OER Text materialSystems of StratificationSociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World, Chapter 8, Section 1This section defines systems of stratification including slavery, estate systems, caste systems and class systems. It also explains the difference between open and closed systems and provides a brief discussion of vertical mobility. The chapter concludes with is a brief comparison of Marx and Weber’s views on class.

OER Text materialGroup Dynamics and BehaviorSociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World, 6.2.1. This section reviews dyads, triads and how group dynamics and strength alter by group size.

OER Text MaterialTheories of Self-Development, Section 5.1This subsection starts with psychological perspectives on self development before delving into sociological theories of self-development. Notable theories use include Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development, Gilligan’s Theory of Moral Development and Gender. Also explained in the subsection are the theories of Charles Cooley who asserted that people’s self-understanding is constructed, in part, by their perception of how others view them—a process termed “the looking glass self.” George Herbert Mead’s study of the self is covered as well as Erik Erikson’s theory of personality development. In addition, Jean Piaget’s theory on the role of social interactions in the development of people is covered. The work of Sigmund Freud about how people develop a sense of self is also covered in this subsection.

OER Text MaterialSocialization Across the Life Course Section 5.4 Socialization is not a one-time or even a short-term event. Socialization is identified as a lifelong process. In the United States, socialization throughout the life course is determined greatly by age norms and “time-related rules and regulations” (Setterson 2002). As we grow older, we encounter age-related transition points that require socialization into a new role, such as becoming school age, entering the workforce, or retiring.

OER Text MaterialResocialization and Anticipatory Socialization, Section 5.4This subsection explains anticipatory socialization as the preparation for future life roles. It gives examples like cohabitating before marriage or soon-to-be parents who read infant care books and prepare their home for the new arrival. As part of anticipatory socialization, adults who are financially able begin planning for their retirement, saving money, and looking into future healthcare options. Resocialization is explained as the process of being socialized again when, for example, old behaviors that were helpful in a previous role are removed because they are no longer of use. Resocialization is necessary when a person moves to a senior care center, goes to boarding school, or serves time in jail. In the new environment, the old rules no longer apply. The process of resocialization is typically more stressful than normal socialization because people have to unlearn behaviors that have become customary to them.

OER Text MaterialAgents of Socialization, Section 5.3Sub-section 5.3 is about the agents of socialization. The agents of socialization explained in this section are the family, peer group, school, workplace, religion, the government and the mass media. The family is identified as the primary agent of socialization. It is good that the agents are grouped under social group agents, and institutional agents.

OER Text MaterialWhy Socialization Matters: Nature versus Nurture, Section 5.2This subsection starts with an explanation that some experts assert that who we are is a result of nurture—the relationships and caring that surround us. It goes on to explain that some other experts argue that who we are is based entirely in genetics. Thus, our temperaments, interests, and talents are set before birth. From this perspective, then, who we are depends on nature. It is noted in the subsection that one way researchers attempt to measure the impact of nature is by studying twins. Such studies followed identical twins who were raised separately. It was found out that the twins shared the same genetics but in some cases were socialized in different ways. Thus, identical twins raised apart are the same and different giving researchers an insight into the way our temperaments, preferences, and abilities are shaped by our genetic makeup versus our social environment.

OER Text MaterialThe Environment and Society, Section 20.3This subsection starts with Climate Change. It is noted that climate change is the term used to refer to long-term shifts in temperatures due to human activity and, in particular, the release of greenhouse gases into the environment. After defining pollution as what happens when contaminants are introduced into an environment (water, air, land), different types pollutions like water, soil, garbage, air, toxic and radioactive waste pollutions, are explained.

OER Text MaterialThe Growth of Cities, and Urbanization in the United States, Section 20.2The subsection, “the Growth of Cities” starts with explaining the three prerequisites for the development of a city. Another subsection, Urbanization in the United States, also addresses the learning objective. It is stated that “As more and more opportunities for work appeared in factories, workers left farms (and the rural communities that housed them) to move to the cities” developing urban areas.

OER Text MaterialDemography and PopulationIn the subsection, environmental racism refers to the way in which minority group neighborhoods (populated primarily by people of color and members of low socioeconomic groups) are burdened with a disproportionate number of hazards, including toxic waste facilities, garbage dumps, and other sources of environmental pollution and foul odors that lower the quality of life. Thus, around the globe, members of minority groups bear a greater burden of the health problems that result from higher exposure to waste and pollution. Examples of minorities who experience environmental racism are given.

OER Text MaterialTheoretical Perspectives on Urbanization, Chapter 20The Human Ecology theory, and the concentric zone modal are used to explain urbanization. Human ecology which is a functionalist field of study looks at the relationship between people and their built and natural physical environments. According to this theory, urban land use and urban population distribution occur in a predictable pattern once we understand how people relate to their living environment. The concentric zone model views a city as a series of concentric circular areas, expanding outward from the center of the city, with various “zones” invading adjacent zones.

OER Text MaterialUrbanizationAt this subsection, a suburb is defined as the communities surrounding cities which are close enough to the cities for a daily commute in and out of the city, but far enough away to allow for more space than city living affords. As the suburbs became more crowded and lost their charm, those who could afford it turned to the exurbs which is defined as communities that exist outside the ring of suburbs and are typically populated by even wealthier families who want more space and have the resources to lengthen their commute. Together, the suburbs, exurbs, and metropolitan areas all combine to form a metropolis. Apart from the definitions, suburbs and exurbs are explained in the chapter. Under the subheading, “Theoretical Perspectives on Urbanization,” the concentric zone model is explained.

OER Text MaterialPollution, Section 20.3In this subsection, different types of pollution are discussed. There is an insert “What Should Apple (and Friends) Do about E-Waste?” which draws attention to e-waste.

The purpose of Speaking of Culture is to define culture and many other concepts associated with it. My hope is that the readings in this book will help you to better understand the breadth of the concept of culture and provide you with a vocabulary for discussing it more articulately.

Culture is one of those broad concepts that is used widely, although somewhat imprecisely, in everyday English. It also cuts across many academic disciplines, and this book draws on many of them. It touches, for instance, on anthropology, biology, history, mythology, political science, psychology, and sociology.