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Why It's Important to Pronounce People's Names Correctly
Teaching students from all over the world, I have realized how important it is to do whatever I can to get student’s names right.
The Basics of Marxism
This article will de-mystify the basic ideas of Marxism for you, including Marx's modes of production and class struggle.
European Rituals of Spring
For many centuries people have celebrated the emergence of the northern hemisphere from the dark days of winter.
The Unfairly Judged Ik People
Labelled “the loveless people” in the 1970s, the reputation of an African tribe has been rehabilitated.
What Are Friends and How Many Do You Need?
Dunbar’s number was created by a British anthropologist to define how many friends an individual can reasonably have. This article examines the idea of friendship, the science behind it and the number of real friends people can have in the age of social media.
The Gambler’s Fallacy
Gamblers, although probably not successful ones, easily fall into the trap of believing in the “hot hand” or “lucky streak.”
Three Fantasy Nations Created as Jokes
There are dozens of self-proclaimed nations all over the world that often spring from a whimsical mind. They include America's “Molossia,” Canada's “Outer Baldonia,” and the UK's “Austenasia.”
The Symbolic Meaning of Shoes
Shoes are an incredibly prominent aspect of fashion, culture, and personal style. But did you know that shoes have meanings even beyond those everyday interpretations? Learn how to interpret dreams of shoes, as well as some of the religious, cultural, and historical significance of shoes.
The Life of a Buddhist Monk—Discipline in Pursuit of Enlightenment
Buddhist culture has some interesting customs and rituals. This article explores flashbacks of the life of Andy Liu, a monk who is working with a Buddhist team in Los Angeles.
The Early History of Feminism
For three hundred years, women have sought better treatment and recognition for who they are as opposed to being defined by a male-dominated society.
7 Weird Things That British People Do
After a trip to the UK, I realised there are a lot of cultural habits British people have that may seem strange to others. Here are a few cultural quirks you might notice if you visit the UK.
Race and Nation-Building in Latin America
This article explores the impact of race on nation-building through an analysis of four separate historiographical works. What effect did racial issues have on social, economic, and political developments in Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador, and Cuba during the Twentieth Century?
Analyzing Samuel Scheffler's "Relationships and Responsibilities"
What responsibilities do you owe those whom you have immediate relationships with in your life? Do you owe responsibility to those whom you did not voluntarily enter into a relationship with? The nonreductionist argues against the voluntarist, suggesting that we owe responsibility to all people.
A Jewellery Heist Without a Culprit
In a strange reversal, DNA evidence can let guilty people go free.
Top 10 Gruesome Serial Killers
There are some who take pleasure in the pain of others. These people do not have any morals and enjoy inflicting pain on others. Here is a list of the top serial killers.
Did Justice Fail Wilbert Coffin?
A group of American hunters were murdered in the Canadian wilderness, and a local woodsman and guide was fingered for the crime. But did he do it?
Analyzing Utopian and Dystopian Societies
An analysis of utopian and dystopian literature as well as some real-world attempts at creating utopian societies during the Protestant Reformation. I also have a summary of modern day utopias.
Where Did the Zombie Come From? From a Haitian Slave to a Capitalist Worker
The zombie has fascinating roots. In Haiti, it is a soul or a body enslaved by a sorcerer called bokor. It was appropriated by the West in the 20th century.
Atheists and the Use of Memes as Arguments
In online discussion, proper argumentation has practically been replaced by the use of memes or meme-driven statements. Why are communities such as atheists increasingly relying on memes as arguments?
Power: Knowledge Equations in Michel Foucault
A scholarly article analysing the intricate relations of power and knowledge as put forward by Michel Foucault in his books "Discipline and Punish" and "The History of Sexuality"
Glasgow’s Ice Cream Wars
The merry tinkling of melodies from ice cream vans drew happy children from the neighbourhood but behind this pleasant scene lurked violence.
Feminist Theory Explained
There are many different feminist frameworks. This article outlines the various perspectives, theories, applications, and criticisms of "feminist theory," which is relevant to social work practice.
Culture and "the Gaze" in Advertising
What culture is, how advertising highlights cultural aspects in societies and how "the gaze" is used in advertisements.
How the Internet Is Changing the Way Humans Communicate in the 21st Century
A look at Joseph Walther's social information processing & communication theories: How does the Internet, and other similar technologies, affect our ability to communicate and form relationships?
10 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About the DC Sniper Attacks
John Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo unleashed a horrifying series of attacks on residents of the DC area and beyond. During their 3-week reign of terror, 10 people were killed and 3 critically injured.
Stereotype Threat: What Is It and What Can We Do to Avoid Its Effects?
