Microsociological Perspectives for Environmental Sociology

<p>Environmental sociology tends to be dominated by macrosociological theories, to the point that microsociological perspectives have been neglected and ignored. This collection of original work is the first book dedicated to demonstrating the utility of microsociological perspectives for investigating environmental issues. From symbolic interactionism to actor–network theory, from dramaturgy to conversation analysis, from practice theory to animism, a variety of microsociological perspectives are not only drawn upon but creatively applied and developed, making this collection not only a contribution to environmental sociology, but to microsociological theory as well. The authors address such topics as the treatment of waste, human–animal relations, science and industry partnerships, environmental social movements, identities, and lifestyles, eco-tourism, the framing of land, water, and natural resources, and even human conceptions of outer space.</p><p>Bringing together diverse scholars, perspectives, and topics, <i>Microsociological Perspectives for Environmental Sociology </i>opens the field up to new approaches and initiates much needed dialogue between environmental sociologists and microsociologists. It will appeal not only to sociologists, but to environmental scholars across the social sciences interested in enriching their theoretical repertoire in studying the social aspects of the environment.</p> <p>List of illustrations </p><p>Preface </p><p><em>Notes on contributors </em></p><p>Introduction: awakening micro-theoretical perspectives in environmental sociology </p><p>BRADLEY H. BREWSTER AND ANTONY J. PUDDEPHATT</p><p>1 Micro-interactions of cosmic proportions: mediating human–cosmos relationships in the planetarium</p><p>MEGAN S. ALBAUGH BONHAM</p><p>2 “This is not Sea World”: spectacle and insight in nature tourism</p><p>PETER R. GRAHAME</p><p>3 How to climb Mount Fuji (at your earliest convenience): a non-representational approach</p><p>PHILLIP VANNINI</p><p>4 Negotiating identity, valuing place: enacting “earthcare” and social justice at Finca La Bella, Costa Rica</p><p>STELLA M. ČAPEK</p><p>5 Green lifestyles and micropolitics: pragmatist action theory and the connection between lifestyle change and collective action</p><p>JANET A. LORENZEN</p><p>6 Mead, interactionism, and the improbability of ecological selves: toward a meta-environmental microsociological theory </p><p>STEPHEN ZAVESTOSKI AND ANDREW J. WEIGERT</p><p>7 Present tense: everyday animism and the politics of possession </p><p>MICHAEL M. BELL</p><p>8 Wild selves: a symbolic interactionist perspective on species, minds, and nature</p><p>LESLIE IRVINE</p><p>9 Dog shit happens: human–canine interactions and the immediacy of excremental presence</p><p>MATTHIAS GROSS AND ANA HORTA</p><p>10 Sorting the trash: competing constructions and instructions for handling household waste</p><p>SUSAN MACHUM</p><p>11 The utility of phenomenology in understanding and addressing human-caused environmental problems</p><p>JERRY WILLIAMS</p><p>12 The social psychology of compromised negotiations: constructing asymmetrical boundary objects between science and industry</p><p>BENJAMIN KELLY</p><p>13 Escaping the iron cage of environmental rationalizations: microsocial decision-making in environmental conflicts</p><p>FILIP ALEXANDRESCU AND BERND BALDUS</p><p>Index</p>