O Captain, My Captain! Selected Vignettes on Social Acceptance, Identity and Personal Flourishing amongst Adolescents and Young Adults

‘O Captain, my Captain. Who knows where that comes from? Anybody? Not a clue? It’s from a poem by Walt Whitman about Mr. Abraham Lincoln. Now in this class you can either call me Mr. Keating, or if you’re slightly more daring, O Captain my Captain.’ These self-characterising poetic lines which includes a surreal invitation … Read more

Max Weber’s Types of Social Action – Explained in Simple Words

Max Weber is credited with introducing interpretivist philosophical traditions in the social sciences. The writings of Wilhelm Dilthey, Rickert, Immanuel Kant, and others who highlighted the distinction between the natural and social worlds served as inspiration for him. The main difference lies in the fact that the subject matter of the social world is humans, … Read more

What is a Norm and Social Norms? Types, Functions, Examples

Synopsis: This article deals with the concept of norms, social norms, their definitions, characteristics, functions, and types. It also covers how norms are institutionalized in our society, why we should follow norms, and what happens if we violate them. Tracing the behavioral changes norms have on individuals and the changing patterns of norms seen today, … Read more

Globalization: Key Debates, Concepts, and Perspectives

Globalization Synopsis: This article defines globalization, provides some causes for the advancement of globalization, explores the different dimensions of globalization, presents three different perspectives through which the phenomenon has been examined, explores the relation between globalization and identity, and finally examines how globalization is connected to power and politics. In sociological terms, globalization can be … Read more