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The Meaning of Sociology

by: Charon, Joel M.

The Meaning of Sociology

by: Charon, Joel M.

ISBN 13:
9780137980420
ISBN 10:
0137980426
Edition: 6th
Format: Paperback
Copyright: 09/01/1998
Publisher: Pearson College Div
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Summary

For a freshman-level course in Introduction to Sociology. This classic introduction to sociology as a perspective gives students a sound understanding of key sociological concepts as well as insight into how sociologists view society and human beings. Clearly written and organized, it shows students how the various aspects of sociology fit together and are relevant to their own lives.

Preface

PART I THE NATURE OF SOCIOLOGY

The Discipline of Sociology

(18)

What Is Sociology?

(7)

Sociology Is an Academic Discipline

(1)

Sociology Focuses on Our Social World

(1)

Sociology Asks Three Questions

(1)

Sociology Focuses on Five Topics

(1)

Sociology Is a Scientific Discipline

(3)

The Meaning of Sociology: A Summary

(1)

The Beginnings of Sociology

(2)

Science Was an Inspiration...

(1)

And So Were the Problems of Industrialization...

(1)

And the Need to Understand Revolution...

(1)

As Well as Experiences with Other Peoples and Societies...

(1)

And a Climate for New Ideas Arose

(1)

The Development of Sociology

(3)

Conclusion and Summary

(1)

Questions to Consider

(1)

Recommended Reading

(4)

Sociology as a Perspective: How Sociologists Think

(16)

Humans Are Social Beings

(2)

Humans Exist Within Social Patterns

(1)

Humans Are Socialized

(2)

Durkheim: The Study of Suicide

(6)

Durkheim's Theory

(1)

Durkheim's Evidence

(1)

Extending His Theory

(2)

Durkheim's Influence

(1)

Sociology: A Summary

(1)

Questions to Consider

(1)

Recommended Reading

(3)

PART II THE NATURE OF SOCIAL ORGANIZATION

Humans Are Embedded in Social Organization

(18)

Organization Begins with Social Action

(2)

Mutual Social Action Is Social Interaction

(1)

Social Organization Is Patterned Social Interaction

(2)

The Forms of Social Organization

(6)

Dyads Are Twos

(1)

Groups Are More

(2)

Formal Organizations Write Down Their Rules

(1)

Communities Are Self-Sufficient Units of Organization

(1)

Societies Are the Most Inclusive Form of Organization

(2)

Social Organization Seems to Sit Right on Top of Us

(2)

Questions to Consider

(1)

Recommended Reading

(4)

Social Structure

(18)

We All Fill Positions in Social Structure

(2)

Roles Are Attached to Positions

(2)

Roles Are Not as Simple as a Script in a Play

(2)

Status Positions Form Our Identities

(3)

Positions Are Unequal

(4)

Our Positions Also Give Us Our Perspectives

(1)

Summary: The Meaning and Importance of Structure

(1)

Questions to Consider

(1)

Recommended Reading

(4)

Inequality in Society

(20)

The Meaning of Social Class

(2)

Gender and Race

(1)

Class, Race, and Gender Structures Are Special Social Structures

(1)

Social Stratification Affects Placement in Other Social Organizations

(1)

The Origin of Social Stratification Systems

(1)

Social Mobility

(1)

Structural Change

(1)

Marx's View of Social Stratification

(1)

Summary

(1)

Questions to Consider

(1)

Recommended Reading

(6)

Culture

(16)

Culture Is a Shared Perspective on the World

(2)

Culture Is Learned

(1)

Culture Is a Social Inheritance

(1)

Culture Is a Body of ``Truth''

(2)

Culture Is a Set of Values

(3)

Values Are Reflected in Action

(1)

There Is an American Value System, but It Is Complex and Often Inconsistent

(1)

Culture Is a Set of Goals

100

(1)

Culture Is a Set of Norms

101

(1)

Culture, Subculture, and Counterculture

102

(1)

Culture Is Important

103

(1)

The Real Significance of Culture: The Social Construction of Reality

104

(1)

Summary

105

(1)

Questions to Consider

105

(1)

Recommended Reading

105

(4)

Social Institutions

109

(16)

Institutions Are Social Patterns

109

(1)

Social Institutions Are the Most Central Grooves in Society

110

(1)

Institutions Are the Central Ways a Society Functions and Solves Its Ongoing Problems

