The Myth of Individualism: How Social Forces Shape Our Lives - Hardcover

Callero, Peter

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0742599892 ISBN 13: 9780742599895

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2009

Synopsis

The Myth of Individualism offers a concise introduction to sociology and sociological thinking. This engaging supplemental text challenges the dominant belief that human behavior is the result of free choices made by autonomous actors. Drawing upon personal stories, historical events and sociological research, Callero shows how powerful social forces shape individual lives in subtle but compelling ways.

Chapters examine the fundamental importance of cultural symbols, the pressures of group conformity, the influence of family, the impact of social class, the wide reach of global capitalism and the revolutionary potential of collective action.

An organizing theme of the book is that humans are fundamentally social beings. Even parts of our life that we tend to think of as personal, such as identity, cognition, and emotion, are conditioned and structured by a web of intersecting social relationships. By acknowledging the limits of individual effort and control, we gain insight into our own lives and the lives of others. We also achieve a more informative outlook on enduring social problems and we begin the process of developing a sociological perspective.

About this title

About the Author

Peter L. Callero is professor of sociology at Western Oregon University.

Edition details

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0742599892
• ISBN 13: 9780742599895
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 186