Society & Culture: An Introduction to Sociology
Edition: 2
Copyright: 2025
Pages: 256
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$59.00 USD
Sociology and anthropology emerged in the late nineteenth century from older humanistic inquiries stretching back through the Enlightenment, Renaissance, and into the ancient traditions of cultures worldwide. Whether preserved in writing or oral tradition, every society has pursued the same fundamental questions about human behavior and the forces shaping our lives. This universal curiosity reflects a deeper truth: humans are inherently social. Just as squirrels raised away from their own kind cannot survive in the wild, people cannot exist apart from society—it is the framework on which individuality is built.
Society & Culture: An Introduction to Sociology begins from that premise, using it to connect all topics to the central question of what it means to be human. It blends sociology and anthropology, rejecting their arbitrary separation and including subjects like archaeology and human evolution to enrich sociological study. By addressing the questions students naturally bring—often crossing disciplinary lines—it offers both learners and instructors a broader, more practical foundation for understanding humanity.
Part I: The Science of Sociology and the Human Species
Chapter 1: The Sociocultural Approach
History of Sociological Thought and the Discipline of Sociology
Sociological Perspective
Sociological Methods
Exercises
Chapter 2: Language
Sociolinguistics
Language and Culture
Nonverbal Communication
Language Evolution, Language Families & Human Diaspora
Exercises
Chapter 3: Evolution of Homo sapiens
Natural Selection, Genetics & Macroevolution
Ancestral & Living Primates, Hominoids, Hominids & Hominins
Dispersal of Modern Humans & Microevolution
Exercises
Chapter 4: Past Societies
Archaeology
Field and Laboratory Methods
Reconstructing Culture
Past Societies of Africa, Eurasia, Oceana and the Americas
Exercises
Part II: Societal Identities
Chapter 5: Individual & Group Identity
Culture & Social Structure
Social Groups
Social Organizations
Social Control
Exercises
Chapter 6: Family & Kinship Identity
Sex & Gender
Family
Kinship
Socialization
Exercises
Chapter 7: Racial & Ethnic Identity
Social Constructs of Race
Social Constructs of Ethnicity
Racism and Ethnocentrism: Othering
Exercises
Part III: Societal Systems
Chapter 8: Ecological Systems
Ecology
Subsistence Strategies
Population
Exercises
Chapter 9: Economic Systems
Economy
Economic Groups
Economic Systems
Exercises
Chapter 10: Religious Systems
Religion
Religious Groups
Religious Systems
Exercises
Chapter 11: Societal Systems
Social Groups
Social Stratification
Life Chances
Exercises
Chapter 12: Political Systems
Law
Politics
Political Groups
Political Systems
Exercises
Chapter 13: Educational Systems
Education
Educational Groups
Educational Systems
Exercises
Chapter 14: Health Systems
Illness and Disease
Healthcare Groups
Healthcare Systems
Exercises
Part IV: Sociology and Culture Change
Chapter 15: Societal Change
Change in Culture and Society
Social Movements
Conclusion
Exercises
Acknowledgements