Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you should be able to: While it is clear that education plays an integral role in individuals’ lives as well as society as a whole, sociologists view that role from many diverse…
Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you should be able to: Figure 16.3 These students in Cambodia have a relatively informal classroom setting. Other schools, both nearby and around the world, have very different environments and practices. (Credit: Nguyen Hun…
Figure 16.1 High school and college graduation often marks a milestone for families, friends, and even the wider community. Education, however, occurs in many venues and with far ranging outcomes. (Credit: Kevin Dooley/flickr) Chapter Outline 16.1 Education around the World 16.2 Theoretical Perspectives on…
The Sociological Approach to Religion Religion describes the beliefs, values, and practices related to sacred or spiritual concerns. Social theorist Émile Durkheim defined religion as a “unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things” (1915). Max Weber believed…
Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you should be able to: Figure 15.11 Religion and religious observance play a key role in every life stage, deepening its emotional and cognitive connections. Many religions have a ceremony or sacrament to bring…
Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you should be able to: Figure 15.6 Cultural traditions may emerge from religious traditions, or may influence them. People from the same branch of Christianity may celebrate holidays very differently based on where they…
Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you should be able to: Figure 15.2 Universality of religious practice, such as these prayers at the The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, can create bonds among people who would otherwise be strangers. Muslim people…
Figure 15.1 Religions come in many forms, such as this large megachurch. (Credit: ToBeDaniel/Wikimedia Commons) Chapter Outline 15.1 The Sociological Approach to Religion 15.2 World Religions 15.3 Religion in the United States Why do sociologists study religion? For centuries, humankind has sought to understand and…
What Is Marriage? What Is a Family? Sociologists view marriage and families as societal institutions that help create the basic unit of social structure. Both marriage and a family may be defined differently—and practiced differently—in cultures across the world. Families…
Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you should be able to: As the structure of family changes over time, so do the challenges families face. Events like divorce and remarriage present new difficulties for families and individuals. Other…