Contextual Factors in the Rise of Academic Sociology in the United States*

Cet article effectue l'analyse de certains elements culturels et educatifs qui favoriserent la croissance de la sociologie en tant que discipline universitaire aux Etats-Unis a la fin du dix-neuvieme siecle. II est a remarquer que cette evolution est unique au contexte americain. Les facteurs qui retiennent l'at-tention de l'auteur son les suivants: les attitudes vis-a-vis l'education superieure; rinfluence des ideaux et methodes allemands concernant l'education; la con-fiance que Ton avait dans la valeur de la science, y compris les sciences sociales; le climat ideologique liberal de la societe americaine et, par voie de consequence, des universites; et l'etat d'avancement de la theorie sociologique aux Etats-Unis durant cette periode. This paper is concerned with some of the cultural and educational elements in late nineteenth-century America which allowed for and fostered the ready growth of sociology as a university discipline at that time, a growth not to be found in other countries. Specific factors investigated are the attitude towards higher education, the influence of German ideals and methods on that education, the belief in the value of science, including social science, the liberal ideological climate of the society and hence of the universities, and the general state of sociological theory in the United States in this period.     

Class,culture and morality: a sociological analysis of neo-conservatism

In Britain, as in many other western countries, there emerged in the mid-1970s a variety of business associations, policy and research institutes and political leagues, committed not only to the restoration of a Conservative government, but also to a much broader refurbishing of conservatism. A network of organizations, individuals and ideas grew up that became identified as the New Right. The New Right, which clearly has an international character, was generated by economic and political crises, but it was nurtured by a variety of resentments and discontents whose roots lay in structural and cultural changes that had developed over the whole post-war period. Drawing, in part, upon interviews with leaders of the organisations that did most to mobilize opinion behind the New Right in Britain, the article examines the major changes – particularly those in class structure and in culture – to which the new conservatives were reacting. It explores the major ideological strands – libertarian, neo-liberal and conservative - and looks at the attempts by the New Right to use these to produce changes not only in economic policy but in the cultural and moral fabric of society.     

Therapy with Remarried Couples—A Multitheoretical Perspective

Work with remarried couples is often difficult and complex. The first part of this essay provides a comprehensive discussion of the many issues faced by remarried couples under the headings of: emotional consequences of separation, the presence of children in the new relationship, finances, lack of guidelines and models, complexity of structure, and women in stepfamilies. The second part addresses therapy, by first tracing the past contributions to the field by structural, psychodynamic and cognitive models and then moving on to speculate about the offerings of Adult Attachment Theory, Trauma Theory, Narrative Therapy and Feminist Theory. Consistent with the awareness fostered by feminism the essay attempts to create a respectful dialogue between these models with the hope of gaining value from all while elevating none. The discussion is illustrated by a case example.     

Some ritual idioms of gender in British television advertising

The focus of this article is on portrayals of men and women in UK TV adverts, especially those for chocolate and related products. These ads were selected because they typically portray people engaged in a limited range of activities, and this permits more systematic comparison between them. Analysis focuses on forms of portrayal distinctive to either gender. Emphasis is placed on two findings - the portrayal of women as detachable from their local environments, and of men as foolish and incompetent. It is argued that these patterns are characteristic of TV ads more generally, and that they have possible connections with general cultural presuppositions concerning men and women.     

Is screening and brief advice for problem drinkers by clergy feasible? A survey of clergy

Routine screening for alcohol abuse in primary care, with brief advice to stop drinking for those screening positive, can detect individuals with alcohol problems and reduce alcohol use and alcohol induced problems in those detected. Not everyone with alcohol problems sees a physician regularly, however, and not all respond to a physician's brief advice. To explore the feasibility of expanding screening for alcohol problems to clergy, we did a mailed survey to 315 clergy at Christian churches in Cleveland, Ohio. Clergy reported a variety of views about alcohol use and abuse, but most agreed that alcoholism is a disease. They indicated counseling a significant number of parishioners, and were receptive to learning brief screening questions to detect alcohol problems. We conclude that many clergy would be interested in a strategy of screening and then giving brief advice or referral to individuals found to have alcohol problems.     

Condom discomfort and associated problems with their use among university students

In addition to consistent use, condoms must be used correctly. The purpose of this study was to identify prevalence and types of condom-associated discomfort among university students, the outcomes of this discomfort, and the role of discomfort in condom breakage. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 206 students attending a private university in the southern United States. We assessed 3 potential outcomes: breakage, not using condoms throughout sex, and low condom-use motivation. Nearly one third reported discomfort, including tightly fitting condoms, vaginal irritation, and loss of sensation. Discomfort was associated with breakage (p = .0001), incomplete use (p = .0001), and less motivation to use condoms (p = .018). Gender moderated the latter 2 findings. Adjusted findings indicate that students reporting discomfort were 3.6 times more likely to also report breakage (p = .0009). Continued investigation of this topic is warranted. Prevention education may benefit university students by promoting several key practices, such as adding lubricant to condoms before they dry out and acquiring condoms that fit properly.     

A special section for correspondence and controversy

A fantasy about the future might show a world in which the human-centered ethics that now directs the moral and political behavior of most of the people of the industrially powerful democracies has come to dominate the moral thinking of everyone on Earth. This ethics is grounded in a priori principles which, in all cases of conflict or competition, give vital human needs and interests priority over those of every other living thing. The end point of this step-by-step process of preference is the breakdown of the self-sustaining biosystem which nature has perfected. But any ethics is absurd if its practice would cause the breakdown of the biosystem which sustains civilized life. It must be revised or discarded. A new model with an empirical method must replace the old, a priori, human-centered ethics. The new model would treat ethical theories as theories about how people can live in the physical world. When so conceived, a theory of ethics would be confirmed or refuted by the harm or benefit that results when it guides individual and societal behavior. Negatively a theory is mistaken and must be rejected if its practice would jeopardize the health or stability of the Earth's biosystem. Positively and secondarily, it must enable people to satisfy a coherent mix of their conflicting needs and interests. Such an ethics can never be final. Like the theories of science, an ethical theory is always subject to correction as people discard their mistakes and substitute revised theories that work better—that better meet the negative and positive conditions of an acceptable ethical theory.     

Predicting EPA''s Forthcoming CO Standards in Light of New Clinical Evidence

For the past several years, the EPA has been monitoring clinical studies on the adverse health effects of heart patients' exposure to carbon monoxide. This paper examines the impact of three such studies (including the multi-center CO study organized by the Health Effects Institute) on the forthcoming EPA standards for carbon monoxide. Eleven peer-nominated specialists with expertise in environmental science and public policy were interviewed according to a specific protocol. Overall, the experts felt that the HEI study would receive greater weight than the other two studies in the regulatory process for a variety of technical reasons. Weighting each expert opinion equally, we conclude that there is about a 0.69 probability that the CO standards will be retained at their present levels, a 0.28 probability that the standards will be tightened, and a 0.03 probability that the standards will be relaxed. When asked to imagine that the HEI data were never collected and then asked to reassess their probability judgments, the mean probability judgment that the standards will be relaxed rose to 0.11, while the mean probability judgment that the standards will be tightened fell to 0.20. A modest degree of variability in expert opinion is reported in the paper. While the HEI study may receive relatively great weight in the regulatory process, it increases only slightly the probability that EPA's CO standards will be changed.