Unlike other texts for undergraduate sociological social psychology courses, Individual and Society covers each of the three research traditions in sociological social psychology—symbolic interactionism, social structure and personality, and group processes and structures. With this approach, the authors make clear the link between sociological social psychology, theory, and methodology. Students will gain a better understanding of how and why social psychologists trained in sociology ask particular kinds of questions; the types of research they are involved in; and how their findings have been, or can be, applied to contemporary societal patterns and problems.
This new, third edition makes the emphasis on social inequality within sociological social psychology, a key theme in earlier versions of the book, more salient throughout the text by including new or expanded discussions of intersectionality, positionality, the experiences of gender and sexual minorities, racial microaggression, contemporary social movements, and the complexities of allyship. Other additions to the text address the ubiquity of the Internet and social media, where the authors consider how these phenomena have shaped the experiences of Generation Z, the first "digital natives," and altered individuals' self-concepts and social relationships. Engaging exercises and group activities are also embedded within each chapter to enhance students' readiness to reflect and think critically about the social world around them and to improve their understanding of the different dimensions of sociological social psychology and how they relate to everyday life.