Myth of Individualism

Peter L. Callero is professor emeritus of sociology at Western Oregon University. He is the author of Being Unequal: How Identity Helps Make and Break Power and Privilege and Giving Blood: The Development of an Altruistic Identity (with Jane Piliavin) and coeditor of The Self-Society Dynamic: Cognition, Emotion, and Action. He has published extensively on issues of self, identity, and politics.

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1: IndividualismThe Mask ControversyWhy All the Drama?What is American Individualism?A Culture of IndividualismEconomic IndividualismIndividualism in Economic TheoryWhat’s Wrong with Individualism?Sociology as Myth Buster2: Becoming a PersonEvil WitchesMissing LinksThe Socially Constructed PersonLanguage and the Power of SymbolsThe Sociology of ThoughtGroup Differences in Social CognitionThe Sociology of EmotionThe Sociology of Identity3: Conformity and DisobedienceObedience to AuthorityQuestioning AuthorityResisting AuthoritySolidarity and Conflict Between GroupsGroup Identity4: Family MattersThe Myth of MeritocracyAlexander WilliamsTyrec TaylorThe Relationship Between Class and Family LifeClass CompetitionCultural CapitalSources of Cultural CapitalThe Privilege of Class5: GlobalizationA New Type of CapitalismCommunities in CrisisChina BluesGlobal ConnectionsWho Benefits?RowenaCare for Sale6: Government ControlWhat is The State?Types of State PowerThe ShootingThe ProtestThe Sociological ContextState Borders and State PowerBorders are Not for EveryoneMaking the Invisible Visible7: From the Printing Press to the InternetHow Media Shapes Our LivesThe Power of the Printing PressHow the Printing Press Changed PeopleHow the Printing Press Changed SocietyHow New Electronic Media Changed PeopleMedia Addiction?The Danger of Social MediaThe Death of Molly RussellHow Electronic Media Changes SocietySocial Change and Social Media8: From “Me” to “We”A Woman and a MovementWhat is a Social Movement?Social Movements and DemocracyGlobal DemocracyThe Globalization MovementThe World Trade OrganizationProtecting PowerGlobal SolidarityConclusionIndexAbout the Author

I find it particularly challenging to teach American students to think sociologically, because their belief in individualism makes it hard for them to see that macro social structures are not just their own personal micro experiences, writ large. The Myth of Individualism helps make their taken-for-granted commitment into a problem to consider. My Introductory classes begin with this book, so that the concept that individualism is a myth becomes one of the framing ideas of the course.