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Born out of the view that social phenomena are best studied through the lens of different disciplinary perspectives, this book brings together leading scholars in the fields of sociology, developmental psychology, gerontology, political science, history, philosophy, and theology to study the growing number of individuals who no longer affiliate with a religion tradition. The scholars not only explore this phenomenon from their respective academic disciplines, but they also turn to one another's work to understand better the multifaceted nature of non-affiliation today.

"All people derive their identities from the groups and social categories to which they belong in society, the roles they play out, and their personal characteristics they claim. Introduced more than fifty years ago, identity theory has become a central theoretical perspective in sociological social psychology. Now in a greatly expanded second edition, Identity Theory attempts to explain identities, their processes of operation, and their sources in and consequences for interaction and society. This book describes the origins of identity theory, its development, the research that supports it, and its future direction. It covers the central roles of meaning and resources in human interaction and purpose. It provides a detailed analysis of the nature and operation of identities. A central aspect of identities, identity verification, is discussed in terms of how it works, and its consequences for individuals. In addition, the book discusses the different bases of identities, and the multiple identities that individuals hold from their multiple positions in society. It also covers the way identities offer both stability and change to individuals. Co-authored by the originators of the theory, this book accessibly presents decades of research in a single volume, making the full range of this powerful theory understandable to readers at all levels"--

Empty Churches studies the growing number of individuals who no longer affiliate with a religious tradition. Co-editors Jan E. Stets, a social psychologist, and James L. Heft, a historian of theology, bring together leading scholars across the humanities and social sciences, who explore the phenomenon of non-affiliation by drawing from each other's work to understand better the multi-faceted nature of non-affiliation today.

Handbook of the Sociology of Emotions Volume II presents all new chapters in the ever developing area of the sociology of emotions. The volume is divided into two sections: Theoretical Perspectives and Social Arenas of Emotions. It reviews major sociological theories on emotions, which include evolutionary theory, identity theory, affect control theory, social exchange theory, ritual theory, and cultural theory among others. Social arenas where emotions are examined include, but are not limited to, the economy and the workplace, the family, mental health, crime, sports, technology, social movements, and the field of science. All the chapters review the major theories and research in the area, and each chapter ends with some discussion of directions for future research. The Sociology of Emotions is a fast growing and vital field in the broad discipline of Sociology. This volume II follows the Handbook of the Sociology of Emotions which was first published in 2006. In 2008, this first handbook received the "Outstanding Recent Contribution" in the Emotions Section of the American Sociological Association. With contributions from leading scholars from different areas in the discipline, such as neurosociology, culture, economics, mental health, gender, social movements, discussing state-of-art theory and research on emotions in sociology this volume will generate wider appeal to the sociological community

While most research examines self-esteem in terms of self-worth, we suggest three dimensions of self-esteem: worth-based, efficacy-based, and authenticity-based esteem. Each of these dimensions is linked to one of the three motives of the self, and each of them primarily emerges through verification of social/group, role, and person identities, respectively. Data are examined to study these three self-esteem dimensions, including measuring the esteem dimensions and assessing their psychometric properties, investigating the effects of identity verification on the different esteem dimensions, and analyzing the causal relationship among the esteem dimensions. Overall, the results support the measurement and validity of these three dimensions as well as the role of identity verification in producing these self-esteem outcomes.

Over the past three decades, five general theoretical approaches to understanding the dynamics of human emotions have emerged in sociology: dramaturgical theories, symbolic interactionist theories, interaction ritual theories, power and status theories, and exchange theories. We review each of these approaches. Despite the progress made by these theories, several issues remain unresolved: the nature of emotions, feeling, and affect; the degree to which emotions are biologically based or socially constructed; the gap between social psychological theories on emotions and macrostructural theorizing; and the relatively narrow range of emotions theorized, coupled with an equally narrow focus on the structural and cultural conditions producing these emotions.