Exam 3 Flashcards
Deviance
Behavior, trade, or believe that departs from a norm and generates a negative reaction in a particular group. Must know the group norms to define something as this.
Structural strain theory
Developed by Robert Merton. States that there are goals in our society that people want to achieve, but they cannot always reach these goals which creates stress, or strain, because people are aware of the goals but cannot achieve them.
Conformist
Excepting the goals of the society and the means of achieving these goals. Example – business people
Innovator
Excepting the goals of society but look for new ways to achieve that goal. Example- drug dealers, Steve Jobs
Ritualist
Not interested in the goals of the society but they except The means of achieving those goals. Example – Artists (hard to be successful)
Retreatist
Don’t except your goals of society or the means of achieving those goals. Example – people who live off the grid
Rebel
Don’t except goals of society or means of achieving those goals, so they create their own goals. Example – MLK, Gandhi
Differential association theory
Edward Sutherland
States that we learn deviance from hanging around deviant peers. Person becomes delinquent because they “legitimate” their actions; socialized into crime
Labeling theory
Howard Becker
Deviance is caused by external judgments (labels) that change a persons self-concept and the way that others respond to that person; labeling can be a self for filling prophecy (prediction that causes itself to come true).
Primary deviance
Initial act that causes one to be labeled deviant
Secondary deviance
Deviant identity/career in deviance that is a result of the initial label.
Meritocracy
Society where status and mobility are based on individual attributes, ability, and achievements.
Stratification
How we sort people based on income, wealth, prestige and education. Systematic inequalities between groups of people that arise as intended or unintended consequences of social processes and relationships.
Status hierarchy
System of stratification based on social prestige. Example – a professor can automatically be upper class no matter the salary
Social mobility
Movement to a different system of social stratification in a society. Moving up or down to a different class.
