DSOC 1101 1st Edition Exam 2 Lectures 9 14 Lecture 9 2 25 Deviance behavior that violates a norm culturally dependent socially constructed Two Perspectives on Deviance Absolutism assumption that all human behavior can be considered either inherently good or bad frequently based on stereotypes Relativism deviance is socially constructed what is considered deviant is based on the time and historical context Note Lower status individuals e g ethnic minorities unemployed individuals are more likely to be considered deviant than high status individuals Explanations of Deviance Sociobiology focuses on genetic predisposition Psychology focuses on abnormalities within the individual Sociology Focuses on factors such as social class race and gender that are outside of the individual Functionalist Perspective on Deviance Deviance serves vital functions for society Sets examples for unacceptable behavior Provides guidelines for behavior that is necessary to maintain social order Bonds people through common rejection of deviant behavior Provides jobs for those who deal with deviant behavior Can serve as a positive stimulus by signaling problems in society that need to be addressed Symbolic Interactionist Perspective on Deviance We act according to our interpretation of situations Differential Association Theory we can learn deviance from different groups we associate with Labeling Theory No act is in itself deviant until it is labeled as such Depends on who sees it who commits it and the actions taken Conflict Perspective on Deviance Deviance is a result of social inequality Lecture 10 3 2 Macro level Explanations of Deviance Anomie breakdown of norms guiding behavior leads to social disorganization Strain Theory those with fewer resources are less able to achieve societally shared goals and may resort to deviant behaviors to achieve their desired goals Ways of Adapting to Strain Conformity embracing society s definition of success and adhering to the established means of achieving success Innovation use of illicit means to reach approved goals Ritualism strict adherence to culturally prescribed rules even though individuals give up on the goals they hoped to achieve Retreatism giving up both the means and the goals Rebellion rejecting the socially approved ideas of success and the means of attaining that success and coming up with news means and new goals Micro Level Explanations of Deviance Social Control Theory crime results from an imbalance between impulses toward criminal activity and the social or physical controls that deter it Differential Association Theory we can learn deviance from different groups we associate with Labeling Theory No act is in itself deviant until it is labeled as such Deviance Controlled by Sanctions Formal Sanctions imposed by legal system laws law enforcement prisons court system Informal Sanctions Rules and expectations about behavior may be unspoken generally understood White Collar Crime A crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation Fraud bribery inside trading embezzlement computer crimes forgery White collar criminals rarely spend time in jail even though it costs more than street crime Corporate Crime Criminal activity on the behalf of a business organization Crimes of fraud concealment and misrepresentation Lecture 11 3 4 The American Dream Land of opportunity Social Class is achieved Horatio Alger rags to riches belief Social Stratification system by which a society ranks categories of people in a hierarchy based on their access to scarce resources Caste System social stratification based on ascribed status Class System social stratification based on achieved status Occupational Prestige is ranked according to how vital task is to society how much authority and responsibility job involves degree of autonomy knowledge and skills required dignity of job financial reward Social Mobility Person s movement over time from one class to another Mobility can either be intergenerational occurring between generations or intragenerational occurring within generation Class and Life Chances Max Weber saw class as being closely related to people s life chances opportunities to acquire material goods positive living conditions and favorable life experiences In times of danger affluent and powerful people have a better chance of surviving than people of ordinary means Lecture 12 3 11 Social Class and Consumerism Social Comparison Theory states that individuals compare their own possessions against those of others to determine their relative social standing Status Consumption process by which consumers actively increase their social standing through conspicuous consumption of possessions Social Class Upper Upper Class Lower Upper Class Upper Middle Class Lower Middle Class Working Class Lower Class Sociological Perspective on Health Health is not just genetic and biological it is influences by social and economic conditions in which we live Inequalities in social conditions give rise to unequal and unjust health outcomes for different social groups The most consistent finding is that poorer people have poorer health Lecture 13 3 16 Race refers to physical variations in human beings singled out by members of the community or society as socially significant Racism set of beliefs and social practices in which people are treated differently and accorded advantages and disadvantages on the basis of culturally defined racial classifications While prejudice refers to the opinions and attitudes of an individual regarding another individual or group racism refers to the actual behavior of the individual towards the other individual or group Racism originated during exploration Superior European technology meant that Europeans were more powerful than natives Laws such as the VA Racial Integrity Act and Indian Reorganization Act were based on the percentage of Indian blood an individual had Lecture 14 3 23 Scope and Sources of Gender Inequality Male domination and female subordination are evident in all social relations Gender inequality derives from historical fact that women have been allocated to the private sphere and men to the public sphere this has created differential opportunities for acquiring wealth power and prestige Sexism belief in the innate superiority inferiority of one group men or women over the other based on the assumption of innate psychological behavioral and or intellectual differences between men