Full Description
Our Social World: Introduction to Sociology, Condensed, inspires students to develop their sociological imaginations, to see the world and personal events from a new perspective, and to confront sociological issues on a day-to-day basis. The award-winning author team of Jeanne H. Ballantine, Keith A. Roberts, and Kathleen Odell Korgen organizes the text around the "Social World Model," a conceptual framework that demonstrates the relationships among individuals (the micro level); organizations, institutions, and subcultures (the meso level); and societies and global structures (the macro level). The application of this model across chapters helps students practice using the three levels of analysis and view sociology as an integrated whole rather than a set of discrete subjects.
The Fifth Edition of the Condensed version is adapted from Our Social World: Introduction to Sociology and is one-third shorter by streamlining boxes and the main narrative, and combining four chapters into two (Family/Education, and Politics/Economics).
New and Key Features
A new full-length chapter on health, illness, and healthcare has been added.
Several chapters have been reorganized with updated data, added studies, and newly emerging emphases in sociology.
Six new "Sociologists in Action" features added.
Four new "Engaging Sociology" features added with new opportunities for data analysis by students.
100 new or updated Tables and Figures, nearly 500 new references, and dozens of older references removed.
Many sentences and definitions in the book have been revised for brevity and clarity, and the glossary has been updated for better correspondence with the text.
Links to exceptional teaching resources from A.S.A.'s TRAILS (Teaching Resources and Innovation Library for Sociology) available in SAGE coursepacks.
MCAT Guide maps chapter content to Foundational Concepts and Content Categories in Section 3 of the MCAT test available in SAGE coursepacks.
Contents
Preface: To Our Student Readers
Instructors: How to Make This Book Work for You
A Personal Note to the Instructor
Acknowledgments
PART I: Understanding Our Social World: The Scientific Study of Society
Chapter 1 • Sociology: A Unique Way to View The World
What Is Sociology?
Why Does Sociology Matter?
The Social World Model
Chapter 2 • Examining the Social World: How Do We Know?
The Development of Sociology
Sociology's Major Theoretical Perspectives
Ideas Underlying Science
How Sociologists Study the Social World
PART II: Social Structure, Processes, and Control
Chapter 3 • Society and Culture: Hardware and Software of Our Social World
Society: The Hardware
Culture: The Software
The Components of Culture: Things and Thoughts
Society, Culture, and Our Social World
Theories of Culture
The Fit Between Hardware and Software
Chapter 4 • Socialization: Becoming Human and Humane
Nature Versus Nurture—or Both Working Together?
The Importance of Socialization
Socialization and the Social World
Development of the Self: Micro-Level Analysis
Socialization Throughout the Life Cycle
Agents of Socialization: The Micro-Meso Connection
Socialization and Macro-Level Issues
Chapter 5 • Interaction, Groups, and Organizations: Connections That Work
Networks and Connections in Our Social World
The Process of Interaction: Connections at the Micro Level
Groups in Our Social World: The Micro-Meso Connection
Organizations and Bureaucracies: The Meso-Macro Connection
National and Global Networks: The Macro Level
Chapter 6 • Deviance and Social Control: Sickos, Weirdos, Freaks, and Folks Like Us
What Is Deviance?
What Causes Deviant Behavior? Theoretical Perspectives
Crime and Individuals: Micro-Level Analysis
Crime and Organizations: Meso-Level Analysis
National and Global Crime: Macro-Level Analysis
Controlling Crime: Social Policy Considerations
PART III: Inequality
Chapter 7 • Stratification: Rich and Famous— or Rags and Famine?
The Importance of Social Stratification
Theoretical Explanations of Stratification
Individuals' Social Status: The Micro Level
Social Mobility: The Micro-Meso Connection
Major Stratification Systems: Macro-Level Analysis
Poverty and Social Policy
National and Global Digital Divide: Macro-Level Stratification
Chapter 8 • Race and Ethnic Group Stratification: Beyond "Us" and "Them"
What Characterizes Racial and Ethnic Groups?
Prejudice: Micro-Level Analysis
Discrimination: Meso-Level Analysis
Dominant and Minority Group Contact: Macro-Level Analysis
Policies Governing Minority and Dominant Group Relations
Chapter 9 • Gender Stratification: She/He—Who Goes First?
Sex, Gender, and the Stratification System
Gender Socialization: Micro- to Meso-Level Analyses
Gender Stratification: Meso- and Macro-Level Processes
Gender Stratification: Micro- to Macro-Level Theories
Other Theoretical Perspectives
Costs and Consequences of Gender Stratification
PART IV: Institutions
Importance of Institutions
The Development of Modern Institutions
The Connections Among Institutions
Chapter 10 • Family and Education: Institutionalizing Socialization
FAMILY
How Do We Make People?
What Is a Family?
Family Dynamics: Micro-Level Processes
Family as an Institution: Meso-Level Analysis
Family Issues: Divorce and Same-Sex Marriage
EDUCATION
What Are We Learning?
The Ins and Outs of Local Schools: Micro-Level Interactions
Structure and Function of Education: Meso-Level Analysis
Education Issues: The Road to Opportunity?
Chapter 11 • Health Care: An Anatomy of Health and Illness
Why Is Health a Social Issue?
Theoretical Perspectives on Health and Illness
Status and Roles of the Sick Person: Micro-Level Analysis
Modern Health Care Systems: Meso-Level Analysis
Health Care Issues at the National and Global Level: Macro-Level Analysis
Chapter 12 • Politics and Economics: Probing Power, Dissecting Distribution
What Is Power?
Power and Privilege in Our Social World
Theoretical Perspectives on Power and Privilege
Individuals, Power, and Participation: Micro-Level Analysis
Power and Resource Distribution: Meso-Level Analysis
National and Global Systems: Macro-Level Analysis
PART V: Social Dynamics
Chapter 13 • Population and Urbanization: Living on Planet Earth
Macro-Level Patterns in World Population Growth
Meso-Level Institutional Influences on Population Change
Institutions and Population Patterns
Micro-Level Population Patterns
Urbanization: Movement From Rural to Urban Areas
The Urban Environment and Social Policy: Macro-Level Perspectives
Chapter 14 • Process of Change: We Can Make a Difference!
Complexity of Change in Our Social World
Social Change: Process and Theories
Collective Behavior: Micro- to Meso-Level Change
Planned Change in Organizations: Meso-Level Change
Social Movements: Macro-Level Change
Technology, Environment, and Change
Glossary
References
Index
About the Authors
