This comprehensive overview of the first quarter-century of American environmental sociology introduces readers to the research and theoretical perspectives in this new field of study. Formally established in 1976 with the formation of the American Sociological Association's Section on Environmental Sociology, the field emerged in response to widespread societal recognition of the significance of environmental problems in the 1970s and has flourished ever since. Focusing on both built and natural environments, this volume provides overviews of key topics in both branches of the field,...

This book is a selection of edited papers, most of which were initially presented at an international conference held under the auspices of the Ad Hoc Committee on Housing and the Built Environment of the International Sociological Association. It represents a relevant sample of the literature on recent developments in and current research on housing and neighborhoods. It focuses attention on the nature of housing and urban research at present and gives a sense of the directions in which the field is evolving.