Essentials of Sociology. George Ritzer

| ISBN 9781544388021 (paperback) | ISBN 9781544388038 (pdf) | ISBN 9781544388045 (epub)

      Subjects: LCSH: Sociology.

      Classification: LCC HM585 .R567 2021 | DDC 301—dc23

      LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019028925

      This book is printed on acid-free paper.

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      Brief Contents

      1  Letter from the Author

      2  Acknowledgments

      3  About the Author

      4  Chapter 1: An Introduction to Sociology in the Global Age

      5  Chapter 2: Thinking About and Researching the Social World

      6  Chapter 3: Culture

      7  Chapter 4: Socialization and Interaction

      8  Chapter 5: Organizations, Societies, and Global Relationships

      9  Chapter 6: Deviance and Crime

      10  Chapter 7: Social Stratification in the United States and Globally

      11  Chapter 8: Race and Ethnicity

      12  Chapter 9: Gender and Sexuality

      13  Chapter 10: Families

      14  Chapter 11: Education and Religion

      15  Chapter 12: Politics and the Economy

      16  Chapter 13: The Body, Medicine, Health, and Health Care

      17  Chapter 14: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment

      18  Chapter 15: Social Change, Social Movements, and Collective Action

      19  Glossary

      20  References: Chapter-Opening Vignettes

      21  References: Comprehensive List

      22  Index

      Detailed Contents

      1  Letter from the Author

      2  Acknowledgments

      3  About the Author

      4 Chapter 1: An Introduction to Sociology in the Global AgeLearning ObjectivesA Sociology of Revolutions and CounterrevolutionsThe Changing Nature of the Social World—and SociologyCentral Concerns for a Twenty-First-Century SociologyGlobalizationConsumptionMcDonaldizationCritiquing Consumption• Trending: The McDonaldization of SocietyThe Digital WorldDigital Living: Blogging and Tweeting about SociologyGlobalization, Consumption, the Digital World, and YouSociology: Continuity and ChangeThe Sociological ImaginationPrivate Troubles and Public IssuesThe Micro–Macro RelationshipThe Agency–Structure RelationshipThe Social Construction of RealitySocial Structures and ProcessesSociology’s Purpose: Science or Social Reform?Sociology, the Other Social Sciences, and Common SenseSummaryKey TermsReview Questions

      5 Chapter 2: Thinking About and Researching the Social WorldLearning ObjectivesDo Sociological Theory and Research Help Us Understand Today’s Overheated Politics?Theorizing the Social WorldClassical Sociological TheoryKarl MarxMax WeberÉmile DurkheimGeorg SimmelW. E. B. Du Bois• Trending: The Scholar DeniedThorstein VeblenContemporary Sociological TheoryStructural/Functional TheoriesStructural–FunctionalismStructuralismConflict/Critical TheoriesConflict TheoryCritical TheoryFeminist TheoryQueer TheoryCritical Theories of Race and RacismPostmodern TheoryInter/Actionist TheoriesSymbolic InteractionismEthnomethodologyExchange TheoryRational Choice TheoryResearching the Social WorldThe Scientific MethodSociological ResearchQualitative and Quantitative ResearchObservational ResearchParticipant and Nonparticipant ObservationEthnographyDigital Living: NetnographyInterviewsTypes of InterviewsThe Interview ProcessSurvey ResearchTypes of SurveysSamplingExperimentsSecondary Data AnalysisHistorical-Comparative MethodContent AnalysisIssues in Social ResearchReliability and ValidityResearch EthicsPhysical and Psychological HarmIllegal ActsViolation of Trust• Trending: On the RunObjectivity, or “Value-Free” SociologySummaryKey TermsReview Questions

      6 Chapter 3: CultureLearning ObjectivesA Reflection of U.S. CultureA Definition of CultureThe Basic Elements of CultureValuesNormsMaterial CultureSymbolic Culture and LanguageCultural DifferencesIdeal and Real CultureIdeologySubculturesCounterculturesCulture WarsMulticulturalism and Assimilation• Trending: The Left BehindIdentity PoliticsCultural Relativism and EthnocentrismGlobal CultureThe Globalization of ValuesCultural ImperialismConsumer CultureChildren in a Consumer CultureNontraditional Settings for ConsumptionA Postconsumer Culture?Culture JammingCybercultureDigital Living: NetiquetteSummaryKey TermsReview Questions

      7 Chapter 4: Socialization and InteractionLearning ObjectivesSocialization and VarianceThe Individual and the SelfSymbolic Interaction and Development of the SelfHumans and NonhumansSymbolic InteractionMind and SelfThe Generalized OtherThe “I” and the “Me”The Individual as PerformerImpression Management• Trending: Alone TogetherFront and Back StageSocializationChildhood SocializationFamilyPeersGenderMass Media and New MediaDigital Living: CyberbullyingConsumer CultureAdult SocializationWorkplacesTotal InstitutionsOther Aspects of Adult SocializationInteractionSuperordinate-Subordinate InteractionsReciprocity and Exchange“Doing” InteractionInteraction OrderStatus and RoleMicro-Level Social StructuresInterpersonal RelationshipsSocial