SOC 101 March 17 Lecture Outline Chapter 5 Social Structure and Social Interaction continued Impression Management and Dramaturgy Erving Goffman Presentation of Self in Everyday Life 1959 Dramaturgical theory makes use of concepts that parallel those of stage performances roles props scenes etc People project images of themselves on the social stage to be seen in particular ways and to achieve particular ends Impression management how one watches and manipulates another s behavior and adjusts his her own to the other s expectations Front stage Back stage Roles Performance Audience Social Exchange Theory our interactions are determined by the rewards punishments we receive from others Argues that behavior that is rewarded will be repeated Behavior that is punished will not be repeated Chapter 7 Deviance and Crime of Suicide What Is Deviance 2 Sections 7 1 7 2a up to and including the section labeled Durkheim The Study A general definition deviance refers to any violation of norms According to Howard S Becker sociologists are concerned not with the act itself but the reactions to the act those reactions are what make something deviant Deviance is relative what is deviant varies from society to society and group to group A specific form of deviance crime the violations of rules that have been written into law is also relative To sum up the four main characteristics of deviant behavior 1 It occurs in a social context and is not just individual behavior 2 It is culturally relative or enforced 3 The social rules are created or constructed not just morally decided upon 4 The audience decides what is defined as deviant What is the purpose of social control By making behavior predictable norms make social life possible Consequently all human groups develop a system of social control with formal and informal means of enforcing norms An especially effective negative sanction within primary groups and small communities is shaming which typically involves subjecting a rule breaker to public ridicule humiliation and or condemnation The Medicalization of Deviance Over the past 100 years there has been a growing tendency to view deviance including crime as mental illness 3 Thomas Szasz argues that mental illnesses are neither mental nor illness Rather they are simply problem behaviors Although not all sociologists agree with Szasz s arguments some find his analysis refreshing because it indicates that socialization and social structures not illnesses of the mind underlie deviant behavior A good example is the labeling of inattention and disruption in class as well as disrespect for authority as the result of the child having ADD or ADHD Theories of Deviance I The Functionalist Perspective on Deviance and Social Control What then are the functions and dysfunctions of deviance Functionalists contend that deviance including crime is a natural part of society and furthermore fulfills necessary functions for society According to Durkheim deviance contributes to the social order through three main functions 1 Deviance clarifies moral boundaries and norms punishing deviants affirms a group s norms and clarifies what it means to be a member of that group 2 Deviance promotes social unity punishing deviants fosters a feeling of togetherness in a group s members while affirming the rightness of that group s ways Even dysfunctional behaviors such as prostitution and arson reinforce stability 3 Deviance promotes social change when boundary violations gain enough support they become new acceptable behaviors as such deviance may force a group to rethink and redefine its moral boundaries and change its customary ways The Case of Suicide In fact the pursuit of mainstream values may generate forms of deviance 4 Anomic suicide occurs when the disintegrating forces in the society make individuals feel lost or alone Altruistic suicide occurs when there is excessive regulation of individuals by social forces As Durkheim argued altruistic suicide results when individuals are excessively dominated by the expectations of their social group People who commit altruistic suicide subordinate themselves to collective expectations even when death is the result Egoistic suicide occurs when people feel totally detached from society Ordinarily people are integrated into society by work roles ties to family and community and other social bonds When these bonds are weakened through retirement loss of family and friends or socioeconomic hardship the likelihood of egoistic suicide increases 5