Everyday Sociology Blog

Becoming a Group Member

By Karen Sternheimer

I have recently become a member of a group, joining my local trail running community. The process of joining a new group got me thinking about the sociological processes involved in becoming a member of a group, a long tradition in sociology. Understanding that we are more than just individuals navigating the world around us is a core component of the sociological imagination.

Sociologists spend a lot of time thinking about social groups; it is the foundation of the discipline, and some of the most seminal work in sociology is all about the significance of the groups to which we belong. Emile Durkheim was interested in social cohesion and how connected we are to the society around us, as well as how we divide up tasks among social groups—his focus in The Division of Labor in Society. Most introduction to sociology books will have a chapter on groups, sometimes small or large if the book focuses on organizations. Max Weber’s focus on bureaucracy highlights the way that power and authority is transmitted through large-scale organizations.

Why Many Americans Don't Feel Worse About a UnitedHealthcare CEO's Murder

By Stacy Torres

Confession time. I’m having difficulty mustering much sympathy for the brazen and targeted murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, shot outside a Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan as he walked to a shareholders meeting.

And apparently, I’m not alone. The intrigue-filled assassination has drawn the ire of Americans fuming at a health insurance industry that prioritizes profits over people’s lives. Social media reactions have ranged from dark, sarcastic humor to outright cheers, compelling UnitedHealthcare to turn off comments on a Facebook post about the murder when 41,000 of 46,000 reactions were laughing emojis. One user wrote, "My thoughts & prayers were out of network." I couldn’t help but chuckle grimly.

Racing to Win: Running and the Looking Glass Self

By Karen Sternheimer

As I mentioned in my last post, I recently ran my first  trail race. I entered a local 22k race, also called a “heavy half;” at 14.5 miles and more than 2,300 feet of elevation gain, the race is longer than a half marathon (13.1 miles), and the elevation puts the “climb factor” at 19 percent. This means the course requires the same amount of energy as a flat run of about 17 miles.

I felt physically prepared to run this race; I had a plan, and it was a course that I am very familiar with, so I had a good idea of what to expect. The biggest unknown for me was the impact of the other participants, reminding me of Charles Horton Cooley’s concept of the “looking glass self.”