question of the day pt. i
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Question of the Day pt. I. Why do ‘we’ (people) repeatedly do the same actions? . Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. -Albert Einstein. Question part II. If what we (as a society) do is knowingly wrong, why do we do it?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Question of the Day pt. I•Why do ‘we’ (people) repeatedly do the
same actions?
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
-Albert Einstein
Question part II•If what we (as a society) do is knowingly
wrong, why do we do it?
Deviance & Social ControlCh. 7
Deviance•Deviance =
violation of social norms▫Breaking laws▫Wearing nail
polish •Defined by
society, groups
Types of Deviance•Negative deviance
▫Doesn’t meet the expected norms
▫Happens because people ignore, misinterpret, or don’t know the norms
▫Stereotypical deviance
Types of Deviance (cont.)•Positive deviance
▫Overconformity to norms▫Perfectionism (based on norms)▫Act out the ideal norms
•Deviant▫Person who breaks HIGHLY VALUED norms
•Come up with a list of deviant activities▫Which ones are agreed upon by all parties?▫Which ones would SOME people disagree
with?▫Positive deviance▫Negative deviance
Dealing with deviance•Social control = promoting conformity to
the norms▫Internal control (internalization)
Individualized, happens during socialization Morals, know right and wrong
▫External control Social sanctions: rewards/punishments used
to encourage desired behavior
Controlling deviance with…•Formal sanctions
▫Attempts to change/control behavior (de-socialization/re-socialization) Prisons, military service Official recognition/awards
•Informal sanctions▫Peer pressure, gossip, smiles
•Ignorance▫“Boys will be boys”
Question of the Day•What is now normal/typical behavior that
as a child you considered deviant?
What would you consider as deviant behavior when you are an adult that you think is fine now?
Functionalism & Deviance7.2
Negative Aspects of Deviance•No more trust
▫Society cannot function sans trust•Deviance leads to more deviance•Waste of resources
How is this beneficial to society?
Positive Effects of Deviance•Clarifies norms•Relieves some pressure
▫Minor deviance keeps from eruptions•Increases unity within groups
▫Gives reminders of what societies value•Social change
Land of the Free?
Strain Theory •Anomie
▫Social instability due to lack of norms•Strain theory
▫Deviance caused by a gap between goals and ways to achieve those goals
▫Why is there animosity between rich and poor?
How would the pursuit of the “American Dream” cause deviance?
Strain & Deviancy•Innovation (robbery, crime)
▫Accept goal of success, use illegal ways to obtain it
•Ritualism (just go through the motions)▫Rejects goal of success, use legal ways
•Retreatism (homelessness, drug addicts)▫Reject success & use illegal ways
•Rebellion (US Confederacy)▫Retreatism AND create a new set of goals
& means
Control Theory•Conforming depends on strong bonds
▫Travis Hirschi Humans are selfish Decisions based on biggest benefit to
individual▫Good for describing youth delinquency, not
adult ▫Social bonds control the behavior
Elements of social bonds•Attachment•Commitment•Involvement•Belief
Homework•P. 212, questions 1-4
•Why are some people in society allowed to break the rules without punishment? Why does society allow this to happen?
Symbolic Interactionism & Deviance7.3
Differential Association theory•Individuals learn deviance based on how
many deviant acts they see•Knowing more deviant people than non-
deviant people leads to more deviance•More likely to be deviant if significant
others participate in deviant acts•Younger children learn deviant acts
quicker than older children
Labeling Theory•Society creates deviance by
labeling/identifying people as deviant•Not all deviants are treated as deviant
▫Societal standards▫Public eye▫Status
Levels of Deviance•Primary deviance
▫Initial act of deviance▫Occasionally breaking norms▫Individuals do not internalize behavior▫Not part of one’s master status
•Secondary deviance▫Deviance as a lifestyle▫Labeled by others and yourself as deviant
Consequences of labels•Cause discomfort, suffering•Can direct their future lifestyle•Stigma
▫Undesirable label used to keep deviants from being accepted fully into society
Homework•Create a collage of images, people, scenes•“label” each image based on your own
ideas/thoughts•Indicate each any image if it is a primary
or secondary deviance
Classwork•Give a description of 5 people
▫Give each a label▫Give an example of primary or secondary
deviance they might partake in▫Is there a stereotype for this person? What
is it and where does it come from?
Question of the Day•How do you “escape” from the barrage of
modern technology?
Ted Kaczynski •Unabomer•Domestic terrorist•Incredibly intelligent
▫Graduated Harvard at 16
▫PhD▫Professor @ 26
•Recluse•Unabomer Manifesto•NOT insane
Discussion Question of the Day
•Which is more detrimental to society, someone who steals millions of dollars or someone who steals a car?
Conflict Theory & Deviance7.4
Deviance in INDUSTRIAL societies•Most powerful members of society
determine WHO is deviant•Determine HOW they should be punished•Problems occur because of POWER
struggles
How to defend against deviance
Those criticized by those in charge•Critics of industrial society•Those who do not work•Threaten private property•Agitators
•Accepted: violence in sports
Race, ethnicity, & crime•Minorities get unequal treatment•In the US, more African-Americans and
Latinos are convicted and serve more time than whites for the same crime
•Blacks more likely to get death penalty for killing a white, but whites likely to get life in prison if they kill blacks
Why black ≠ white•Minorities do not have the resources for
good defense lawyers•Society deems minority interests as less
important than whites•Victim discounting
▫Reduces seriousness of crimes directed at people of lower social classes
▫Victim is less valuable
Why would the police target certain individuals over others?
White collar crime•Crime committed by respectable, high-
status persons•Typically deals with business
negotiations, office style crimes•Done without violence
•Estimated cost per year: more than $150 Billion
White collar time•Treated much more leniently than street
criminals•Less likely to be put in prison, lesser
sentences•Minimum security prisons, “Club Fed”
•Why are white collar criminals not perceived as much of a threat as street criminals?
Should white collar criminals be able to make money on their experiences (books, movies, CDs, etc.)
Question of the Day•Describe the quote “An eye for an eye
makes the whole world blind.”
Crime & PunishmentSection 7.5
Crime Reports•Overrepresent lower classes
▫Typically made up of minorities•2/3 of crime not reported
How does the media play a role in portraying crime?
Juvenile Crime•Delinquent behavior:
▫Deviance only minors commit▫Skipping school▫Fighting▫Underage smoking/drinking
Juvenile Crime Reduced•Decline in crime due to:
▫Fewer crack [cocaine] gangs▫Less violence associated w/out gangs▫Stricter sentences
Controlling Crime•Criminal justice system:
▫Cops, courts, correction system (prisons/jails)
▫Use deterrence, retribution, incarceration, rehab
•Deterrence ▫Discourages crime by threat of punishment▫Potential law breakers must:
Know they are likely to get caught Severe punishment
Capital Punishment•“Death Penalty”
▫Supported mostly because of sense of retribution
▫Retribution: compensation criminals pay for their acts “eye for an eye”
▫Supported by low educated, males, Republican, religious folk
Prisons•“Incarceration”
▫If in prison, can’t commit more crimes▫3 strikes law
•Rehabilitation▫Attempt to resocialize inmates▫Given work/social skills
About ½ return to prison in 3-5 years = recidivism
Prison Alternatives•Shock probation
▫Part of sentence in prison, rest on probation
•Community programs▫Reintroduce into society▫Break “inmate code”
•Diversion▫Referral to community program▫Reduce/prevent time in the criminal justice
system