Bio: (1923–2018 ) Canadian-American sociologist. Wrong received his Ph.D. from Columbia University. For most of his career, he was a Professor of Sociology at New York University, but he also taught at Princeton University, Rutgers, the University of Toronto, Brown University, and the New School for Social Research. He was the editor of journals Social Research (1962–4) and Contemporary Sociology (1972–4). Wrong made great contributions to various fields: demography, social theory, political sociology, social psychology, etc.

In his article “The Oversocialized Conception of Man in Modern Sociology” (1961), Wrong argues that mainstream sociology has neglected Freud’s theory of human behavior, hence it (sociology) is using an oversocialized concept of man. Wrong contends that contemporary sociological theory views “that man "internalizes" social norms and seeks a favorable self-image by conforming to the "expectations" of others. Such a model of man denies the very possibility of his being anything but a thoroughly socialized being…The Freudian view of man…sees man as a social though never a fully socialized creature. Sociologists need to develop a more complex, dialectical conception of human nature instead of relying on an implicit conception that is tailor-made for special sociological problems” (Wrong, 1961:183). According to Wrong, sociology has to incorporate the theoretical significance of the conflict between sexual needs and social order that exists within the Freudian tradition into its theories.

Some of Wrong’s early works were dedicated to demographic trends - Population and Society (1961) and Class Fertility Trends in Western Nations (1980). Wrong also presented a sharp criticism of functionalism and functionalist theories of social stratification. He emphasized the importance of conflicts, resistance, and opposition toward cultural integration.

Wrong is best known for Power: Its Forms, Bases and Uses (1988). This book is a wide-ranging theoretical examination of power in social life. Wrong seeks to clarify what power is, how it operates, and why it is central to understanding social relationships and institutions. Wrong defines power as the capacity of individuals or groups to produce intended and foreseen effects on others. He distinguishes power from related concepts such as influence, authority, force, manipulation, and coercion, arguing that sociological discussions often blur these differences. By disentangling these terms, he provides a more precise conceptual framework for analyzing power.

Wrong differentiates between different forms of power: 1) coercive power (based on threats or force), 2) inducement (offering rewards), 3) persuasion (shaping beliefs through argument), 4) authority (legitimate, socially recognized power), and 5) manipulation (covert influence). He emphasizes that power is not always oppressive or illegitimate; it is a pervasive feature of all social organization, including families, workplaces, and political systems. Wrong analyzes the resources that make power possible, including control over material assets, access to information, organizational position, charisma, and social norms. He highlights that power is relational: it depends not only on what one actor possesses but also on the dependence and expectations of others.

A central theme is the distinction between naked coercion and legitimate authority. Drawing on classical sociological theory, especially Max Weber, Wrong argues that stable social order depends more on legitimacy than on force. When authority loses legitimacy, coercion becomes more visible and social stability weakens.

Wrong also critiques overly deterministic or structural accounts of power (including some Marxist and elite theories), arguing that power is dispersed and situational rather than monopolized in a single center. He resists both the view that power is everywhere and the claim that it is entirely concentrated in ruling elites, advocating instead a nuanced, pluralistic understanding.

Wrong’s commentaries and essays on politics and the role of the intellectuals were compiled and published in The Modern Condition (1998). Beyond his academic influence, Wrong was also an engaged public intellectual, especially through his contributions to the journals Partisan Review, Commentary, and Dissent.

Main works

“The Oversocialized Conception of Man in Modern Sociology”, in American Sociological Review (1961);

Population and Society (1961);

Makers of Modern Social Science: Max Weber (1970); 

Readings in Introductory Sociology (1972); 

Sceptical Sociology (1977);

Power: Its Forms, Bases, and Uses (1979);

Class Fertility Trends in Western Nations (1980);

The Problem of Order (1994);

The Modem Condition (1998);

The Oversocialized Conception of Man (1999); 

Reflections on a Politically Skeptical Era (2003);

The Persistence of the Particular (2005).