SOC212 - 2. Theory I Flashcards

Question

Critique – Psychological Approaches

Answer 1

Human behavior results primarily from socialization + socially determined roles rather than static conditions. cannot isolate the effects of societal reactions to deviant behavior

Answer 2

Deviance as deliberate, purposeful behavior: | action represents a choice made to behave in a certain way, to think in a certain way/live certain kind of lifestyle

Answer 3

Individuals have choices in all behaviors. Why do alcoholics choose to drink? makes specific decisions or choices about

Answer 4

whether or not to engage in crime based on rationality. Pros and Cons understand the context of the decision and the factors that brought people to that decision.

Answer 5

deviants do not choose to be deviant | Everyone makes choices, but some people have better options to choose from

Answer 6

Choices can be limited | can be constrained by biology society

Answer 7

result of certain social structural strains that pressure individuals to become deviant. Modern societies create strains upon individuals by emphasizing cultural goals, while simultaneously limiting institutional access for certain groups

Answer 8

Anomie develops as result between disjuncture between valued cultural goals of success + legitimate institutionalized means by which a society allows one to achieve those goals

Answer 9

effect on the person material success, family, university - social norms lead us to desire Common Cultural Goal = Financial Success

Answer 10

``` Cultural assumptions generally expect members to achieve goals through legitimate means: Conventional, full time employment Well-paid occupations with benefits Higher education ```

Answer 11

Limited options. Many with lower SES or racialized communities don't have access to these means. Anomie is social condition that results from emphasizing success goals more strongly than acceptable means by which people might achieve them

Answer 12

opportunities are controled by system by design excludes lower class meet goals through deviant means society can only afford to keep few rich

Answer 13

``` 5 ways of contending with strain in an anomic society •Conformity •Ritualism •Rebellion •Innovation •Retreatism ```

Answer 14

Conformists accept both cultural goals + institutionalized means by which to attain them People access to good education/jobs Accepts Goals / Accept Means Do not become deviant

Answer 15

conform to society’s norms with no expectation of achieving its goals know that they will never achieve ‘American Dream’ but work everyday to get by. Reject Goals / Accept Means

Answer 16

contend with anomie by working towards attaining culturally prescribed goals of success through illegitimate means such as theft, burglary, robbery, organized crime, or prostitution

Answer 17

Accept Goals / Reject Means merton says this is a fair choice in an anomic society functional reaction to how society is structured

Answer 18

after internalizing cultural goals, finds them unobtainable. Internalized pressures prevent them from adapting through innovation feel defeated and withdraw from conventional roles

Answer 19

individuals may retreat through: Drugs, Alcohol, Gambling Reject Goals / Reject Means in some cases leads to suicide

Answer 20

Individuals who contend with anomie by going against conventional cultural goals that they feel unable to achieve. try to set up new goals + procedures that change social structure instead of achieving goals established by society. New Goals / New Means

Answer 21

Assumption of Universality: assumes universal standards of pursuing legitimate vs. illegitimate means. assumption is invalid as deviance is a relative term that varies by culture and society

Answer 22

``` Class Bias: assumes that deviant behavior concentrates primarily in lower classes. studied middle class teen males so not generalizable occurs regardless of social class, upper class just don’t get labeled deviant ```

Answer 23

Trouble with Retreatism: oversimplifies a very complex process insensitive and inaccurate

Answer 24

origins of rules/norms rather than source of behaviour that violates established standards stresses differentiation of groups in society + distribution of power among these groups

Answer 25

focus on why act is deviant, not why are they deviant focus on what than why or how results in a collection of groups with competing interests in conflict with one another

Answer 26

focuses on social power: Individuals with social power create rules and norms for interest of that group behavior that conflicts with the standards of segments of society with the power to shape public opinion + social policy

Answer 27

moral entrepeneurs | conflicts about race can actually be more about economic marginalization

Answer 28

``` society as the outcome of a continuing struggle between social classes Definitions of deviance emerge from class conflict betw powerful + less powerful groups ```

Answer 29

capitalist society as relationship between 2 groups of economic interests: competing social norms Bourgeoisie: Society’s ruling class – the factory owners Proletariat: ruled members of society – the workers whose labour power is exploited

Answer 30

``` state does NOT act as a neutral party. mainly protects ruling class against threats from ruled masses Laws prohibit certain acts that threaten ruling class ```

Answer 31

Laws legitimize intervention by society’s agents of social control Criminal law tends to side with the upper classes against the lower classes

Answer 32

law as tool to protect property lower classes do not have minimizes political threats focus on diff in social power elite + powerless as having diff interests frames crime as a rational act

Answer 33

Explanations of Rules or Behavior: little info about the process by which an individual comes to commit crime Origins of laws and norms, not individual actions Ignores socialization.

Answer 34

``` Who Benefits?: doubt that one particular group devises + enforces all laws for its sole advantage certain laws that don’t seem to benefit upper class like drugs Victims? ```

Answer 35

Law and the Causes of Behavior: Conflict perspectives hold that criminal law causes criminal behavior by defining specific acts as crimes Motivation?

Answer 36

Powerful Groups and Social Rules Conflict theories rely on an overly broad assumption that powerful groups dictate: Laws contents

Answer 37

Rule-making processes Enforcement Yet a variety of groups contribute to law making common law originated from lower class

SOC212 - 2. Theory I Flashcards

(62 cards)