Description This best-selling text emphasizes that social and cultural changes are the pervasive realities of our era. One of the main themes of Contemporary Society is that the transition from an industrial to a post-industrial order in the modern 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, which tends to lead people away from community and a common purpose and often invites conflict and disunity. At the same time, countervailing social forces are also at work, providing some stability, some shelter in the storm. Finally, societies are faced with the rapid and transformative power of information technology, a fact that propels separate groups of people into a global entity. Features AN INTEGRATED SOCIAL SCIENCE VIEW OF THE WORLD Draws upon sociology, political science, economics, anthropology, geography, history, psychology, and their related disciplines to give students an integrated overview of the social sciences. Provides a thorough overview of the concepts and research in each discipline, as well as current examples of how the discipline affects contemporary life. IMPROVE CRITICAL THINKING Chapter summaries serve as an excellent tool for focusing on the key concepts presented in each chapter. (ex. p. 66) Includes a glossary of terms with succinct yet accessible definitions in each chapter. (ex. p. 67) ENGAGE STUDENTS Boxed features throughout the text provide historical and timely topics for class discussion. Some boxes are of the human interest variety, while others show how social scientists arrive at their conclusions. (ex. pp. 50, 62) New statistics are included in every chapter of this edition and wherever possible. Suggested Readings include the most recent books on each subject. (ex. pp. 67-68) Students are directed to Web Sites that further expand chapter subjects and/or enlighten them about specific points. EXPLORE THEORY Emphasizes social and cultural change and how they impact the social order. Complete chapters are devoted to a number of basic concepts that underlie social behavior (some of which is based on biological facts): personality, group interaction, deviance, gender, sexuality, aging, minority status, stratification, and so on. The authors have attempted to find up to the minute information in every social science, especially in chapters dealing with the economy and government, as there institutions have been particularly targeted by the events of the past few years. The authors have noted the most recent scholarship in the natural sciences, mentioning new fossil discoveries, genetic research findings, and new knowledge regarding the universe. New to this Edition 1. Overview of Changes AN INTEGRATED SOCIAL SCIENCE VIEW OF THE WORLD The text now has 20 chapters. The chapters on religion and education have been separated and now each chapter stands on its own. The chapter on the environment has been expanded. The book has been shortened and streamlined. ENGAGE STUDENTS The book has been shortened and streamlined. New statistics are included in every chapter of this edition and wherever possible. Approximately half of the Boxes have been replaced with new ones. Suggested Readings include the most recent books on each subject. (ex. pp. 67-68) Students are directed to Web Sites that further expand chapter subjects and/or enlighten them about specific points. EXPLORE THEORY The authors have attempted to find up to the minute information in every social science, especially in chapters dealing with the economy and government, as there institutions have been particularly targeted by the events of the past few years. The authors have noted the most recent scholarship in the natural sciences, mentioning new fossil discoveries, genetic research findings, and new knowledge regarding the universe. 2. Chapter-by-chapter changes Chapter 1: Topic: How social sciences are viewed in Iran Topic: What the social sciences study today Topic: Expanded discussion on scientific method Topic: The use of anthropology by Marines in Afghanistan. Topic: The most recent excavations in Syria–uses of archaeology Topic: Contemporary reputation of economists Box: An Example of Participant Observation Chapter 2: Topic: How a mutation 2.4 million years ago has reshaped the human face Topic: Human evolution - the split between human and chimpanzee lines Box: Evolution and its Discontents Chapter 3: Topic: Language, including “blogging, twitter, tweets” Topic: Study supporting the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis Topic: Contemporary events of ethnic and religious hostilities Box: Culture as an Evolutionary Force Box: A cultural customs once prevalent among Albanians Box: Differences in Culture: An Obstacle to World Peace Chapter 4: Topic: The description of groups Box: War: The Ultimate Group Conflict Box: The Making of Groups Chapter 5: Topic: Mother-infant bonding research Topic: Biology in personality formation according to a study of “virtual twins” Topic: Studies of child care and its effects on the individual Topic: New study on the importance of nature in the nature vs. nurture debate Chapter 6: Topic: Hate crimes Topic: Corporate crime and Ponzi schemes Topic: Variation in crime rates including newest numbers —also most recent Tables and Figures. Topic: Cost of fighting crime Figures: Seven new figures Topic: Prison conditions lead prisoners to offend again Topic: Death penalty pro and cons. Box: Dropping out of School: A Prescription for Jail Chapter 7: Figures: American social classes Figures: Poverty levels, the working poor, the homeless Topic: Recession of 2008 and its consequences Topic: Widening income inequality Box: World Hunger: Are We Our Brothers’ Keepers Chapter 8: Figures: Minority groups in U.S. updated Box: Love Thy Neighbor? Box: Immigration and It’s Discontents Chapter 9: Figures: The aging population updated Topic: The recession’s affect on the elderly Figures: Women’s participation in government and jobs outside the home Topic: New approaches to cognitive development and social learning theories Topic: Gay marriage Figures: AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases Chapter 10: Topic: Bacterium with an artificial genome Topic: The Tea Party as a change-resistant movement Chapter 11: Topic: Birthrates declined during the recession Figures: Birthrates, death rates, infant mortality rates Topic: Impact of demography on politics Figures: Population distribution around the world Figures: Current CMSAs Topic: BP oil spill Topic: China’s contribution to carbon emissions Chapter 12: Figures: Marriage and divorce in the U.S. and the world Topic: Cheating as cause of divorce Figures: Remarriage, on cohabitation, on the single family Topic: Global violence against women Figure: Child abuse Figure: Teenage pregnancy Chapter 13: The chapter is now on religion. Figure: Religiosity in America Figures: Religion and politics Chapter 14: This chapter is now on Education Figures: Education in the United States Box: Attempts at Making Education Work Box: College is in Your Future Chapter 15: Box: Communism in the USSR updated Box: Communism in China updated Chapter 16: Box: Membership of the 111th Congress Chapter 17: Topic: Lobbyists and their activities in the last recession Figures: PACs Topic: Tea Party as possible third party Topic: Party politics after the election of Barack Obama Figures: Campaign expenditures Figures: 2008 presidential election Topic: Pew Research Center research on voters and non-voters Topic: Where Americans get their news Topic: “Millennials” Box: Peculiarities of American Voting: The Electoral College Chapter 18: Figures: Unions and Earnings Chapter 19: Topic: Banks and their role in the recent recession Topic: The Fed Topic: The recent recession Topic: The current economy Chapter 20: Topic: Iraq and Afghanistan situation Figures: China and India Topic: START treaty Box: American Foreign Policy