Human Behavior in the Social Environment

This text provides an overview of human behavior combining the traditional concern for individual development with an examination of social systems. The author examines human behavior in the context of the larger social conflicts associated with class, race and ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and ability status. After describing the critical perspective, which gives primary attention to the structural origins of private troubles, and presenting an overview of the systems approach, the book focuses on communities, families, groups, and organizations as social systems.

Part One: A CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE ON SOCIAL SYSTEMS. 1. A Critical Perspective. 2. A Systems Approach to Human Behavior: The Individual as a System. 3. Person in Environment: Social Systems and Social Roles. Part Two: COMMUNITIES IN SOCIETY. 4. Diversity in Community Life. 5. A Social History of Ethnic Communities in the United States. 6. The New Arrivals. 7. Ethnic Community Relations in American Society. Part Three: FAMILY LIFE. 8. The Family as a Social Institution. 9. Diversity in Family Lifestyles. 10. The Family as a Social Organization: Identifying Well-Being. 11. The Family as a Social Organization: Analyzing Well-Being. Part Four: LARGE AND SMALL GROUPS. 12. Social Interaction in Groups and Organizations. 13. Social Interaction: Social Exchange and Marxian Theories. 14. Social Interaction: Anomie and Symbolic Interactionism. Part Five: INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN. 15. Three Psychological Perspectives: Psychodynamic, Cognitive Development, and Learning. 16. Life-Span Development: Prenatal Influences and Early Life. 17. Life-Span Development: Childhood and Adolescence. 18. Life-Span Development: Early, Middle, and Later Adulthood.