Essays in Interactionist Sociology contains a selection of contributions, spanning five decades, that advance the theory, organization, and research of the interactionist tradition. Harvey A. Farberman, professor emeritus of social welfare policy at Stony Brook University, wrote the fourteen essays, twelve of which were published in academic journals or annuals and two that are original to this volume. Each one focuses on some aspect of the theory of symbolic interactionist sociology, the professional and organizational development of the interactionist perspective, or empirical studies inspired by the perspective. The author highlights the emergence of the perspective from the philosophy of American Pragmatism, paying particular attention to the contributions of Charles Sanders Peirce and William James. He also examines what may be called refractions of the perspective. The latter part of the book contains four studies. Personalization in Lower Class Consumer Interactions; A Criminogenic Market Structure: The Automobile Industry; Fantasy in Everyday Life: The Intersection of Social Psychology and Political Economy; and Family Caregiving to Elders in New York State. In many ways, the essays in this volume contribute to and reflect the development of interactionist sociology as it grew from an American innovation to a robust, international social science discipline.

Essays in Interactionist Sociology contains a selection of contributions, spanning five decades, that advance the theory, organization, and research of the interactionist tradition. Harvey A. Farberman, professor emeritus of social welfare policy at Stony Brook University, wrote the fourteen essays, twelve of which were published in academic journals or annuals and two that are original to this volume. Each one focuses on some aspect of the theory of symbolic interactionist sociology, the professional and organizational development of the interactionist perspective, or empirical studies inspired by the perspective. The author highlights the emergence of the perspective from the philosophy of American Pragmatism, paying particular attention to the contributions of Charles Sanders Peirce and William James. He also examines what may be called refractions of the perspective. The latter part of the book contains four studies. Personalization in Lower Class Consumer Interactions; A Criminogenic Market Structure: The Automobile Industry; Fantasy in Everyday Life: The Intersection of Social Psychology and Political Economy; and Family Caregiving to Elders in New York State. In many ways, the essays in this volume contribute to and reflect the development of interactionist sociology as it grew from an American innovation to a robust, international social science discipline.

This is a collection of articles dealing with the point of view of symbolic interactionism and with the topic of methodology in the discipline of sociology. It is written by the leading figure in the school of symbolic interactionism, and presents what might be regarded as the most authoritative statement of its point of view, outlining its fundamental premises and sketching their implications for sociological study. Blumer states that symbolic interactionism rests on three premises: that human beings act toward things on the basis of the meanings of things have for them; that the meaning of such things derives from the social interaction one has with one's fellows; and that these meanings are handled in, and modified through, an interpretive process.

Teenage Wasteland provides memorable portraits of "rock and roll kids" and shrewd analyses of their interests in heavy metal music and Satanism. A powerful indictment of the often manipulative media coverage of youth crises and so-called alternative programs designed to help "troubled" teens, Teenage Wasteland draws new conclusions and presents solid reasons to admire the resilience of suburbia's dead end kids. "A powerful book."—Samuel G. Freedman, New York Times Book Review "[Gaines] sheds light on a poorly understood world and raises compelling questions about what society might do to help this alienated group of young people."—Ann Grimes, Washington Post Book World "There is no comparable study of teenage suburban culture . . . and very few ethnographic inquiries written with anything like Gaines's native gusto or her luminous eye for detail."—Andrew Ross, Transition "An outstanding case study. . . . Gaines shows how teens engage in cultural production and how such social agency is affected by economic transformations and institutional interventions."—Richard Lachman, Contemporary Sociology "The best book on contemporary youth culture."—Rolling Stone

This popular text/reader for the social psychology courses in sociology departments is distinguished by the author′s engaging framing essays that open each part, and an eclectic set of edited readings that introduce students to major thinkers and perspectives in this field. Through the combination of essays and original works, the book demonstrates how we make and remake our social worlds through our everyday interactions with one another. The Seventh Edition features 10 new readings from the contemporary social psychology literature, a streamlined organization, and the option of either e-book or print versions.

