Exploring the evolution of pathological gambling in the United States, the author employs Foucault and Strauss's perspectives alongside court cases and personal narratives. By examining historical documents and his clinical experience, he reveals how gambling transformed into a recognized social issue and medical disorder. The discussion also delves into the cultural implications of its legalization and medicalization, highlighting the broader societal effects of these changes.
This book introduces and reviews the emerging field of sociology and complexity science (SACS), which encompasses five innovative research areas: computational sociology, the British-based School of Complexity (BBC), complex social network analysis (CSNA), sociocybernetics, and the Luhmann School of Complexity (LSC). These areas represent the forefront of complexity science and sociological systems thinking, equipping researchers with advanced tools to tackle the increasing complexity of sociological inquiries. A key feature is the SACS Toolkit, which provides a theoretical framework (social complexity theory), a procedural algorithm (assemblage), and a recommended toolset for modeling social systems in various ways—qualitatively, historically, or numerically. The book employs this toolkit to explore the SACS field. Additionally, it includes a comprehensive chapter of maps, graphs, and figures, showcasing the visual creativity inherent in complexity science methods. A companion website further enhances the experience, offering resources for delving into the intersection of sociology and complexity science, along with downloadable color maps featured in the book. This resource is invaluable for educators, students, and researchers, presenting a vision for the future of social scientific inquiry in the 21st century.
Exploring the psychological responses to globalization, this book builds on Freud's ideas to offer a nuanced analysis of social dynamics worldwide. It introduces a global model of defiance, highlighting tensions between nostalgic retreat, global aggression, and civil society. The author integrates insights from cognitive, social, and complexity sciences to address contemporary issues, including nostalgic resentment, LGBTQI rights, racism, and ecological concerns, providing a comprehensive understanding of how diverse communities confront the challenges of globalization.
This book offers a much needed critical introduction to data mining and 'big
data'. Supported by multiple case studies and examples, the authors provide
everything needed to explore, evaluate and review big data concepts and
techniques.
