Society in Focus

Preface
About the Authors

Part 1 Sociological Perspective

Chapter 1 Discovering Sociology
Learning Outcomes
What Is Sociology?
The Sociological Imagination
Understanding Life in a Global Society
Recognizing Diversity
Things Are Not What They Seem: Sociology and Critical Thinking
Sociological Focus 1.1 Critical Thinking and Sociology: Common Sense versus Common Nonsense
Taking a Closer Look at Media and Technology
The Development of Sociology
The Changing Social Climate: The Industrial Revolution
The Changing Intellectual Climate: The Rise of Science
Early European Sociology
Sociology Crosses the Atlantic
Contemporary Sociology
The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
The Structural Functionalist Perspective
The Conflict Perspective
Feminist Theory
Which Perspective Is Best?
Thinking Sociologically: Taking an Integrated Approach
Looking to the Future
Sociological Focus 1.2 Sociology in the “Real World”: What Sociologists Do
Summary – Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Chapter 2 Doing Sociology
Learning Outcomes
Globalization, Diversity, and Types of Knowledge
Experience
Cultural Tradition
Faith
Authority
Science
Sociology and Scientific Knowledge
Sociology as a Science
The Theory-Building Process
The Scientific Method
Ethical Issues in Sociological Research
Types of Research and Research Designs
Types of Research
Sociological Focus 2.1 The Sociologist as Voyeur
Quantitative Research Designs
Qualitative Research Designs
Combining Research Methods
The Relationship between Theory and Methods
The Interactionist Perspective
The Functionalist Perspective
The Conflict Perspective
Feminist Theory
Social Research and the Media
Infotainment: Information and Entertainment
Pseudoscientific Polling versus Survey Research
Technology and Research
Sociological Focus 2.2 Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics: Reporting Facts or Creating Virtual Truth?
Looking to the Future
Summary – Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Part 2 Social Framework

Chapter 3 Society and Culture
Learning Outcomes
What Is Society?
Types of Societies
Media, Technology, and Postindustrial Societies
Sociological Focus 3.1: Virtual Societies
What Is Culture?
Material and Nonmaterial Culture
The Origin of Culture
Components of Culture
Symbols
Language
Beliefs
Values
Norms
Sanctions
Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism
Culture Shock
Ethnocentrism
Sociological Focus 3.2 The Nacirema
Cultural Relativism
The Relativist Fallacy
Globalization and Cultural Diversity
Subcultures
Countercultures
Multiculturalism
From Modern to Postmodern Culture
Culture, Class, and the Media
Ideal and Real Culture
Sociological Approaches to Society and Culture
Society, Culture, and Functionalism
Society and Culture from the Conflict Perspective
Symbolic Interactionism, Society, and Culture
A Feminist View of Society and Culture
Looking to the Future
Summary – Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Chapter 4 Socialization
Learning Outcomes
The Socialization Process
Nature and Nurture
Sociobiology and the Importance of Heredity and Environment
The Effects of Social Isolation
Developing a Social Self
Major Agents of Socialization: A Global View
The Family
The School
Religion
Peers
The Workplace
Media and Technology
Sociological Focus 4.1 Technology and Toddlers: Socialization in the Age of Computers
Socialization and the Life Course
Socialization in Childhood and Adolescence
Adult Socialization
Sociological Focus 4.2 Looking for a Few Good (Wo)Men: Resocialization in a Marine Corps Boot Camp
Desocialization and Resocialization
Understanding Socialization
Becoming Human: A Symbolic Interactionist Approach
Perpetuating Society and Culture: A Structural Functionalist Viewpoint
Maintaining Existing Inequalities: The Conflict Perspective
Understanding the Gender Dimension: A Feminist Perspective
Looking to the Future
Summary – Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Chapter 5 Social Interaction in Everyday Life
Learning Outcomes
Social Structure
Statuses
Roles
Sociological Focus 5.1 Prisoners and Guards in a Mock Prison
Social Networks
Social Institutions
Social Interaction
Patterns of Social Interaction
Social Perception and Stereotypes
Social Acts
Sociological Focus 5.2 Interacting with Santa Claus at the Mall
Personal Space and Nonverbal CommunicationDefining Social Situations
Dramaturgy: Presentation of Self and Impression Management
Ethnomethodology: The “Taken-for-Granted” Aspects of Interaction
Social Interaction, Media, and Technology
Sociological Approaches to Interaction in Everyday Life
The Structural Functionalist Approach
The Conflict Perspective
The Symbolic Interactionist Approach
A Feminist Viewpoint
