Biosociology of Dominance and Deference / Edition 1

by Allan Mazur Syracuse University

Overview

Biology_perhaps the most exciting science of the last half-century_is reaching into scholarly disciplines throughout academia, yet sociology has barely entertained it. The reasons for hesitation are clear enough. Sociobiology and ethology have been unappealing to sociologists because they explain human behavior the same way they explain the behavior of social insects, fish, and birds; often evoking images of sexism and Social Darwinism, both anathemas to modern sociologists. Nonetheless, sociologists do show growing interest in biology and what it can contribute to their discipline. In this short, engaging volume Allan Mazur develops new and sociologically sophisticated concepts to bring these fields together. His book is about the social biology of face-to-face dominance interactions and it explores the evolution of behavior through connections among biology, language, culture, and socialization. Topics include comparative primate behavior, physiological and brain mechanisms underlying status processes, and the relevance of the body surface (face, physique, gestures) to status allocation. The book is meant to be a self-contained exploration_sociologists would require no prior knowledge of biology; biologists would require no prior knowledge of sociology_and a fun, informative supplement for courses throughout sociology and the social sciences.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742536937
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	08/31/2005
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	184
Product dimensions:	6.08(w) x 9.11(h) x 0.51(d)

About the Author

Allan Mazur is a sociologist and an engineer, and has been professor of public affairs at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University since 1979.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Fish... Chapter 2 ...and People Chapter 3 Evolution Chapter 4 Soft Parts and Behavior Chapter 5 Primates Chapter 6 Signs of Status Chapter 7 Testosterone and Cortisol Chapter 8 Allocating Status Chapter 9 Conversation Chapter 10 Violence Chapter 11 Take a Chimp, Add Language, Melt the Glaciers...