Intended as an introduction to those about to visit the United States for the first time, this booklet provides general information about the United States and its people. The title, derived from Mark Twain's observation that "the only distinguishing characteristic of the American character I've been able to discover is a fondness for ice…

The modern sports spectacular contains all the necessary elements of symbolic rite, and the public's behavior patterns during large-scale athletic events dramatically illustrate a ritualistic enactment of social and cultural power struggles via vicarious participation. (LH)

Story presented as an anthropological field report, although in reality it is a Marxist-type paradigm of American society, designed to demystify some of the processes that promote social stability. (Author/ND)

Discussion of many-sided, genuinely synthetic approach to evaluation of the scientific and technological revolution taken in close connection with the underlying social processes. (Author/ND)

THE IDEA OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL IS STRONGLY ENTRENCHED IN THE MINDS OF MOST PARENTS IN URBAN AREAS. THE IDEA IS MAINTAINED BY RECOLLECTIONS OF PAST SITUATIONS WHICH NO LONGER EXIST. RURAL AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS HAVE CONSOLIDATED, DRAWING PUPILS FROM WIDE AREAS OF DISPERSED POPULATION. IN A CITY SITUATION THERE IS LIKELY TO BE NO TRUE NEIGHBORHOOD…

Examines the psychosocial adaptation of children of immigrants from Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean showing major differences in ethnic self-identification, both among and within groups from diverse national origins. Analyses explore the determinants of assimilative and dissimilative ethnic self-identities and of other aspects of…

The purposes of this study were: (1) to describe the prevailing way of life of Americans of Mexican descent who lived in a small city in the lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas during the period from August, 1957, to August, 1959; (2) to discuss the manner in which these Mexican Americans coped with health problems; and (3) to explain the…

Stereotyping is associated with fixed, unchanging points of view based on generalizations and results from the fact that, in his life, a person encounters many different personalities and groups about which he has little information. A stereotype reaction is not based on first-hand information about an individual, but rather on perceived cultural…

This was the first in a series of four reports from the 1975 Every Student Survey. The Survey described the demographic, social, and academic characteristics of the 100,000 elementary and secondary students in the Toronto school system. This report indicated, through a series of cross-tabulations, how students of different language and…

In response to Daniel Bell (AA 511 929), the author considers American culture - life style and social class, the institutional frame-work, the economic and industrial organization and influences, and the cultural role of universities - and concludes that America is not a divided but a richly pluralistic society. (JB)

Using a multiple-indicator multiple-cause model to analyze a 1972-73 national survey of consumer expenditures, the author isolates four patterns of spending on leisure activities and identifies the social and demographic characteristics of people exhibiting each pattern. (Author/RM)

Examines the prevalence of cohabitation, trends in cohabitation between 1960 and 1990, and the conditions leading older persons to cohabit. Variables measuring individual characteristics, economic motivations, and the social context are used to predict cohabitation. Presents results, and discusses implications for the future as cohorts with…

Explores the cultural legacy of the United States. Characterizes the society as one which promotes cohesiveness and political unity, yet emphasizes individual initiative. Provides a number of salient historical examples in making this point. (KO)