The hottest Sociology Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Culture Topics

Links to Consider, 3/14

In My Tribe • 349 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Reading Sociology Religion Politics
  1. Reading is a skill that needs practice; reading long-form text is important for success in education and work.
  2. There's a need to understand trade-offs in policy-making; some argue for stronger social norms against alcohol and drug use.
  3. The shift towards morality and self-discipline in religions coincided with an increase in affluence and a focus on delayed gratification.

Anti-Communism and 20th-century Economics

In My Tribe • 865 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
🚌 Education Economics History Philosophy Sociology Government
  1. Great economists of the 20th century were motivated by the conflict between capitalism and communism.
  2. There was a trade-off between freedom and economic pain, with differing views on how to handle it.
  3. The focus of 21st century intellectuals has shifted to issues like climate change and terrorism, moving away from the economic debates of the past.
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Is America Today Really No More Unequal Economic Class-Wise than It Was in 1960?

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 468 implied HN points • 31 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Inequality Race Gender Sociology
  1. America is much more unequal today, especially in terms of economic class when compared to 1960.
  2. There is uncertainty around the rise in inequality numbers, with conflicting calculations from different sources.
  3. The sociology of inequality changes in America since 1960 is seen as equally important as the economic aspect.

Evolution and Our Obsession with True Crime

The Garden of Forking Paths • 2004 implied HN points • 19 May 23
🎭️ Culture Evolution True Crime Psychology History Sociology
  1. True crime has been a longstanding part of human culture, dating back centuries.
  2. Our obsession with true crime may stem from our evolutionary history and the way our minds are wired for survival.
  3. Engaging with true crime stories allows us to simulate dangerous situations and hone our ability to detect and avoid threats.

Review of a City on Mars (Part III)

Planetocracy • 137 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics International Law Sociology Criticism
  1. Space law and international treaties can be used to argue against human expansion but may have unexplored assumptions.
  2. The concept of collective property in space, favored by some, could lead to a bureaucratic system overseen by an international body like the UN.
  3. Enforcing international law on Mars, especially in the face of defiance, poses challenges that have not been thoroughly considered by critics of human expansion.

Group Narcissism

Erik Torenberg's Thoughts • 429 implied HN points • 28 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Sociology Psychology Ethnicity Religion Ethics
  1. The concept of group narcissism can explain conflicts within society where groups exaggerate their own virtues and respond disproportionately when threatened.
  2. Vicarious group narcissism occurs when a group cannot exhibit its own narcissism, so it projects this onto another group, creating additional issues.
  3. Maintaining civility in a diverse society requires allowing old ethnic and religious bonds to fade, but current conflicts globally suggest these bonds are being strengthened, leading to rising group narcissism and vicarious group narcissism.

In Memory of Donald Black

Bullfish Hole • 58 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🚌 Education Sociology Theory Mentorship
  1. Donald Black made significant contributions to sociology with his theory on law and social control, providing a new perspective on understanding social reality.
  2. Donald Black was passionate about developing new ideas in sociology and was dedicated to ensuring the science of social life was explored thoroughly.
  3. Donald Black's work serves as a reminder of the true essence of sociology, focusing on explaining social conflicts rather than taking sides in moral debates.

The Uterine Lottery

Polymathic Being • 66 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Evolutionary biology Economics Geopolitics Sociology
  1. Our existence is not entirely random; it is influenced by mate selection, education, health, and life decisions passed down through generations.
  2. Economic and geopolitical factors contribute to inequality, with the Pareto Principle indicating that a small percentage holds a majority of wealth and success.
  3. Sociological structures, traditions, and decisions made by our ancestors play a significant role in shaping who we are today.

Iron Cage

Brain Lenses • 19 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Sociology Economics Capitalism Theory Bureaucracy
  1. Max Weber coined the term 'iron cage' to describe how modern humans are enclosed within capitalistic systems with strict structures.
  2. The structures of capitalism and bureaucracies have created an almost indestructible shell that governs social, relational, and resource management aspects of our lives.
  3. Many people operate within this 'iron cage' without realizing the system they are enclosed in.

Friendship Paradox

Brain Lenses • 19 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🔬 Science Psychology Sociology Research
  1. The Friendship Paradox states that your friends likely have more friends than you.
  2. People with a lot of friends are more likely to show up in multiple friend groups.
  3. This phenomenon skews the sample pool when looking at a random person's friend group.

Is there good reason to forgive off-color jokes when they're especially funny?

Philosophy bear • 55 implied HN points • 14 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Humor Sociology Culture Comedy
  1. Forgiving off-color jokes if they are exceptionally funny is a common norm, even among morally strict individuals.
  2. The defense for this principle includes arguments like the 'enough value' defense and the 'net benefits to the victims' view.
  3. There are downsides to leniency for off-color jokes, such as built-in motivation for comedians, inherent prejudices, and hypocrisy among people.

The Jock/Creep Theory of Fascism

Unpopular Front • 70 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Ideology Sociology History Psychology Politics
  1. The Jock/Creep Theory of Fascism categorizes Italian Fascism as 'Jock-Douche' and German Nazism as 'Creep-Loser'.
  2. These ideal-types reflect different affective dimensions of the fascist self, with one embodying physical domination and the other being reflective and resentful.
  3. The theory can be applied to contemporary contexts, such as the paradoxical unity of jock-bullies and online incels in the American right.

Liberals are bad at BDSM

Unstabler Ontology • 19 implied HN points • 06 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Sexuality Psychology Sociology Trauma Gender
  1. BDSM is becoming more common and prevalent, making it challenging for individuals who do not wish to engage in it to find compatible sexual partners.
  2. Understanding BDSM requires a departure from liberal individualistic views, as it contradicts microeconomics and challenges traditional notions of consent and freedom.
  3. Some aspects of BDSM culture imitate elements of traumatic experiences and call into question societal norms regarding power dynamics and sexual acceptance.

A Genealogy of Gentrification

Urben Field Notes • 48 implied HN points • 17 May 23
🎭️ Culture History Sociology Politics Gentrification
  1. Gentrification can have different meanings to different people, leading to a complex perspective on urban change.
  2. Historically, gentrification has roots in the ideologies and actions of the first-wave gentrifiers in Brooklyn.
  3. The narrative around gentrification has been influenced by brownstoners, shaping the understanding of urban inequality and development.

The Mind Games : Psychological Warfare in Cyber Deception

Deceiving Adversaries • 1 HN point • 30 May 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Psychology Sociology Deception Defense
  1. Cyber deception involves intentionally manipulating reality to mislead attackers and stay ahead in cybersecurity.
  2. Understanding psychology and sociology helps predict attackers' moves and develop effective defense strategies.
  3. Adversaries exploit psychological tools like urgency and cognitive biases, while defenders can use the same principles to create deceptive defenses.

La Petite Bourgeoisie

Neosapien’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 02 May 23
🎭️ Culture Sociology Social Class Politics Fashion Education
  1. La Petite Bourgeoisie is a distinct social class with characteristics that separate it from the bourgeoisie.
  2. Members of the Petite Bourgeoisie are not as closely connected to political power as the Grande Bourgeoisie.
  3. The Petite Bourgeoisie is a heterogeneous social class that includes new rich, foreign bourgeois, fallen Grande Bourgeoisie, and long-standing bourgeois.