Looking to the Future
Summary - Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Chapter 6 Social Groups, Organizations, and Bureaucracies
Learning Outcomes
Social Groups
Primary and Secondary Groups
In-Groups and Out-Groups
Reference Groups
Small Group Dynamics
Sociological Focus 6.1 Cybergroups
Formal Organizations
Types of Organizations
Contemporary Organizations
Bureaucracies
Bureaucracies: The Ideal Type
Contemporary Bureaucracies: The Reality
Sociological Approaches to Groups, Organizations, and Bureaucracies
The Structural Functionalist Approach
The Conflict Perspective
A Feminist View
Symbolic Interactionism
Media Organizations, Technology, and Change
Media Organizations
Technology, Globalization, and Social Diversity
Looking to the Future
Sociological Focus 6.2 Bowling Alone in America?
Summary – Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Part 3 Social Differentiation and Inequality

Chapter 7 Deviance and Conformity
Learning Outcomes
Defining Deviance and Conformity: A Global View
Norms and a Range of Tolerance
Importance of Time, Place, Situation, and Culture
Significance of Actors, Audience, and the Media
The Difference between Deviance and Crime
Distinguishing between Diversity and Deviance
Deviance and Stigma
Popular Explanations for Deviance
Deviants Are Different: From Demonology to Biology
The Medical Model: Equating Deviance with Illness
Blame It on the Media and Technology
Sociological Focus 7.1 Does Media Violence Cause Aggressive Behavior?
Sociological Analysis of Deviance and Conformity
The Structural Functionalist Perspective
Conflict Theories of Deviance
Interactionist Explanations
Sociological Focus 7.2 Topless Dancers: Managing Stigma in a Deviant Occupation
Feminist Theories
Deviance, Conformity, and Social Control
Social Control and Deterrence
Voluntary (or Internalized) Social Control
Informal Social Control
Formal Social Control: Crime and the Criminal Justice System
Technology: Social Control or Out of Control?
Technology and Social Control
Technology Out of Control?
Looking to the Future
Summary – Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Chapter 8 Social Stratification and the U.S. Class System
Learning Outcomes
Understanding Social Stratification
Systems of Stratification
Slavery
Castes
Estates
Social Classes
Determining Social Class Ranking
Wealth
Power
Prestige
Socioeconomic Status
Social Classes in the United States
Wealth and Income
American Social Classes
Sociological Focus 8.1 Monopoly Revisited: The Sociological Version
Poverty: Media Images and Reality
Who Are the Poor? Media Images
Poverty: The Reality
Homelessness and the Poorest of the Poor
Social Class in the United States: Myth and Reality
Life Chances and Social Class
Social Mobility in the United States
Sociological Focus 8.2 Ain’t No Makin’ It: Social Immobility in the Land of Opportunity
Perspectives on Social Stratification
The Functionalist Perspective
The Interactionist Perspective
The Feminist Perspective
The Conflict Perspective
Looking to the Future
Summary – Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Chapter 9 Global Stratification
Learning Outcomes
Globalization and Economic Development
The Language of Development
High-Income Nations
Middle-Income Nations
Low-Income Nations
Global Stratification and Quality of Life
The Global “Haves” and “Have-Nots”
National Class Systems and Poverty
Population Growth and Poverty
The Poorest of the Poor: Women and Children
Explaining Global Stratification
Modernization Theory: A Functionalist Approach
Sociological Focus 9.1 Globalization and a “World on Fire”
Conflict Approaches to Global Inequality
Interactionism and Global Stratification
Feminism and Global Inequality
Transnational Corporations: The Making of New “Haves” and “Have-Nots”
Corporations and the New Global Assembly Line
Media, Corporations, and Inequality
Sociological Focus 9.2 Poverty and the Internet: Efforts to Narrow the Digital Divide
Corporations, Diversity, and a World on the Move
Looking to the Future
Summary – Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Chapter 10 Race and Ethnicity
Learning Outcomes
Understanding Race and Ethnicity in a Global Society
Race
Sociological Focus 10.1 Life on the Color Line
Ethnicity
Minority Groups
Prejudice and Discrimination
Racism
Ethnocentrism
Types of Discrimination
Affirmative Action
Race and Ethnicity, Media, and Technology
Dominant–Minority Group Relations
Cultural Pluralism
Assimilation
Segregation
Genocide
Race and Ethnic Diversity in the United States
Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity
A Functionalist Approach
The Conflict Perspective
Symbolic Interactionism
A Feminist View
Looking to the Future
Sociological Focus 10.2 Beyond “Black” and “White”?
