Search

Considerable attention has been given recently to the perplexing problem of the relationship between attitudes and behavior (Ehrlich, 1969; Deutscher, 1969; Warner and DeFleur, 1969; Ajzen et al., 1970; Lastrucci, 1970; Tarter, 1970). Methodological issues have been debated, the lack of congruence between attitudes and behavior has been examined, and a variety of solutions have been offered. We are told, for example, that the continuing poor correlation between measured attitudes and overt behavior requires us to search for the intervening variable or variables which apparently obtain (Ehrlich, 1969); or to employ the "direct observation" of the phenomenon under investigation rather than try to extrapolate from paper-and-pencil tests to behavior (Deutscher, 1969); or to develop theories that, in turn, enable us to find indicators that are more valid than the paper-and-pencil type (Lastrueci, 1970); or to simply admit that attitudes as "presently conceptualized play no real role in behavior" (Tarter, 1970). A number of important aspects of attitude research, however, have been obscured or omitted in these discussions. For the surprising aspect of the situation is not, as has often been implied, the lack of congruence between attitudes and behavior, but the persistent use of research designs that are inappropriate for the complexity of the subject under investigation. Further, it is surprising that researchers have failed to draw out other important implications of their research. That is, the fact that an attitude does not lead directly to a behavior does not justify the assertion that attitudes play no role in behavior, or that attitude research lacks significant implications for social life. The basis for this latter statement will be shown below in a discussion of the values of attitude research. It may be that inadequate research designs, valued for their simplicity rather than their appropriateness, are a manifestation of the "publish or perish" syndrome. In any ease, this paper attempts to outline the problems and the values of attitude research, and to demonstrate thereby that such research is of great significance for the understanding of social phenomena. If that significance seems minimized by those studies that have found poor correlation between attitudes and behavior, the fault lies both in the failure to create research designs that reflect the complexity of the problem and in the tendency to exalt the importance of the proximate causes of overt behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our point of departure in this paper has been that an organization can fruit- fully be described as a system of organizational units rather than of individual roles. Whether or not two units in such a system can be described as connected can be determined, for example, by the frequency of communication between them. An account of the units in the system and the relations between them provides one aspect of a description of the organization's structure. Over and above this, the organization's way of functioning as a system can also be described; one of the relevant variables here is intraorganizational strain. Some writers have shown that there is a connection between intraorganizational strain and the organization's degree of goal satisfaction. In this paper we suggest some hypotheses on the origins of intraorganizational strain and have assumed that behavior in a system of organizational units can be explained by an analogy to theories concerning interindividual systems. In conclusion our argument is illustrated by some examples from an empirical study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information related to the characteristics of the behavior of agents of law both administrative and judicial who in their work interact directly with members of the community. It is a basic assumption in this paper that agents of sanction exist in all relatively permanent social systems. These agents may either act as privates or a formal organization or not; some may act individually as interacting directly with ordinary members of the social system, either this is an entire community, an association, an industrial organization or a small, informal group. One shall be dealing with the behavior of these agents, bringing into focus the official behavior, which is part of the face-to face interaction between the agents and the other members of the social system concerned. Another basic assumption of the paper is that face-to face disapproving behavior of agents in all social systems have interesting common traits, which with profit may be analyzed comparatively by means of a fairly general theory of sanction behavior. Initially it is an open question whether such a theory can be considered identical to or deduced from a general theory of action.

It is the office of theoretical investigation," said scholar Willard Gibbs, "to give the form in which the results of experiment may be expressed." If he had put "observation" for "experiment," Gibbs would have stated the purpose of the present paper. It is to provide one form in which may be ex- pressed what one knows about social organization. Please note, at the beginning, that more than one form is possible and that, in a limited space, the one suggested here can only be sketched out. The elements of social behavior. The present paper presupposes the direct observation of social behavior. It asks the devastating questions: Looking at the actions of men with eyes innocent of the usual preconceptions what does one see? What a simple classification can one start from in this field of fact? Attempting to answer, it sets up, as components of the conceptual scheme, individuals and three elements or determinants of the behavior of individuals in groups, which will be called operation, sentiment, and interaction.

This paper attempts to show that the myth of the primal horde is of use in that: (1) It helps to account for behavior that is observable at formal meetings, (2) sheds some light on the earlier socialization process and (3) can give some insight into the operation of wider social groupings. This obviously is a formidable task, beyond the scope of any one paper. The author discusses the university seminar of the formal kind where there is a chairman and sometimes a vote of thanks. He hope to show that the myth of the primal horde not merely explains what goes on but can even be said to describe to some extent behavior at such meetings. There is also an attempt to show how the ideas first used in the context of the university seminar can be applied to formal settings that are apparently very different namely those of the military parade and the religious service. Formal behavior, according to the view expressed here, owes its significance to the triumph it celebrates. It must therefore be essentially unstable for where the triumph is too complete there will the need for defensive morality be dissipated.

