Includes consideration of culture, patterns of social interaction, norms, values, social institutions, stratification, and social change. An introduction to the sociological study of deviant behavior. Major topics include mental illness, sexual deviance, and the use of drugs. The social structure and organization of American society with special reference to recent social change. Sex-role differentiation and sex inequality from a sociological perspective.
Emphasis is on contemporary American society.
Major theoretical approaches, including functionalism conflict, symbolic interactionism, and their implicit methods of logic illustrated by case studies. Original works of major theorists in historical perspective. Types of demographic analysis, demographic data, population characteristics, migration, mortality, fertility, population theories, world population growth, population policy. An exposition of basic social processes in the relation of ethnic groups, immigrant groups, African Americans, and Native Americans in the United States, and of ethnic minorities in Europe. An explanation of current theories of the genesis and distribution of deviant behavior.