Summary – Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Chapter 11 Sex and Gender
Learning Outcomes
Sex and Gender in a Global Society
Sex: Biological Differentiation
Gender: Social and Cultural Differentiation
Sociological Focus 11.1 The Social Costs of Violating Gender Norms
Explaining Gender Differences
Socialization and Gender Identity: An Interactionist Approach
Gender Complementarity: The Functionalist View
Gender Stratification: A Conflict Perspective
Standpoint Theory: A Feminist View
Sexism: Inequality Based on Sex and Gender
In the Family
In Religion
In Education
In the Workplace
Sociological Focus 11.2 Sexual Misconduct, “Time’s Up,” and the “Me Too” Movement
In Sports
In Politics and Government
In the Military
In the Media
Feminism: The Struggle for Gender Equality
Feminist Movements in the United States
Global Feminism
Resistance to Feminism
Sexual Orientation and Diversity
Homosexuality and Bisexuality
Homophobia
Looking to the Future
Summary – Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Chapter 12 Age and the Elderly
Learning Outcomes
Gerontology: The Study of Aging
Population Aging and the “Graying” of the Globe
Bodily “Wear and Tear”: Biological and Physiological Aging
From “Midlife Crisis” to “Senior Citizen”: Psychological Aging
Sociological Focus 12.1 The Fountain of Age: Redefining the Meaning of Growing Old
“Act Your Age”: The Social Dimensions of Aging
Aging and Diversity: A Global Perspective
Growing Old in Traditional Preindustrial Societies
The Elderly in Industrial Societies
Aging in Contemporary Postindustrial Societies
Growing Old in American Society
Ageism
Mass-Media Stereotypes
Retirement, Fixed Incomes, and Poverty
Social Isolation
Elder Abuse
Health Maintenance
Death and Dying
Sociological Focus 12.2 The Euthanasia Debate: Merciful Death? Or Murder?
Sociological Explanations of the Aging Process
Social Disengagement Theory: A Functionalist Perspective
Symbolic Interactionism: Activity Theory of Aging
An Aged Subculture: The Conflict Approach
Intersectionality of Age and Gender: A Feminist Perspective
Exchange Theory: Combining Perspectives on Aging
Looking to the Future
Summary- Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Part 4 Social Institutions

Chapter 13 Families
Learning Outcomes
What Is a Family?
Family Diversity: A Global Portrait
Descent Patterns
Family Patterns
Dating and Mate Selection, Marriage, and Divorce Patterns
Residence and Authority Patterns
Sociological Approaches to the Family
Functionalism and the Family
The Family from the Conflict and Feminist Perspectives
Social Exchange and Symbolic Interaction
U.S. Families: In the Life Course
Dating and Mate Selection
Sociological Focus 13.1 Swipe Right or Swipe Left: Love on the Internet
Cohabitation: A New Dating and Mate-Selection Stage?
Singlehood
Marriage and Divorce Rates
Families in the Middle and Later Stages of Life
U.S. Families: A Portrait of Social Diversity
Families of Myth and History
Media Families: Compounding the Myths?
