Publisher's Synopsis
How do we define reality in our everyday lives? In what ways do social environments pattern our thoughts and emotions? How do social interactions influence our conceptions of self? What are the effects of social inequalities on our beliefs and emotions? Self and Society explores the ways in which society, culture, and history affect how we define our experiences and ourselves. This Reader contains 24 essays divided into four topical sections: the social construction of reality, sociology of thought and emotions, the self in social context, and interaction and inequality. It also bridges analytical divides by including the views of both the interactionist and structural schools of social psychology. Students of sociology and identity will benefit greatly from this unique and inclusive collection of articles by some of the most noteworthy figures in the field.
