Classic and Contemporary Perspectives in Social Psychology

A Reader

Sharon E. Preves and Jeylan T. Mortimer

Classic and Contemporary Perspectives in Social Psychology illuminates the dynamic linkages among social organization, interaction processes, attitudes, and the self. It exposes students to the broad range of topics of interest to social psychologists and to the diverse methods that they use. Bringing together a wide variety of captivating classic and contemporary selections, this anthology includes work from a symbolic interactionist perspective as well as studies informed by expectation states theory, experimental social psychology, and life course sociology. The selections address the social psychological underpinnings and outcomes of group dynamics, social stratification, bureaucracy, deviant behavior, globalization, and technological change. The reader's innovative structure allows students to experience the foundational work of influential sociologists and psychologists through the lens of cutting-edge issues.

Classic and Contemporary Perspectives in Social Psychology

A Reader

Sharon E. Preves and Jeylan T. Mortimer

Description

Classic and Contemporary Perspectives in Social Psychology illuminates the dynamic linkages among social organization, interaction processes, attitudes, and the self. It exposes students to the broad range of topics of interest to social psychologists and to the diverse methods that they use. Bringing together a wide variety of captivating classic and contemporary selections, this anthology includes work from a symbolic interactionist perspective as well as studies informed by expectation states theory, experimental social psychology, and life course sociology. The selections address the social psychological underpinnings and outcomes of group dynamics, social stratification, bureaucracy, deviant behavior, globalization, and technological change.

The reader's innovative structure allows students to experience the foundational work of influential sociologists and psychologists through the lens of cutting-edge issues. This groundbreaking collection features brief excerpts from the classic literature of social psychology (by Emory Bogardus, Melvin Kohn, Stanley Milgram, Muzafer Sherif, Philip Zimbardo, and others). These texts are paired with explanatory comments by the editors and contemporary writings that show the earlier studies' relevance to contemporary social issues. Classic and Contemporary Perspectives in Social Psychology is enhanced by several pedagogical features, including introductory comments that highlight the connections between the classic and contemporary selections, highly engaging discussion questions for each article and unit, and a wide variety of supplemental resources (readings, websites, films, and radio programs). It is ideal for both undergraduate and graduate courses in social psychology.