Families in the United States: The Reality
Family Transitions and Family Problems
Domestic Violence
Sociological Focus 13.2 Parental Discipline? Or Family Violence?
Balancing Family and Work
Looking to the Future
Summary – Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Chapter 14 Education
Learning Outcomes
Education in a Global Society
A Proper British Education
Kanri Kyoiku in Japan
Education in the United States
The Role of Education: A Functionalist Perspective
Cultural Transmission
Anticipatory Socialization
Social and Cultural Integration
Sociological Focus 14.1 Learning the Student Role: Kindergarten as Academic Boot Camp
Innovation and Cultural Change
Latent Functions of Education
Education and Social Stratification: Conflict and Feminist Perspectives
Unequal Access to Schooling and Educational Inequality
Educational Credentials: Schools as a Screening Device
Education and Occupational Opportunities in the United States
Education and Everyday Life: An Interactionist View
Socialization: Personal and Social Development
Labeling Students: The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Schools as Bureaucracy: Dehumanization of Education
Contemporary Trends in American Education
Preschool and Early Childhood Education
Standardized Testing
Year-Round Education
Charter Schools and School Vouchers
Homeschooling
Diversity, Multicultural Education, and Globalization
Expanding Role of Community Colleges
Challenges for Education
Sociological Focus 14.2 School Violence and School Safety
Media, Computers, and Technology
Looking to the Future
Summary – Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Chapter 15 Religion
Learning Outcomes
Defining Religion
The Sacred and the Profane
Religious Symbols, Beliefs, and Rituals
Sociological Focus 15.1 Sociological Thinking and Extraordinary Phenomena
The Difference between Religion and Magic
Religion and Ultimate Meaning
Global Religious Diversity
Animatism
Animism
Theism
Ethical Religions
The Social Organization of Religion
Ecclesia
Denomination or Church
Sect
New Religious Movement
Sociological Perspectives on Religion
Religion and Functionalism
Religion from the Conflict Perspective
Religion, Interactionism, and Social Change
Religion and Feminism
Religious Movements in Focus
Early Revivals and Religious Movements
The Holiness and Pentecostal Movements
Evangelical and Fundamentalist Movements
Sociological Focus 15.2 End of the World Movements and Social Change
Religious Movements in a Global Context
Religious Movements in a “New Age”
Religion, Media and Technology
Evangelical Media
Technology and Religion
Religious Diversity in the United States
Social Correlates of Religion
Religion and Race: African American Religious Organizations
Looking to the Future
Summary – Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Chapter 16 Politics and War
Learning Outcomes
Government and Personal Freedom
Power, Politics, and Authority
Traditional Authority
Legal-Rational Authority
Charismatic Authority
Expertise
Politics and Influence
Propaganda, Censorship, and Ideology
Politics, Influence, and the Media
Technology, Influence, and Contemporary Politics
Sociological Focus 16.1 Campaigning Online and “Fake News” in Cyberspace
Globalization and Political Systems
Authoritarian Systems
Democratic Systems
Democracy: American Style
Political Participation and the American Voter
Interest Groups
Political Parties
Sociological Approaches to Politics and Government
The Functionalist Approach
Conflict Approaches
The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
Feminist Views on Government and Power
War, Nuclear War, and Society
Perspectives on War
The Development of War
Technology and “Infowar”
Nuclear War and Society
Sociological Focus 16.2 Cyberterrorism and Cyberwars: The Future of War?
