PART TWO BUILDING BRIDGES
The Process of Secularization: Toward a Theory-Oriented Methodology	69	(18)
Chanoch Jacobsen
Small Group Processes and the Legitimization of Societal Stratification: From Experiments to the Operation of Groups in Natural Situations	87	(44)
James C. Kimberly
Explaining Inequality	131	(20)
Harold Kincaid
A Critique of Pure Structure: The Limits of Rationality and Culture in the Transition from Feudalism to Capitalism	151	(26)
Richard Lachmann
Parallels and Tensions between Models and Narratives	177	(22)
David R. Maines
David W. Britt
Prejudice: The Levin Experiment	199	(30)
Bernard Phillips
Alienation, Labeling, and Stigma: Integrating Social and Emotional Aspects of Mental Illness	229	(34)
Suzanne M. Retzinger
Working Class Emotions and Relationships: Secondary Analysis of Sennett and Cobb, and Willis	263	(30)
Thomas J. Scheff
The Politics of Presentation: Goffman and Total Institutions	293
Howard S. Becker