In this paper we review recent efforts to examine attitude-behavior inconsistency as a multivariate research problem. Rather than either assuming a one to one relationship or documenting the contrary; recent researchers have reconceptualized the problem as identifying the conditions which affect the relationship. Although numerous variables have been examined in the recent literature, most of the multivariate research seems to be addressed to three underlying issues: one, the extent to which measurement invalidity may depress the observed attitude-behavior relationship; two, the extent to which other competing but unmeasured attitudes may depress the observed attitude-behavior relationship; and three, the extent to which attitude incongruent social norms depress the observed attitude-behavior relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have long been aware that when they become part of the system they are investigating, their own behavior may a.fleet the behavior they wish to study. Little data has been collected on the effect of respondents on the researcher and the consequences of this on tho research process. The problem is described and analyzed in this paper. We contend that respondents who have special qualities may intrude upon the researcher's role and make it difficult for him to collect necessary data. An illustration is presented from the authors' study of stripteasers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the ubiquitous trends in social behavior is the formation of comprehensive systems of interaction known as communities. Everywhere in the world and throughout man's existence on earth, the formation of communities has been evident, from the primitive tribe to the contemporary nation-state. Among the exciting developments within the more complex communities of mankind, such as cities and nations, is the emergence of subcommunity forms which both complement and contest the arrangements of the larger society. Status communities and ethnic communities of many sorts belong among the contemporary sub-communities. It is instructive to apply this concept of sub-community formation to areas of behavior such as the worlds of art and jazz, when that behavior can be shown to approach closure and completeness with respect to a distinctive way of life. This paper deals with two major tasks: (1) the development of a special theory of the jazz community as an unique form of status community, and (2) a judgment as to the validity of referring to the social world of the jazz musician as a community. It should be mentioned that while this formulation is conceived in terms of the jazz subculture, it also has widespread application elsewhere in the area of social deviance. Since the concept of status group has its roots in the general theory of community, we shall briefly outline that concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on sociological correlates of student leadership in Hawaii. As the various ethnic groups have immigrated to the United States and have eventually become absorbed into the general population, behaviorial changes from generation to generation have been noted. In Hawaii the process of assimilation has been discussed by numerous writers. The present authors took advantage of a survey of attitudes towards campus activities at the University of Hawaii to investigate the relationship of sociological and psychological variables to student participation and leadership. In particular this paper is concerned with the relationship of leadership at the University of Hawaii to variation in sex, religion, and race. A sample of 150 sophomores, juniors and seniors in full time attendance at the University of Hawaii provide the survey group, being chosen from a universe of approximately 3,000. 0f the 150 students initially chosen through use of a table of random numbers, 147 were eventually surveyed regarding attitudes, information, biographical data and participation and leadership in activities.

The paper presents a list of articles published in the present issue of this periodical. Some of these are "Radio Listening in Denmark," by Torben Agersnap, "Juvenile Delinquency in Sweden," by Bjorn O. Ahlander, "Internal and External Criteria of Behavior Regularities," by Erik Allardt, "Community Activity, Leisure Use and Social Structure," by Erik Allardt, "An Analysis of 777 Matrimonial Want Ads," by Helge Anderson, "Lifetime Inter-Occupational Mobility Patterns in Sweden," by C. Arnold Anderson, "Some Notes on Operationism and the Concept of Validity," by Bo Anderson, "Lazarsfeld's Two-Step Hypothesis: Data From Some Swedish Surveys," by Bo Anderson and C.O. Melen, "The Technique of Demography Applied in a Study of Retirement," by Ole Asmussen, "The Structure of the Judicial System and its Function in a Developing Society," by Agnete Weis Bentzon, "The System Approach to the Study of Organizations," by H.M. Blegen, "The Systematic Position of Sociology of Law in Current Scandinavian Research," by Britt-Mari Persson Blegvad, "Distance and Social Relations," by Gunnar Boalt and Cari-Gunnar Janson, "The Sociology of Research," by Gunnar Boalt, "The Passive Citizen," by Angus Campbell, "Reflections on Functionalism," by Gosta Carisson, "Response Intertia and Cycles: A Study