The United Nations and the Search for Peace
Looking to the Future
Summary – Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Chapter 17 The Economy and Work
Learning Outcomes
Sociology and the Study of the Economy
Production
Distribution of Goods and Services
Consumption
The Economic System
The Global Economy
Capitalism
Socialism
Mixed Economies
Transnational Corporations and the Global Economy
The American Economy and Work
From an Agrarian to an Industrial Economy
Advertising and the Media
Postindustrialism and Service Work
Blue-Collar, White-Collar, and Pink-Collar Occupations
Primary and Secondary Labor Markets and the Rise of Professions
Sociological Focus 17.1 Handling the Stigma of Handling the Dead
Self-Employment
Unemployment and Underemployment
America’s Hidden Economy
Work as a Social Phenomenon
Work as a Social Role
Work and the Social Structure
Sociological Focus 17.2 Working on an Assembly Line
Work and Identity
Worker Satisfaction
Taking a Closer Look at the Economy and Work
A Functionalist View
The Conflict Perspective
An Interactionist Approach
A Feminist Viewpoint
Looking to the Future
Summary – Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment
Chapter 18 Health and Medicine
Learning Outcomes
Health and Sickness: A Global View
Health and Sickness in Poor Nations
Health and Sickness in Wealthy Nations
Health and Sickness in the United States
Epidemiology: The Social Dimensions of Health
Social Attitudes toward Health and Illness
Disease and Stigma: AIDS and Ebola
Health, Disability, and Social Identity
Sociological Focus 18.1 New Diseases, Social Panic, and Cultural Change
Medicine and Health Care: A Cross-Cultural View
Japan: Scientific Medicine and Kampo
Sweden and Norway: Prenatal to Postmortem Health Care
Great Britain: Socialized Medicine in a Capitalist Society
Medicine and Health Care in the United States
The Development of Modern Medicine
The Age of Specialization
Sociological Focus 18.2 Medical Technology and Ethical Issues
Media, Technology, and the Medicalization of American Society
The Health-Care Crisis: A Functionalist Viewpoint
The Health-Care Crisis from the Conflict Perspective
The Health-Care Crisis from a Feminist Perspective
Is There a Health-Care Crisis? An Interactionist Approach
Integrative Medicine and Alternatives to Conventional Health Care
Looking to the Future
Summary – Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Part 5 Social Change

Chapter 19 Population, Urbanization, and Ecology
Learning Outcomes
Demography and Global Population
Fertility, Mortality, and Migration
Population Composition and Density
Population Growth
Growth Rates and Doubling Time
Malthusian Theory
The Population Bomb: Malthusian Theory Revived
The Theory of Demographic Transition
Population Growth in the United States
The Growth of Cities and Urbanization
The Rise of Cities
Urbanization
Sociological Focus 19.1 The Pursuit of Loneliness: The Fallacy of “Escaping It All”
The Metropolis, the Megalopolis, and the Suburbs
Problems in American Cities and Suburbs
Sociological Focus 19.2 The Suburbanization of America: Progress? Or Social Decline?
Urban Sociology and Human Ecology
Toennies’ Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft
Durkheim’s Mechanical and Organic Solidarity
Redfield’s Folk and Urban Societies
The Chicago School and Ecological Studies
The Concentric Zone Model
The Sector Model
The Multiple-Nuclei Model
Human Ecology and the Environment
Overpopulation
Depletion of Natural Resources
Pollution: Water, Air, and Land
The Media, Technology and Environmental Concerns
Sociological Analyses of Population, Urbanization, and the Environment
A Functionalist Approach
The Conflict Perspective
Symbolic Interaction
A Feminist View
Looking to the Future
Summary – Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Chapter 20 Social Change, Collective Behavior, and the Future
Learning Outcomes
What Is Social Change?
Macro-change
Micro-change
Sources of Social Change
Sociological Focus 20.1 Technology and a Surveillance Society?
Sociological Approaches to Social Change
Functionalist Theories
Conflict Approaches
Interactionist, Feminist, and Other Contemporary Perspectives on Change
Collective Behavior
Interpreting Collective Behavior
Crowds, Masses, and Collective Behavior
Social Movements
Perspectives on Social Movements
Social Movement Organizations
The Life Course of Social Movements
Sociological Focus 20.2 ”Enough is Enough!” and the “Never Again” Movement
Factors Related to Movement Success
Social Movements and Change
Looking to the Future
Media Visions of the Future
Technology and the Future
Social Trends: The Next 10-25 Years
Summary – Key Terms – Outcomes Assessment

Glossary
References
Name Index
Subject Index
Credits