110

(1)

Institutions Are Widely Accepted and Deeply Entrenched

111

(2)

Social Institutions Are Real Forces Working on Actors

113

(1)

The Meaning of Institutions: A Summary

114

(3)

Institutions Are Important

117

(1)

Institutionalization and Deinstitutionalization

118

(1)

The Rejection of Social Institutions

118

(1)

Summary

119

(1)

Questions to Consider

120

(1)

Recommended Reading

120

(5)

The Interrelationships Among Organizations

125

(8)

Social Organizations Influence Each Other

126

(2)

Social Organizations Are Embedded in Larger Social Organizations

128

(1)

Society Within a World Order

128

(2)

Summary

130

(1)

Questions to Consider

131

(1)

Recommended Reading

131

(2)

PART III ORDER AND POWER IN SOCIAL ORGANIZATION

Social Order, Social Control, and Social Deviance

133

(18)

Social Order Is Established Through Structure and Culture

134

(2)

Social Order Depends on Working Institutions

136

(2)

Social Order Depends on Socialization

138

(2)

Loyalty to the Organization Is the Fifth Foundation for Social Order

140

(2)

Social Controls Contribute to Social Order

142

(2)

Social Deviance

144

(2)

Summary

146

(1)

Questions to Consider

147

(1)

Recommended Reading

147

(4)

Social Power

151

(16)

The Meaning of Social Power

151

(2)

Three Definitions of Power

151

(1)

Resources and Social Power

152

(1)

Influence, Control, and Powerlessness

152

(1)

Authority

153

(2)

The Inevitability of Inequality in Organization

155

(1)

Class Position and Power

155

(2)

Organization as Power

157

(1)

Three Theories of Power

157

(4)

Pluralism

158

(1)

The Power Elite

159

(1)

The Corporate Elite

160

(1)

Summary

161

(1)

Questions to Consider

162

(1)

Recommended Reading

162

(5)

PART IV THE DYNAMIC NATURE OF HUMAN SOCIAL LIFE

Symbols, Self, and Mind: Our Active Nature

167

(14)

Individuality and Freedom

168

(2)

How Can We Explain Individuality?

170

(1)

The Origin of Human Freedom

170

(1)

Human Beings Are Symbol Users

171

(3)

The Meaning of Symbols

171

(2)

The Importance of Symbols

173

(1)

Symbols and Freedom

173

(1)

We Possess Self and Mind

174

(3)

Summary

177

(1)

Questions to Consider

177

(1)

Recommended Reading

177

(4)

Social Change

181

(18)

Individual Change and Social Change

181

(12)

Acts of Individuals and Groups Change Organization

183

(2)

Social Conflict Changes Organization

185

(1)

External Social Organizations and Environments Change Social Organization

186

(2)

Technology Changes Social Organization

188

(3)

Changes in Population Change Social Organization

191

(1)

Change in Social Patterns Causes Change in Other Social Patterns

192

(1)

Summary

193

(1)

Questions to Consider

194

(1)

Recommended Reading

194

(5)

The Family in Society

199

(18)

The Importance of the Family to Sociology

199

(1)

Meaning of the Family

200

(4)

Is the Family Universal?

201

(1)

Why Is Definition Difficult?

201

(1)

The Family: A Primary Group in a Household

201

(1)

The Family: The Socialization Function

202

(1)

The Family: Economic and Social Functions

202

(1)

The Family: The Social Class Placement Function

203

(1)

The Family: The Expressive Function

203

(1)

The Meaning of the Family: A Summary

204

(1)

Marriage as an Institution

204

(2)

The Changing Structure of Marriage

205

(1)

Marital Satisfaction

206

(3)

Divorce

208

(1)

Children and Socialization in the Family

209

(1)

Individual Choice and the Changing Family

210

(2)

Summary

212

(1)

Questions to Consider

213

(1)

Recommended Reading

213

(4)

PART V CONCLUSION

The Meaning and Uses of Sociology

217

(6)

The Uses of Sociology

219

(2)

Questions to Consider

221

(1)

Recommended Reading

222

(1)

Index

223

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

The Meaning of Sociology

The Meaning of Sociology

9780137980420

0137980426

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Write a Review

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

The Meaning of Sociology

The Meaning of Sociology

9780137980420

0137980426

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Write a Review

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