The paper presents a list of articles published in the present issue of this periodical. Some of these are "Absenteeism and Job Turnover as a Consequence of Unfavorable Job Adjustment," by Agne Lundquist, "Absenteeism - A Social Fact in Need of Theory," by Dagfinn As, "Annoyance Reactions to External Environmental Factors in Different Sociological Groups," by Erland Jonsson, "Differential Assimilation and the Perpetuation of Sub-Cultural Goals: A Pilot Study of a Danish-American Village in California," by Henry P. Lundsgaarde, Generalised Behaviour Theory: Behaviour Under Conditions of Outcome Certainty," by Philip G. Herbst, "Official and Unofficial Expectation Concerning the Care of the Sick," by Elina Haavio-Mannila, "Celibacy in Belgium: A Preliminary Study," by Claire Leplae, "The Dannish National Institute of Social Research," by Henning Friis, "Deviance and Passivity in Radio Listener Groups," by Yrjo Littunen, "Rebellion Against the Family. A Discussion of Some Trends in Scandinavian Left-Wing Ideologies," by Harriet Hoiter, "Intelligentsia," by Theodor Geiger.

This paper describes a procedural guide for the application of behavioral principles and techniques in open welfare settings. The aim of the guide is to aid the worker in approaching assessment and modification from a behavioral point of view and to organize his activities sequentially and systematically in accordance with that view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information about several books related to sociology. "Diverging Parallels: A Comparison of American and European Thought and Action," edited by A.N.J. den Hollander, is a collection of papers presented at two meetings of the European Association for American Studies, ferreting out likenesses and differences in European and American cultures. Comparisons touch war and diplomacy, education, conceptions of the tragic, romantic and heroic, the idea of evil and thought processes. "Religion's Influence in Contemporary Society: Readings in the Sociology of Religion," edited by Joseph E. Faulkner, is a judicious selection of theoretical and empirical studies arranged under four headings: efforts to delimit the field of study, religion in the church: members, leadership, and organizational structure, the church in society, and religion and social change: urbanization, secularization, and the future. "Black Psyche: the Modal Personality Patterns of Black Americans," edited by Stanley S. Guterman, is a useful collection of materials that suggest the social construction of a modal personality among the U.S. blacks. Contributions, chiefly by sociologists, arc grouped under three headings: the social and historical backdrop, characteristics of the modal personality, and personality influences on behavior.

Sociological models have not generally guided the analysis of race and ethnic relations. This paper constitutes an attempt to alter this situation by assessing the relevance of the race cycle, consensus, inter- dependence and conflict frameworks for the construction of an explanation of the emergence, persistence, adaptation, and change of systems of ethnic differentiation. Although each of the frameworks has relevance for more than one of these empirical problems, it is concluded that the race cycle is most useful in explaining the emergence of ethnic differentiation, consensus is most useful vis-à-vis persistence, interdependence vis-à-vis adaptation, and conflict vis-à-vis change. A number of explanatory propositions are stated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts a conceptual clarification of several issues surrounding sociological and social psychological analyses of deviant behavior. A basic distinction is made between individuals whose initial socialization is in terms of conventional norms and values, and those whose early socialization is based on deviant norms and values. The implications of this distinction for the manner in which initial deviant behavior occurs, the rewards and costs the deviant experiences, and the effects of labeling upon him, are drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper suggests to eliminate various difficulties concerning Weber's urban typology by offering some tentative modifications dependent on the needs of the researcher. The dichotomy of urban behavior, the appreciation and use of which is seriously hampered by an exceptionally poor translation, is one of the most important of Weber's typological dichotomies. In addition, due to the unfinished condition of Weber's opus there are several analytical ambiguities which need clarification. Recent outstanding contributions in the sociology of Islam, specifically of the Islamic medieval city, seem to support the validity of Weber's hypotheses. The evidence offered by recent studies of the ancient Mesopotamian as well as the Greco-Roman city is considered in relation to Weber's urban typological dichotomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is addressed primarily to the consideration of an old ghost in new sheets—what constitutes the sphere of relevant phenomena for the discipline of sociology. The current research and publications on factors in mate selection provide one of several growing collections of data which pose a central question in this regard. The fascination of the biological orientation for sociological explanations is well known. It is an attractive explanation for man's behavior because man is after all a biological organism and what he does must be understood at least in part on this basis. It is the social phenomenon of mate selection which will be utilized here to demonstrate the departure of certain sociologists from analysis of social reality in their search for explanations of social behavior. Personality needs constitute another important factor in mate selection. This refers to needs which the person wants fulfilled and at the same time are most likely to be satisfied within the context of married life. The person chosen as a marriage partner is viewed as the one who, in the estimation of the chooser, is most likely to satisfy these needs.

