Suchergebnisse

ch. 1. Understanding rituals in everyday life : sociology and structural ritualizatio theory -- ch. 2. Analysis of ritual dynamics -- ch. 3. Structural reproduction in the world and throughout history -- ch. 4. Strategic ritualization and power : Nazi Germany, the Orange Order, and Native Americans / by J. David Knottnerus, Jean Van Delinder, and Jennifer Edwards -- ch. 5. Disruption and deritualization : concentration camp internment and the breakdown of social order / by Frederique Van de Poel-Knottnerus and J. David Knottnerus -- ch. 6. Ritual as a missing link within sociology : current and future research -- ch. 7. Social and personal life : applications and implications.

Expectation states theory and one of its major branches, status characteristics theory, have been some of the most active research programs within sociological social psychology in recent years. Unfortunately, little attention has been given to the theoretical assumptions underlying these programs and the way social cognition and status generalization are depicted. It is argued that structural functionalist theory and the information processing perspective, especially attribution theory, have exerted major influences on expectation states/status characteristics theory. This has resulted in unique conceptualizations of cognition, generalization, and status stereotypes colored by mechanistic and, in certain cases, rationalistic assumptions concerning the ways actors process information. Consideration of alternative ways of conceptualizing these issues reveals certain limitations in the theory's formulations. The need for further research and theory development is discussed.

This research examines Smelser's value‐added theory of collective behavior. According to Smelser, six determinants are necessary for the development of a social movement: structural conduciveness, structural strain, generalized beliefs, precipitating factors, mobilization of participants, and social control. As a test of this analytic framework, two Melanesian cargo cult movements and the general history of these movements are investigated. On the basis of a historical and comparative analysis that relies upon both primary and secondary sources, the six factors outlined in the theory are shown to be present. The relevance of these findings for the explanation of social movements is discussed.

While resource mobilization theory has been the dominant paradigm for the study of social movements in the last several decades, critics contend that it is flawed because it glosses over the role of ideational elements in the development of such collective ventures. As a corrective to the weaknesses of this approach, we utilize a recently developed social psychological framework derived from the social constructionist perspective and the new social movement literature to examine a non-western social movement primarily located in the Caribbean, Rastafari. Concepts used to analyze the Rastafari include social movement community, framing, and collective identity. In directing attention to the symbolic beliefs and informal social processes of this group, we suggest that both political and religious motivations shape the Rastafarians' perceptions of the dominant order which they oppose (i.e., Babylon). Attention is also directed to the Rastafarians' ability to refashion their language and interpretations of the world. This study, we argue, is significant because it contributes to international, historical, and/or comparative research of collective enterprises, which is essential to a more comprehensive understanding of social movements.

This paper examines the fundamental theoretical approaches and research interests of Peter M. Blau by focusing upon three distinct stages in his work: exchange theory, status attainment theory, and macrostructural theory. A discussion of four general issues reveals various continuities and transitions in these analytical strategies. The features examined are (a) research interests in social stratification, (b) investigative strategies, (c) analytical focus and assumptions, and (d) micro/macro units of analysis. It is argued that the three approaches rest upon different conceptions of society which, in respective order, are the "multilevel model of societal exchange," "optimistic image of modern, mass, industrial society," and "guardedly optimistic image of modern differentiated society." Attention is directed to the importance of the status attainment phase for understanding other dimensions of Blau's work, the development of certain theoretical themes in his various analytical strategies, and the presence of a basic conceptual opposition involving the role of values and structural forces in society which permeates much of his analyses.

In 1965, 53 men died in a Titan II missile silo in rural Arkansas, the deadliest nuclear accident ever in a U.S. facility. This book provides an analysis of the event and post-disaster life for their children, who share stories on what went wrong and how they keep moving forward.