Items related to Acquaintances: The Space Between Intimates And Strangers:...

Acquaintances: The Space Between Intimates And Strangers: The Space Between Intimates and Strangers (Sociology and Social Change) - Softcover

 
9780335221608: Acquaintances: The Space Between Intimates And Strangers: The Space Between Intimates and Strangers (Sociology and Social Change)
View all copies of this ISBN edition:
 
 
The distinction between friends and acquaintances is often made in everyday conversation but the significance of this distinction is under-explored.

Acquaintanceship can be understood as a form of knowledge of other people that lies somewhere between intimates and strangers. This book argues that acquaintanceship is a topic worthy of investigation in its own right and assesses the overall significance of acquaintances in late modern society.

This fascinating book examines the topic by:

  • Exploring possible definitions of acquaintanceship
  • Examining the key features of acquaintanceship
  • Considering its nature and significance in a variety of settings
Analysing different forms of acquaintanceship - including those in places of work, neighbourhoods and between professionals and their clients - it also explores passing acquaintances and newer forms of ties such as those formed over the internet, with celebrities or even fictional characters.

Soundly based in sociological theory, the book assesses the extent to which acquaintances can provide a sense of location and security in modern life and the ways in which they can provide us with insights, often fleeting, into worlds other than our own.

Written by one of the foremost authorities in the field, this book is key reading for sociology students, lecturers and researchers, in particular those interested in sociological theory, social interaction, the sociology of everyday life and the sociology of intimacy.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Synopsis:
The distinction between "friends" and "acquaintances" is often made in everyday speech but the significance of this distinction is under-explored. Acquaintanceship can be understood as a form of knowledge of other people and as lying somewhere between intimates and strangers. This book argues that acquaintanceship is a topic worth of investigation in its own right and assesses the overall significance of acquaintances in late modern society. Theorists whose work is relevant to this topic include Simmel, Goffman, Elias and others although the distinction is discussed in the writings of Adam Smith, if not earlier. After discussing possible definitions of acquaintanceship and exploring the possible contributions to our understanding of these ties from sociological literature, I consider its nature and significance in a variety of sites. These include places of work, neighbourhoods and professional client relations but also go on to explore passing acquaintances and weaker ties. Also of growing importance are relationships over the internet and with celebrities and even fictional characters.

The book explores differences within the broad field of acquaintanceship and attempts to assess its overall significance. Here we can think of the discussions around "the strength of weak ties", the extent to which acquaintances can provide a sense of location and security in modern life and the ways in which they can provide us with insights, often fleeting, into worlds other than our own. The overall significance of acquaintances, it is argued, lies in the fact that they are not intimates and are relatively free from the complex webs of obligations that characterises these relationships. It can be argued, in conclusion, that acquaintanceship is of greater importance in late modern society.
About the Author:
David Morgan has an Emeritus Professorship at the University of Manchester and a visiting Professorship at Keele University. He has written extensively on areas to do with family sociology and the sociology of gender, with particular reference to men and masculinities and auto/biographical studies. David served as President of the British Sociological Association and had a centre at Manchester University (The Morgan Centre)named in his honour to celebrate his life-long commitment and contribution to the sociology of families and relationships.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

  • PublisherOpen University Press
  • Publication date2009
  • ISBN 10 0335221602
  • ISBN 13 9780335221608
  • BindingPaperback
  • Number of pages152
Buy Used
Condition: Very Good
A very good clean tight copy. A... Learn more about this copy

Shipping: £ 3.50
Within United Kingdom

Destination, rates & speeds

Add to Basket

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780335221615: Acquaintances (Sociology and Social Change)

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  ISBN 13:  9780335221615
Publisher: Open University Press, 2009
Hardcover

  • 9780335240081: Acquaintances

    Open U..., 2009
    Softcover

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Stock Image

Morgan, David
Published by Open University Press (2009)
ISBN 10: 0335221602 ISBN 13: 9780335221608
Used Soft cover Quantity: 1
Seller:
tjlbooks
(Bedford, United Kingdom)

Book Description Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. A very good clean tight copy. A small neat ownership signature on front endpaper. Seller Inventory # 4327

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
£ 18.50
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: £ 3.50
Within United Kingdom
Destination, rates & speeds