Stereotype threat is the fear of unintentionally confirming the stereotype of the group we belong to. And most of us belong to several stereotyped groups.
A Brief History of Conspiracy Theories
Where did conspiracy theories originate? Like anything involving conspiracy theories, the answer isn't straightforward.
The World of Stupidity
People text while stepping into traffic, they spend money at casinos and race tracks thinking they are going to win, and they run with the bulls in Pamplona.
A Brief History of Clowns: How Did They Become Evil?
What about clowns throughout the ages has led to the common portrayal of them as evil?
Cynthia Campbell Ray: The Cold Blooded Murder of James & Virginia Campbell
Cindy Campbell was a mentally ill, spoiled little rich girl willing and to do anything for money - even kill her parents in front of her own children.
Death and Funerals in Japanese Culture
If you visit or live in Japan as a foreigner, dealing with grief, funerary customs, and traditions around death might seem difficult.
The Effects of Interracial Marriage on Children
How does interracial marriage impact and affect the lives of children?
Wedding Customs and Traditions of The World
Most cultures have developed customs that bring two people together within a traditional marriage. Still, ongoing changes reflect evolutions of ideas in societal frameworks
Kidnapping: Overview, Causes, Effects, and Solutions
Kidnapping is a global problem that affects countries all over the world—from the United States and Mexico to many countries in Africa, Asia, and beyond. Learn more about this global scourge.
Urban Sprawl: The Importance of a Strong Central City Core
Man's greatest invention and experiment is the creation of the city. Of all of mankind's cities through the times, our modern city is by far the most complex; and almost always plagued with unrest.
8 Dynamics of Human Values
Spiral Dynamics is identifying the inner workings of our minds and gives us a common language and road map to understand how people think about things and why they make the decisions they make.
Why Zombies? The Significance of Zombies in Contemporary Culture
Why are zombies so popular? This article explores the popularity of the living dead, examining sociological and economic factors, Jungian archetypes, and contemporary historical trends.
Analysis of How Sociology Developed as an Academic Discipline
Sociology, the systematic study of social behavior and society through the scientific method, has not always been recognized as a formal discipline. The beginnings of sociology go back to Ancient Greece where Aristotle developed the first system of...
Gender Schema Theory
What makes a male a male? What makes a female a female? You may be surprised to learn that the answers to these questions vary from culture to culture.
Five Must-Read Sociology Books
This list is a collection of five of the best sociological books out there. This list does not include textbooks or readers, but rather, books that one would read outside of the classroom. Scroll down to explore the fascinating world of sociology and culture.
11 Smart Sociology Research Topics That Will Get You an A
Need to get an A on your next sociology essay? This list will help you come up with your own, original sociology research topic. The top 11 sociological subjects are listed below.
Characteristics of Adolescent Society
A brief introduction to adolescent characteristics and how they are their own society.
The U.S. Is a Left-Brained Society for Right-Brained People
Have you ever noticed that the US is a numbers society? Or have you noticed that Americans are quite business oriented? It's not a coincidence. It's part of my argument that the US is a very left-brained society.
Sociology: Criticism of Merton's Strain Theory: A Critique and How it Fits With the Functionalist Theory of Deviance
A sociology essay that addresses how Robert Merton's Strain Theory fits into the functionalist theory. Thereafter, I critique Strain Theory from the angle of other classic sociological perspectives, such as conflict, feminist, and symbolic interactionist theories.
Integrating Social Capital Theory and Social Exchange Theory
Social Capital Theory is concerned with the nature, structure, and resources embedded in a person’s network of relationships (Seibert et al, 2001; Granovetter, 1973; Burt, 1992; Lin, Ensel, & Vaughn, 1981a, 1981h). Social Exchange Theory is...
What Is "Schedule" and "Questionnaire" in Research Methodology
A questionnaire refers to a device for securing answers to questions by using a form which the respondent fills in by himself. It consists of a number of questions printed or typed in a definite order. A schedule is a structure of set of questions on a given topic which are asked by the interviewer or investigator personally.
Areas of Sociology
Sociology is a fascinating field that reveals startling insights about how we live. Learn more about the main seven areas of sociology.
Transcendentalism and Marxism
In the 19th century, two philosophies struggled for supremacy. They were Marxism and transcendentalism. Marxism takes a materialist view of the cosmos, while transcendentalism takes a more, what can be called, mystical view coupled with naturalism. Both have the element of concern for their fellow human beings. The approach each has is different.
Major Causes of Divorce: Japan Gaining on America and Canada 2005–2020
Divorce statistics are changing worldwide. The rate of divorce in America is decreasing rather quickly, but that of Japan has continued to increase gradually since 1988.