Classical and Contemporary Social Theory: Investigation and Application

Explores the gamut of social theory

Classical and Contemporary Social Theory: Investigation and Application, 1/e, is the most comprehensive, informative social theory book on the market. The title covers multiple schools of thought and applies their ideas to society today. Readers will learn the origins of social theory and understand the role of myriad social revolutions that shaped the course of societies around the world.

MySearchLab is a part of the Delaney program. Research and writing tools, including access to academic journals, help students explore social theory in even greater depth. To provide students with flexibility, students can download the eText to a tablet using the free Pearson eText app.

This title is available in a variety of formats - digital and print. Pearson offers its titles on the devices students love through Pearson's MyLab products, CourseSmart, Amazon, and more.  

In this Section:
1. Brief Table of Contents

2. Full Table of Contents

Brief Table of Contents

Part I The Classical Period of Sociological Theory

Chapter 1:     The Early Roots of Sociological Theory

Chapter 2:     Karl Marx

Chapter 3:     Emile Durkheim

Chapter 4:     Georg Simmel

Chapter 5:     Max Weber

Chapter 6:     Contributions from Women to Classical Social Theory

Chapter 7:     George Herbert Mead

Part II  The Contemporary Period of Sociological Theory

Chapter 8:     Structural Functionalism and Neofunctionalism

Chapter 9:     Conflict Theory

Chapter 10:   Symbolic Interactionism

Chapter 11:   Social Exchange Theory and Network Analysis

Chapter 12:   Ethnomethodology and Phenomenology

Chapter 13:   Feminist Theory

Chapter 14:   Critical Theory

Chapter 15:   Modern and Postmodern Theories

Part III  Consistent and Significant Themes in Sociological Theory

Chapter 16:   Five Centuries of Social Theory

Part I The Classical Period of Sociological Theory

Chapter 1:     The Early Roots of Sociological Theory

Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau

The Age of Enlightenment

Revolutions

Claude-Henri Saint-Simon

Auguste Comte

Herbert Spencer

Chapter 2:     Karl Marx

Biography

Intellectual Influences

Investigation and Application of Marx's Works/Concepts and Contributions

Chapter 3:     Emile Durkheim

Biography

Intellectual Influences

Investigation and Application of Durkheim's Works

Chapter 4:     Georg Simmel

Biography

Intellectual Influences

Investigation and Application of Simmel's Concepts and Contributions

Chapter 5:     Max Weber

Biography

Intellectual Influences

Investigation and Application Of Weber's Concepts and Contributions

Chapter 6:     Contributions from Women to Classical Social Theory

Harriet Martineau

Beatrice Potter Webb

Anna Julia Cooper

Ida Wells-Barnett

Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Jane Addams

Marianne Weber

The Ladies of Seneca Falls

Chapter 7:     George Herbert Mead

Biography

Intellectual Influences

Investigation and Application of Mead's Concepts and Contributions

Part II  The Contemporary Period of Sociological Theory

Chapter 8:     Structural Functionalism and Neofunctionalism

Intellectual Roots of Structural Functionalism

Defining Structural Functionalism

Talcott Parsons

Robert Merton

Neofunctionalism

Criticisms of Structural Functionalism

The Application of Structural Functionalism to Contemporary Society

Chapter 9:     Conflict Theory

Defining Conflict Theory

The Intellectual Roots of Conflict Theory

Lewis Coser

C. Wright Mills

Ralf Dahrendorf

Randall Collins

Criticisms of Conflict Theory

Application of Conflict Theory to Contemporary Society

Chapter 10:   Symbolic Interactionism

Defining Symbolic Interactionism

The Intellectual Roots of Symbolic Interactionism

George Herbert Mead

Herbert Blumer

Erving Goffman

Arlie Russell Hochschild

Criticisms of Symbolic Interactionism

Application of Symbolic Interactionism to Contemporary Society

Chapter 11:   Social Exchange Theory and Network Analysis

Defining Social Exchange Theory

The Intellectual Roots of Social Exchange Theory

George Homans

Peter Blau

Karen Cook

Network Analysis

Criticisms of Social Exchange Theory and Network Analysis

Application of Social Exchange Theory and Network Analysis

Chapter 12:   Ethnomethodology and Phenomenology

Defining Ethnomethodology

Key Aspects of Harold Garfinkel's Ethnomethodology

Criticisms of Ethnomethodology

Application of Ethnomethodology

Defining Phenomenology

Edmund Husserl and the Phenomenological Approach

Alfred Schutz and Phenomenology

Peter Berger and the Social Construction of Reality

Criticisms of Phenomenology

Application of Phenomenology

Chapter 13:   Feminist Theory

Defining Feminism

Feminist Theory: First and Second Waves

Variations of Feminist Theory

Dorothy E. Smith

Sandra Harding

Patricia Hill Collins

Carol Gilligan

Joan Jacobs Brumberg

Barbara Risman

The Application of Feminist Theory and The Third Wave of Feminism

Criticisms of Feminism

Chapter 14:   Critical Theory

Defining Critical Theory

The Roots of Critical Theory

Herbert Marcuse

Jurgen Habermas

Douglas Kellner

Criticisms of Critical Theory

Application of Critical Theory to Contemporary Society

Chapter 15:   Modern and Postmodern Theories

Defining Postmodern Theory

The Roots of Postmodern Theory

Jacques Derrida

David Riesman

Jean-Francois Lyotard

Jean Baudrillard

Fredric Jameson

Michael Foucault

Criticisms of Postmodern Theory

Application of Postmodern Theory to Contemporary Society

Part III  Consistent and Significant Themes in Sociological Theory

Chapter 16:   Five Centuries of Social Theory

Major Themes in Sociological Thought

Parting Thoughts and Discussion Questions

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.