The Self in Society

Few ideas are as taken for granted as the idea that people actually have selves. The Self in Society ignites curiosity about this assumption. Unlike many texts in the field of sociology, which focus on society rather than the individual, the thought-provoking readings in this book challenge readers to question pre-existing notions about the individual self. What does it mean to have a self, if indeed everyone truly does have one? How is the self defined? What is the role of the self in shaping one's life?

The text traces the social origins of the idea that people have unique destinies they must understand and fulfill. It considers how to approach the self as a topic of study, and investigates how culture and experience shape the personal self.

The selections relate to sociological subfields such as race and ethnicity, sex and gender, religion, and inequality. The possibility of selfhood among animals is discussed, and recent research from the field of neuroscience is introduced.

The readings are organized into three topical chapters. The first reviews classic perspectives on the self. The second includes material that responds to the question “Who am I?” and discusses self and identity as a problem to be solved. The third chapter examines new directions in the study of the self. Prefaces by the author help to contextualize the selections. The discussion questions and suggestions for further reading after each chapter encourage communication and reflection, and promote additional study.

A key to enhancing the sociological imagination, The Self in Society can be used as a stand-alone text in sociology courses, or as a supplemental reader.