Dance of the Spirit by Maria Harris

Dance of the Spirit by Maria Harris

Sex, smoking, and social stratification are three very different social phenomena. And yet, argues sociologist Randall Collins, they and much else in our social lives are driven by a common force: interaction rituals. Interaction Ritual Chains is a major work of sociological theory that attempts to develop a radical microsociology. It proposes that successful rituals create symbols of group membership and pump up individuals with emotional energy, while failed rituals drain emotional energy. Each person flows from situation to situation, drawn to those interactions where their cultural capital gives them the best emotional energy payoff. Thinking, too, can be explained by the internalization of conversations within the flow of situations; individual selves are thoroughly and continually social, constructed from the outside in.

The first half of Interaction Ritual Chains is based on the classic analyses of Durkheim, Mead, and Goffman and draws on micro-sociological research on conversation, bodily rhythms, emotions, and intellectual creativity. The second half discusses how such activities as sex, smoking, and social stratification are shaped by interaction ritual chains. For example, the book addresses the emotional and symbolic nature of sexual exchanges of all sorts--from hand-holding to masturbation to sexual relationships with prostitutes--while describing the interaction rituals they involve. This book will appeal not only to psychologists, sociologists, and anthropologists, but to those in fields as diverse as human sexuality, religious studies, and literary theory.

Maria Harris was a writer, speaker, and advocate for religious education. A former member of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Maria dedicated her life to teaching and leading Catholic parochial schools. In addition to her grade school work, Harris was a very successful teacher of higher education at Immaculate Conception seminary, Andover Newton Theological School, and Fordham University.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780553353068
ISBN 10	0553353063
Title	Dance of the Spirit
Author	Maria Harris
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Random House USA Inc
Year published	1991-05-01
Number of pages	240
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.