Author: David Riesman, Nathan Glazer & Reuel Denney
Synopsis
The authors examine changes in American social character as society moves from traditional communities toward modern consumer and organizational life. They distinguish tradition-directed, inner-directed, and other-directed orientations.
Why It Matters to Sociology
The book became a major mid-century analysis of conformity, consumption, mass society, and personality. Its concept of other-direction remains useful for thinking about peer influence, popularity, media, and social approval.