Handbook of Neurosociology [Hardcover]

Until recently, a handbook on neurosociology would have been viewed with skepticism by sociologists, who have long been protective of their disciplinary domain against perceived encroachment by biology. But a number of developments in the last decade or so have made sociologists more receptive to biological factors in sociology and social psychology. Much of this has been encouraged by the coeditors of this volume, David Franks and Jonathan Turner. This new interest has been increased by the explosion of research in neuroscience on brain functioning and brain-environment interaction (via new MRI technologies), with implications for social and psychological functioning. This handbook emphasizes the integration of perspectives within sociology as well as between fields in social neuroscience. For example, Franks represents a social constructionist position following from G.H. Meads voluntaristic theory of the act while Turner is more social structural and positivistic. Furthermore, this handbook not only contains contributions from sociologists, but leading figures from the psychological perspective of social neuroscience.

This handbook covers a nascent field drawing strength from the admission by sociologists of the remarkable insights they draw from biological research. It features work by all neurosociologys top researchers, and includes the views of its parent disciplines.

Forward Douglas Massey.- Chapter 1. Introduction: Summaries and Comments; David D. Franks and Jonathan H. Turner.- PART?I. LARGE ISSUES.-?Chapter 2:? Neural Social Science; George Lakoff.- Chapter 3:?Why We Need Neurosociology as Well as Social Neuroscience; David D. Franks.-?Chapter 4: Social Cognitions and the Problems of Minds; John Shook.-?Chapter 5:? Social Neuroscience of Human Aggression: Genetic, Hormonal and?Neural Underpinnings; Pranjal Metha, Stefan Geotz and Justin?Carre.- Chapter 6: Social Neuroscience and the Modern Synthesis of Social and Biological?Levels of Anl#”