The article focuses on Negro class structure and the technicways. One of the promising developments in modern sociology is the conceptualization of analytically distinctive behavior patterns in the "technicways." These have been characterized as socially disruptive patterns which are important in understanding and detailing the process of social change. However, the generalized mechanisms of social change are not yet comprehended by sociological theory and consequently the relation between social change and the technicways remains disturbingly vague and accountably tenuous. It seems expedient, therefore, to select one critical aspect of social change - class structuring in this case - in an attempt to test the validity of this relationship and, if possible, to clarify the processes through which it is manifested. Before presenting the hypotheses which form the bases of this paper and an illustrative application to Negro class structure in the United States, the conceptual elements to be employed in their exposition has been defined. The technicways refer to the behavior patterns, usages, and associated patterns of thought which arise as transitional adjustments to developments in science and technology.

The term "crisis" has been used in common parlance to designate important, decisive states of things, critical or culmination points, or turning points where the change is either favorable or unfavorable. Sociologists have been using the term in the analysis of group phenomena and more recently with special reference to group situations as they affect the individual personality. in this paper the main developments in the study of crises as group phenomena which bear upon individual behavior will be indicated. Also, studies dealing with phases of personality change where the change is related to group factors will be dealt with. This survey of literature may thus be regarded as preliminary to the development of a view of personality integration in terms of crises in the life of an individual. Sociologist, W.I. Thomas made the first extensive definition of crisis as a social-psychological concept. In an early article he describes crises as "incidents in group-life which interrupt the flow of habit and give rise to changed conditions of consciousness and practice." He describes the process by which shock disturbs the smooth-running of habit and calls for an adjustment on a new level. While his emphasis in this analysis is essentially on the side of the group significance of crisis, the individual aspects are not neglected as witnessed by the use of the terms "habit," "emotion," and "attention."

This paper examines disability as a social process. The designation of some forms of exceptional behavior as disability provides a means for the normalization of incapacity in terms of existing role relationships. The requirements for long-term or Permanent exemption from role obligations involve legitimation and adjustment to role maintenance. Behavioral rewards and punishments are not effective for regulating behavior recognized as beyond the control of the individual. Agents of social control may, however, influence or regulate behavior through their ability to provide or withhold alternative sources of gratification. Sanctions may be applied in the process of recognition of inadequate role performance, the attribution of responsibility, or the legitimation of performance failure. The accredited disabled individual is excused from role performance by legitimation and may be provided with alternative behavioral patterns for obtaining income, care, rehabilitation or other services. Legitimation may stipulate the behavioral requirements to consolidate modified expectations into a coherent pattern of adaptation-as normalization of the behavior of the incapacitated individual. This conceptualization suggests a more concentrated focus out the elaboration of behavioral alternatives within existing role relationships rather than the proliferation of specialized role repertoires, [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a relationship between the structure of education and the major institutional forms of a society. It posits that in a society characterized by a predominance of bureaucratic organizations the criteria for health and maturity in a popular psychological perspective (neo-Freudian ideology) may correspond with the demands of bureaucracy; that the practices of one nursery school in implementing this ideology create bureaucracy-like experiences for the children in it; and that the behavior of the children in the school reflects their experience of a phenomenologically bureaucratic world. These propositions are based on participant-observation in an American nursery school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale review and integration of existing theory and research may be considered a type of research in its own right one using a characteristic set, of research techniques. This paper offers an analysis of the methodology and the importance of reviews and integrations by discussing the procedures, problems, functions, and values of this type of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sets forth a model of the school as a social organization within an institutional framework and relates its organizational characteristics to its age- grade structure. Employing Etzioni's concepts of organizational goal and compliance, three hypotheses relating goals, student compliance, and teacher compliance to organizational age-grade structure are developed. A preliminary test of the teacher compliance hypotheses then is offered using a secondary analysis of data gathered in 1960-61 from a national sample of urban documentary, junior, and senior high schools. The responses of 3039 teachers to 14 questionnaire items about the behavior of their principals are examined. The results are supportive of the hypothesis that a strong normative teacher compliance structure in the lower age-grade levels gradually becomes increasingly utilitarian at the higher age-grade levels. Implications of both reasoning and data for the further analysis of schools as social organizations within an institutional framework are considered, with particular emphasis upon how different social class contexts of schools might place conditions upon the relationship of goals and compliance to their age-grade structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a persuasive communication causes a change in belief, will behavior relevant to the belief also change? Past experiments have shown both successes and failures in obtaining such behavior change. The present study offers a reconciliation of these differences in findings by showing that the pattern of belief change with no behavior change occurred only in subjects who, before a communication, committed themselves to a position opposing it. Without this commitment, subjects showed no immunity against the effects of the communication on behavior. Some theoretical implications of this finding are discussed. A condensed version of this paper was read at the American Psychological Association meetings in Los Angeles in 1964. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Soziologie is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Soziologie is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Soziologie is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)