Hardball Without an Umpire - The Sociology of Morality

This comprehensive sociological analysis sheds light on the informal rules governing our moral decisions. According to Fein, we may not be aware of how we really play the morality game. His Negotiation/Emotion Paradigm (NEP) demonstrates that morality entails creating, enforcing, and modifying important social rules. Rather than a particular set of truths or a peculiar form of mental activity, moral behavior is a social activity-a kind of hard-edged game This study sets forth a unique paradigm, in addition to bringing together aspects of many theories in an accessible way. Fein's convincing and illuminating model of morality will be of interest to scholars and students of sociology, psychology, education, social welfare, and philosophy.

List of contents

Preface
Destructive Moralism
NEP: The Morality Game
Unofficial Rules
Veiled Negotiations
Slow-Motion Negotiations
Polarized Conflicts
Intense Emotionality
Punctuated Change
The Good Guy/Bad Guy Syndrome
Moral Manipulation
Moral Abuse
Moral Maturity
Bibliography

About the author

MELVYN L. FEIN is Associate Professor of Sociology at Kennesaw State University in Marietta, Georgia. He is a certified clinical sociologist with over twenty years of clinical experience. He is the author of I.A.M*: A Common-Sense Guide to Coping with Anger (1993), Analyzing Psychotherapy: A Social Role Interpretation (1992), and Role Change: A Resocialization Perspective (1990), all published by Praeger.

Product details

• Authors: Melvyn L. Fein, Fein Melvyn L., Unknown
• Publisher: Bloomsbury
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 16.09.1997
• EAN: 9780275959241
• ISBN: 978-0-275-95924-1
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Sociological theories; SOCIAL SCIENCE / General, PSYCHOLOGY / Social Psychology, PHILOSOPHY / Ethics & Moral Philosophy, Ethics & moral philosophy, Social, group or collective psychology, Ethics and moral philosophy, Ethical issues & debates, Ethical issues and debates, Psychology: Social