John A Perry - Contemporary Society: An Introduction to Social Science

Contemporary Society

T his best-selling text emphasizes why social and cultural changes are the pervasive realities of our time. A key theme of Contemporary Society is that the transition from an industrial to a post-industrial order in todays world is fraught with difficulties, as was the transition from an agricultural to an industrial order in an earlier era. Within this framework, we can observe the increasing fragmentation of the social order today, which tends to lead people away from community and a common purpose, more often bringing conflict and disunity. Still, countervailing social forces are also at work, providing some stability-some shelter in a sea of change. Ever more, societies are faced with the rapid and transformative power of information technology, which helps propel separate groups of people into a global entity. This introduction to the social sciences shows what the authors have learned from such disciplines as anthropology, geography, history, sociology, psychology, political science, and economics-and how to apply social science approaches to an ever-faster tempo of change. The authors cover family life, interaction with others, racial and ethnic diversity, education, religion, population, environment, and many other topics analyzed in a student-friendly approach.

New to this Edition

The integration and flow of the text has been improved for better student comprehension.

Expanded selection of web links to many more sites for student research, many relevant to their interests and entertainment choices.

Enriched focus on applying social science knowledge to current events (transcending a complete reliance on assumptions from the media).

New/expanded coverage on topics throughout the book, including:

New findings from global warming research and its implications for social life and policy.

New developments in race relations in an integrated approach throughout many chapters.

Deepening inequality and the implications that threaten family, education, and student futuresnationally and globally.

Gender, including new developments in legal gay marriage and transgender.

Updated statistics throughout.

Expanded coverage of genetics and the medical potential of human genome sequencing.

New developments in astrophysics and their potential implications for society.

John A. Perry has taught sociology and political science at Wayne State University, Cleveland State University and Cuyahoga Community College.

Erna K. Perry has taught Spanish at Wayne State University and Cleveland State University, and Italian at Cuyahoga Community College. She helped John to streamline many editions of the textbook and ensure its grounded journalistic style.

Contemporary Society

An Introduction to Social Science

Fourteenth Edition

John A. Perry

Erna K. Perry

Fourteenth edition published 2016

by Routledge

711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

and by Routledge

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2016 John A. Perry and Erna K. Perry

The rights of John A. Perry and Erna K. Perry to be identified as authors of this work have been asserted by him/her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

First edition published 1972 by Canfield Press

Thirteenth edition published 2011 by Pearson

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Perry, John A. (John Ambrose), 1931- author.

Contemporary society : an introduction to social science / John A. Perry, Erna K. Perry. 14th edition.

pages cm

1. Social sciences. I. Perry, Erna, author. II. Title.

H85.C66 2016

300dc23

2015031111

ISBN: 978-1-138-64860-9 (hbk)

ISBN: 978-1-138-10027-5 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-315-65774-5 (ebk)

Typeset in Sabon

by Cenveo Publisher Services

Chapter 1
Through the Lens of Science

Chapter 2
In the Beginning

Chapter 3
Culture: Product and Guide to Life in Society

Chapter 4
Groups: From Two to Millions

Chapter 5
Becoming a Person: The Birth of Personality

Chapter 6
Deviance and Criminality: The Need for Social Control

Chapter 7
The Great Divide: Ranking and Stratification

Chapter 8
Minority Status: Race and Ethnicity

Chapter 9
Minority Status: Age, Gender, and Sexuality

Chapter 10
From the Plow to the Computer: Change, Collective Behavior, and Social Movements

Chapter 11
Population, Urbanization, and Environment

Chapter 12
Pivotal Institutions: Marriage and the Family

Chapter 13
Pivotal Institutions: Religion and Education

Chapter 14
Government: The Institution and the Theories and Ideologies That Underlie It

Chapter 15
The Government of the United States of America

Chapter 16
We the People: Democracy in Action

Chapter 17
The Economy: Concepts and History

Chapter 18
Principles of Economic Behavior: Microeconomics and Macroeconomics

Chapter 19
Nation among Nations: Perspectives on International Relations

W e are pleased to publish the fourteenth edition of this text, and we hope that both new and previous users will agree that its longevity is an indication that the text conforms to the needs of both instructors and students.

The course in Social Science, for which this book is intended, is directed at entering college students with different educational backgrounds and needs. The course itself is not meant for those who plan to specialize in a specific social science. Rather, the course is designed to offer an overview of the social sciences for those students who intend to specialize in other fields. A textbook for such a course, therefore, must offer a panorama, or a wide view, of how the social science disciplines perceive and interpret the world around us. The text should not be mired in details or be overly weighted down by references and definitions. It should not offer too much too soon. Above all, it should not present a list, but an integrated social science view of the world.

In this fourteenth edition of Contemporary Society, we have retained the basic outline of the text because we believe that the chapters flow in a rational, self-explanatory order. We have combined the chapter dealing with the pivotal institutions of religion and education.