Part 1 Introduction: What is Deviant Behavior? Chapter 2 Criminology: An Integrationist Perspective Chapter 3 Psychological Theories of Deviance Part 4 Traditional Theories of Deviance Chapter 5 The Normal and the Pathological Chapter 6 Social Structure and Anomie Chapter 7 Illegitimate Means and Delinquent Subcultures Chapter 8 Evaluation of Structural-Functionalist and Anomie Theories Chapter 9 The Theory of Differential Association Chapter 10 Evaluation of Differential Association Theory Chapter 11 A Control Theory of Delinquency Chapter 12 Evaluation of Social Control Theory Part 13 Contemporary Theories of Deviance Chapter 14 Group Conflict Theory as an Explanation of Crime Chapter 15 A Radical Perspective on Crime Chapter 16 Evaluation of Conflict Theory Chapter 17 Secondary Deviance and Role Conceptions Chapter 18 Outsiders Chapter 19 Evaluation of Labeling Theory Part 20 Studying Deviance Chapter 21 Accessing the Stigmatized: Gatekeeper Problems, Obstacles and Impediments to Social Research Chapter 22 Personal Safety in Dangerous Places Part 23 The Deviance-Making Enterprise Chapter 24 Moral Entrepeneurs: The Creation and Enforcement of Deviant Categories Chapter 25 The Social Construction of Deviance: Experts on Battered Women Chapter 26 The 'Discovery' of Child Abuse Chapter 27 The Legislation of Morality: Creating Drug Laws Chapter 28 Medicine as an Institution of Social Control: Consequences for Society Part 29 Organizational Deviance-Beyond the Interpersonal Level Chapter 30 The Making of Blind Men Chapter 31 Record-keeping Practices in the Policing of Deviants Chapter 32 Constructing Probationer Careers: Revocation as Censure Transformation and Tertiary Deviance in the Deviance Amplification Process Chapter 33 The In-patient Phase in the Career of the Psychiatric Patient Chapter 34 Being Sane in Insane Places Part 35 Organizing Deviants-Subcultures and Deviant Activities Chapter 36 The "Mixed Nutters" and "Looney Tuners: " The Emergence, Development, Nature, and Functions of Two Informal, Deviant Subcultures of Chronic Ex-psychiatric Patients Chapter 37 Constructing Women and Their World: The Subculture of Female Impersonation Chapter 38 Into the Darkness: An Ethnographic Study of Witchcraft and Death Chapter 39 The Urban Speed Gang: An Examination of the Subculture of Young Motorcyclists Chapter 40 The Culture of Gangs in the Culture of the School Chapter 41 Parade Strippers: A Note on Being Naked in Public Chapter 42 Knives and Gaffs: Definitions in the Deviant World of Cockfighting Chapter 43 Policing Morality: Impersonal Sex in Public Places Part 44 Becoming Deviant Chapter 45 Paranoia and the Dynamics of Exclusion Chapter 46 Creating Crazies/Making Mentals: The Pre-patient Phase in the Moral Career of the Psychiatric Patient Chapter 47 A Model of Homosexual Identity Formation Chapter 48 Becoming an Addict/Alcoholic Chapter 49 Drifting into Dealing: Becoming a Cocaine Seller Chapter 50 Becoming a Hit Man: Neutralization in a Very Deviant Career Part 51 Managing Stigma/Managing Deviant Identities Chapter 52 Stigma and Social Identity Chapter 53 Deviance as Disavowal: The Managment of Strained Interaction by the Visibly Handicapped Chapter 54 Return to Sender: Reintegrative Stigma-Management Strategies of Ex-Psychiatric Patients Chapter 55 Double Stigma and Boundary Maintenance: How Gay Men Deal with AIDS Chapter 56 Ostomates: Negotiating and Involuntary Identity Part 57 Transforming Deviance Chapter 58 The 'Post' Phase of Deviant Careers: Reintegrating Drug Traffickers Chapter 59 Becoming Normal: Certification as a Stage in Exiting from Crime Chapter 60 Recovery through Self-Help Chapter 61 Gaining and Losing Wei

This book outlines the history and developments of interactionist social thought through a consideration of its key figures. Arranged chronologically, each chapter illustrates the impact that individual sociologists working within an interactionism framework have had on interactionism as perspective and on the discipline of sociology as such. It presents analyses of interactionist theorists from Georg Simmel through to Herbert Bulmer and Erving Goffman and onto the more recent contributions of Arlie R. Hochschild and Gary Alan Fine. Through an engagement with the latest scholarship this work shows that in a discipline often focused on macrosocial developments and large-scale structures, the interactionist perspective which privileges the study of human interaction has continued relevance. The broad scope of this book will make it an invaluable resource for scholars and students of sociology, social theory, cultural studies, media studies, social psychology, criminology and anthropology.

Interactionism: Exposition and Critique offers a balanced overview of symbolic interactionism from its earliest precursors to its latest proponents and critics.

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