SO 218 - MicroSociology: The Individual & Society

The course examines the interplay between individuals and the societies in which they live, as well as how we attach meaning to our social interactions. We will focus on two types of processes: 1) How our society and social groups influence our understanding of who we are, our relationships to others, and how we are supposed to act. 2) How individuals shape and pattern the society around them. In this way, the individual and the society are both constantly being shaped by and shaping each other.

The course covers a range of topics and generally discusses issues such as: socialization, identity, culture, deviance, stigma, power, presentations of self, emotions, the family, sexuality, class, race, gender, politics, work, and aging.

Four credits.