Society in Focus: An Introduction to Sociology

Abstract

Part I THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE 1 Discovering Sociology What Is Sociology? Sociology and Critical Thinking The Development of Sociology Contemporary Sociology Looking to the Future: Sociology in the Twenty-First Century 2 Doing Sociology Globalization, Diversity, and Types of Knowledge Sociology and Scientific Knowledge Types of Research and Research Designs The Relationship between Theory and Methods Social Research and the Media Looking to the Future: Social Research in the Twenty-First Century Part II THE SOCIAL FRAMEWORK 3 Culture and Society What Is Culture? Components of Culture Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism Globalization and Cultural Diversity Sociological Approaches to Culture Looking to the Future: Culture in the Twenty-First Century 4 Socialization The Socialization Process Major Agents of Socialization: A Global View Socialization and the Life Course Desocialization and Resocialization Understanding Socialization: A Comparative Analysis Looking to the Future: Socialization in the Twenty-First Century 5 Social Interaction in Everyday Life Social Structure Social Interaction Sociological Approaches to Interaction in Everyday Life Looking to the Future: Social Interaction in the Twenty-First Century 6 Social Groups and Organizations Social Groups Formal Organizations Bureaucracies Media Organizations and Change Looking to the Future: Groups and Organizations in the Twenty-First Century Part III SOCIAL DIFFERENTIATION AND INEQUALITY 7 Deviance and Conformity Defining Deviance and Conformity: A Global View Popular Explanations for Deviance Sociological Analysis of Deviance and Conformity Deviance, Conformity, and Social Control Looking to the Future: Deviance and Conformity in the Twenty-First Century 8 Social Stratification and the USClass System Understanding Social Stratification Systems of Stratification Determining Social Class Ranking Social Classes in the United States Poverty: Media Images and Reality Social Class in the United States: Myth and Reality Perspectives on Social Stratification Looking to the Future: The US Class System in the Twenty-First Century 9 Global Stratification Globalization and Economic Development Global Stratification and Quality of Life Explaining Global Stratification Transnational Corporations: The Making of New Haves and Have-Nots Looking to the Future: Global Stratification in the Twenty-First Century 10 Race and Ethnicity Understanding Race and Ethnicity in a Global Society Prejudice Discrimination Dominant-Minority Group Relations Race and Ethnic Diversity in the United States Looking to the Future: Race and Ethnic Relations in the Twenty-First Century 11Sex and Gender Sex and Gender in a Global Society Explaining Gender Differences Sexism: Inequality Based on Sex and Gender Feminism: The Struggle for Gender Equality Looking to the Future: Sex and Gender in the Twenty-First Century 12 Age and the Elderly Gerontology: The Study of Aging Aging and Diversity: A Global Perspective Growing Old in American Society Sociological Explanations of the Aging Process Looking to the Future: The Graying of America in the Twenty-First Century Part IV SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS 13 Families What Is a Family? Family Diversity: A Global Portrait Sociological Approaches to the Family US Families: In the Life Course US Families: A Portrait of Social Diversity Looking to the Future: Families in the Twenty-First Century 14 Education Education in a Global Society The Role of Education: A Functionalist Perspective Education and Social Stratification: A Conflict Perspective Education and Everyday Life: An Interactionist View Contemporary Trends in American Education Looking to the Future: Education in the Twenty-First Century 15 Religion Defining Religion Global Religious Diversity The Social Organization of Religion Religion and Society: Three Perspectives Religious Movements in Focus Religion and the Media Religious Diversity in the United States Looking to the Future: Religion in the Twenty-First Century 16 Politics and War Power and Politics Types of Authority Politics and Influence Globalization and Political Systems Democracy: American Style War, Nuclear War, and Society Peace Organizations and Peace Movements Looking to the Future: Global Politics in the Twenty-First Century 17 The Economy and Work Sociology and the Study of the Economy The Global Economy The American Economy and Work Work as a Social Phenomenon Taking a Closer Look at the Economy and Work Looking to the Future: The Economy and Work in the Twenty-First Century 18 Health and Medicine Health and Sickness: A Global View Health and Sickness in the United States Medicine and Health Care: A Cross-Cultural View Medicine and Health Care in the United States Looking to the Future: Health and Medicine in the Twenty-First Century Part V SOCIAL CHANGE 19 Population, Urbanization, and Ecology Demography and Global Population Population Growth The Growth of Cities and Urbanization Urban Sociology and Human Ecology Human Ecology and the Environment Looking to the Future: Population, Urbanization, and Ecology in the Twenty-First Century 20 Social Change, Collective Behavior, and the Future What Is Social Change? Sociological Approaches to Social Change Collective Behavior Social Movements Looking to the Future: The Media, Social Change, and Life in the Twenty-First Century Glossary Bibliography Name Index Subject Index Photo Credits Text Credits