Classic and Contemporary Perspectives in Social Psychology

A Reader

Sharon E. Preves and Jeylan T. Mortimer

I. UNDERSTANDING AND STUDYING SOCIAL LIFE
A. The Social Construction of Reality
Classic:
1. "Body Ritual among the Nacirema," Horace Miner
2. "Death as Theater: A Dramaturgical Analysis of the American Funeral," Ralph Turner and Charles Edgley
Contemporary:
3. "The Smile Factory: Work at Disneyland," John Van Maanen
B. Studying Social Life
Classic:
4. "Whose Side Are We On?" Howard S. Becker
5. "Can You Really Study an Army in the Laboratory?" Morris Zelditch
Contemporary:
6. "Methodological Approach to Social Psychology," Gary Alan Fine, James S. House, and Karen S. Cook
II. THE PERSON IN SOCIETY
A. Socialization
Classic:
7. "Becoming a Marihuana User," Howard S. Becker
Contemporary:
8. "Invisible Inequality: Social Class and Childrearing in Black Families and White Families," Annette Lareau
9. "Working and Becoming Adult," Jeylan T. Mortimer
B. Symbolic Communication and Language
Classic:
10. "Final Note on a Case of Extreme Isolation," Kingsley Davis
Contemporary:
11. "Language and Patriarchy," William M. O'Barr
C. Social Perception and Cognition
Classic:
12. "Forming Impressions of Personalities," Solomon E. Asch
Contemporary:
13. "When the Light's on and Nobody's Home," and "Decreasing Prejudice by Increasing Discrimination," Ellen Langer
14. "Self-Processes and Emotional Experiences," Morris Rosenberg
D. Self-Presentation and Impression Management
Classic:
15. "Regions and Region Behavior," Erving Goffman
Contemporary:
16. "From 'Nerds' to 'Normals': The Recovery of Identity among Adolescents from Middle School to High School," David A. Kinney
III. INTERACTION IN GROUPS
A. Interpersonal Attraction and Relationships
Classic:
17. "The Nature of Love: A Researcher's Odyssey," Zick Rubin
Contemporary:
18. "'Cooling Out' Men in Singles Bars and Night Clubs: Observations on the Interpersonal Survival Strategies of Women in Public Places," David A. Snow, Cherylon Robinson, and Patricia L. McCall
19. "Changing Our Yesterdays: Reconstruction of Early Relationship Memories," Diane Holmberg, Terri L. Orbuch, and Joseph Veroff
B. The Definition of the Situation
Classic:
20. "The Psychology of Imprisonment: Privation, Power, and Pathology," Philip G. Zimbardo, Craig Haney, W. Curtis Banks, and David Jaffe
Contemporary:
21. "When Women Abuse Power, Too," Melissa Sheridan Embser-Herbert
22. "The Psychology of Evil: Situated Character Transformations," Philip G. Zimbardo
C. Conformity and Obedience
Classic:
23. "Effects of Group Pressure Upon the Modification and Distortion of Judgments," Solomon E. Asch
24. "Behavioral Study of Obedience," Stanley Milgram
Contemporary:
25. "The My Lai Massacre: A Military Crime of Obedience," Herbert C. Kelman and V. Lee Hamilton
D. Helping and Altruism
Classic:
26. "Social Determinants of Bystander Intervention in Emergencies," Bibb Latané and John M. Darley
Contemporary:
27. "Aid in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: Inferences of Secondary Emotions and Intergroup Helping," Amy J. C. Cuddy, Mindi S. Rock, and Michael I. Norton
28. "Giving to Others during National Tragedy: The Effects of Altruistic and Egoistic Motivations on Long-Term Giving," Rachel L. Piferi, Rebbeca L. Jobe, and Warren H. Jones
E. Group Process and Performance
Classic:
29. "Superordinate Goals in the Reduction of Intergroup Conflict," Muzafer Sherif
Contemporary:
30. "Shared Fantasy: Role Playing Games as Social Worlds," Gary Alan Fine
IV. CONSTRUCTING A SOCIAL SELF
Comic Strip: "F Minus, "Cell Block D"
A. The Social Self
Classic:
31. "The Social Self," Charles Horton Cooley
32. "The Self," George Herbert Mead
Contemporary:
33. "Social Space, the Final Frontier: Adolescents on the Internet," Kate Hellenga
B. Deviance and Labeling
Classic:
34. "On Being Sane in Insane Places," David L. Rosenhan
35. "The Discovery of Hyperkinesis: Notes on the Medicalization of Deviant Behavior," Peter Conrad
36. "Coming Out and Crossing Over: Identity Formation and Proclamation in a Transgender Community," Patricia Gangé, Richard Tewksbury, and Deanna McGaughey
C. Stigma
Classic:
37. "Having the Abortion" and "Moving On: Restructuring Social Worlds and Establishing Closure, Mary K. Zimmerman
Contemporary:
38. "Managing Emotions in Public: The Case of Wheelchair Users," Spencer E. Cahill and Robin Eggleston
39. "Confronting Deadly Disease: The Drama of Identity Construction among Gay Men with AIDS," Kent L. Sandstrom
V. SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
A. Race and Ethnicity
Classic:
40. "Of Our Spiritual Strivings," W.E.B. Du Bois
41. "That Powerful Drop," Langston Hughes
Contemporary:
42. "Medicalization of Racial Features: Asian American Women and Cosmetic Surgery," Eugenia Kaw
43. "The Blacker the Berry: Gender, Skin Tone, Self-Esteem, and Self-Efficacy," Maxine S. Thompson and Verna M. Keith
B. Social Class
Classic:
44. "Social Class and Parental Values," Melvin Kohn
Contemporary:
45. "The Interactive Relationship between Class Identity and College Experience: The Case of Lower Income Students," Elizabeth Aries and Maynard Seider
46. "Teenagers in Clarendon Heights: The Hallway Hangers and the Brothers," Jay MacLeod
C. Gender
Classic:
47. "Men and Women of the Corporation: The Population," Rosabeth Moss Kanter
Contemporary:
48. "Gendered Jobs and Gendered Workers," "Riding the Glass Escalator," and "Masculinity in 'Feminine' Occupations," Christine L. Williams
49. "Drag Kinging and the Transformation of Gender Identities," Eve Shapiro
VI. CHANGING WORLDS, CHANGING SELVES
A. Global and Postmodern Identities
Classic:
50. "The Stranger," Georg Simmel
Contemporary:
51. "What of the Children? Emerging Homes and Identities," Yen Le Espiritu
52. "The New Adulthood? The Transition to Adulthood from the Perspective of Transitioning Young Adults," Douglas Hartmann and Teresa Toguchi Swartz
B. Border Patrol: Insiders and Outsiders
Classic:
53. "A Social Distance Scale," Emory Bogardus
54. "Atheists as 'Other': Moral Boundaries and Cultural Membership in American Society," Penny Edgell, Joseph Gerteis, and Douglass Hartmann
55. "Terrorism, Identity, and Public Order: A Perspective From Goffman," Andrew Weigert
C. The Power of Belief: Collective Action and Social Movements
Classic:
56. "Unfulfilled Prophecies and Disappointed Messiahs," Leon Festinger, Henry Riecken, and Stanley Schacter
Contemporary:
57. "Out of the O.R. and Into the Streets: Exploring the Impact of Intersex Media Activism," Sharon Preves

Classic and Contemporary Perspectives in Social Psychology

A Reader

Sharon E. Preves and Jeylan T. Mortimer

Author Information

Contributors:

Please see table of contents.

Classic and Contemporary Perspectives in Social Psychology

A Reader

Sharon E. Preves and Jeylan T. Mortimer

Reviews and Awards

"Sharon Preves and Jeylan Mortimer, both leading researchers, have compiled a lively set of classic and current writings on social psychology that taken together indicate that important themes have tied the discipline for a century. This collection of grand works--from Georg Simmel and George Herbert Mead to current practitioners such as Philip Zimbardo and David Snow--indicate the continued energy of the field. Students who are provided with such an array of scholarship will be inspired to continue the bridge building that this volume does so effectively."--Gary Alan Fine, Northwestern University

"I am quite pleased that the book offers so much information in one place. I spend countless hours searching the web for these kinds of resources! Additionally, I like the use of both contemporary and classic texts. Preves and Mortimer have chosen the very best of social psychology in this book, and I'm confident that this book will inspire many undergraduates and grab the interest of even more students. . . . It is a one-stop resource for teachers."--Tiffani Everett, University of Georgia