The Myth of Individualism

By Peter L. Callero

Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Individualism: The Power of a Myth
The Mask Controversy
Why All the Drama?
What is American Individualism?
A Culture of Individualism
Economic Individualism
Individualism in Economic Theory
What¿s Wrong with Individualism?
Sociology as Myth Buster
Becoming a Person: The Power of Symbols
Evil Witches
Missing Links
The Socially Constructed Person
Language and the Power of Symbols
The Sociology of Thought
Group Differences in Social Cognition
The Sociology of Emotion
The Sociology of Identity
Conformity and Disobedience: The Power of the Group
Obedience to Authority
Questioning Authority
Resisting Authority
Solidarity and Conflict Between Groups
Group Identity
Family Matters: The Power of Social Class
The Myth of Meritocracy
Alexander Williams
Tyrec Taylor
The Relationship Between Class and Family Life
Class Competition
Cultural Capital
Sources of Cultural Capital
The Privilege of Class
Globalization: The Power of Capitalism
A New Type of Capitalism
Communities in Crisis
China Blues
Global Connections
Who Benefits?
Rowena
Care for Sale
Government Control: The Power of the State
What is The State?
Types of State Power
The Shooting
The Protest
The Sociological Context
State Borders and State Power
Borders are Not for Everyone
Making the Invisible Visible
From the Printing Press to the Internet: The Power of Mass Media
How Media Shapes Our Lives
The Power of the Printing Press
How the Printing Press Changed People
How the Printing Press Changed Society
How New Electronic Media Changed People
Media Addiction?
The Danger of Social Media
The Death of Molly Russell
How Electronic Media Changes Society
Social Change and Social Media
From ¿Me¿ to ¿We¿: The Power of Collective Action
A Woman and a Movement
What is a Social Movement?
Social Movements and Democracy
Global Democracy
The Globalization Movement
The World Trade Organization
Protecting Power
Global Solidarity
Conclusion
Index
About the Author

The Myth of Individualism is an engaging and accessible introduction to the relationship between self and society. Drawing on personal experiences, historical examples, and compelling stories, Callero dispels the myth of the self-reliant autonomous actor and demonstrates how our lives are shaped by powerful social forces. These include the power of cultural beliefs and symbols, lifelong socialization processes, the influence of authority, the power of small groups, and the encompassing control of economic systems associated with social class, state power, and mass media. The implications for identity and inequalities linked to race, gender, sexuality, and disability are at the center of each chapter. In the tradition of C. Wright Mills and Peter Berger, Callero presents sociological thinking as a tool for enlightenment and change and argues that the inherently social nature of all persons holds out promise for a better world.

New to the Fourth Edition:

• New Chapter 7, “From the Printing Press to the Internet” explores how mass media has changed both society and the self
• Discussion of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the book, including physical isolation and protests surrounding mask mandates, offers recent and relevant examples that illustrate the problems and dilemmas of radical individualism
• New discussion of the disability rights movement, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQAI+, and women’s suffrage in Chapter 8, “From ‘Me’ to ‘We’”
• New introduction familiarizes students with the nature of science, scientific progress, and scientific truth