Written by Judith Halasz (SUNY New Paltz) and Peter Kaufman (SUNY New Paltz) as part of the Third Edition of A Sociology Experiment. To read this chapter, add it to your cart, complete the checkout process, return to this page, and select “Read Now” to open the Bookshelf reader.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

• Analyze how individual actions are influenced by external factors;
• Identify how rules and resources guide behavior; and
• Discuss how individual behaviors help produce and perpetuate social structure.

Discussion Podcast

You can listen to this chapter’s accompanying discussion section podcast on Apple, Spotify, or our Spreaker page.