...Sociology Central Teaching Notes Crime and Deviance 1. Basic Concepts Sociology Central www.sociology.org.uk Crime and Deviance Basic Concepts In this section of the course we will be exploring the nature of conformity to - and deviation from social rules in both our own and other societies. In order to do this, we will initially need to understand a number of basic concepts that we can develop. In more detail at a later point. Before we start to do this, however, it might be useful to briefly map-out the various general areas covered by the syllabus. In this respect, we will be looking at a major aspect of deviant behaviour in our society (crime) and the way such behaviour is associated with various social categories such as: Class Age Gender Ethnicity Locality / Region In simple terms, we need to look at the various explanations of crime and deviance that have been produced by sociologists over the past 100 or so years. The concept of power is a very significant one in relation to the way social rules are created and applied and, for this reason, we need to examine this concept as a means of understanding the nature of social conformity and deviance. A significant aspect of (deviant) behaviour is the reaction of others to that behaviour and, in this respect, we will be particularly concerned with an examination of the role of the mass media in the process of Deviancy Amplification. The concern here will be to outline the role of "official" agencies...
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...Chapter 2 – Examining the Social World: How Do We Know? Ballantine, Roberts, and Korgen. Our Social World: Condensed, Fourth Edition. © 2015 SAGE Publications The Development of Sociology • Social thought before sociology: strongly influenced by religion and philosophy • Modern sociology arose in 19th century Europe, influenced by several conditions: – Colonialism: exposure to other cultures – Industrial Revolution & French Revolution: desire to know how dramatic change could be systematically explained – Advances in the natural sciences: desire to apply scientific method to the social world Ballantine, Roberts, and Korgen. Our Social World: Condensed, Fourth Edition. © 2015 SAGE Publications The Development of Sociology August Comte & the science of society • Coined the term “sociology” in 1838 • Thought society’s problems could not be understood by philosophical or religious speculation; scientific knowledge was needed • Two main concerns – What holds society together? (social statics or structure) – Why is there change in society? (social dynamics or process) Ballantine, Roberts, and Korgen. Our Social World: Condensed, Fourth Edition. © 2015 SAGE Publications The Development of Sociology Early sociology after Comte • Focus on massive social and economic change brought by Industrial Revolution • Focus on relationship between micro-, meso-, and macro-level processes • Early sociological theorists: Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, Harriet...
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...Sociology is and should be a science Karl Popper- If academic subjects want to be called a science they must undergo falsification. This means sociology would have to come up with a hypothesis; such as suicide is caused by insufficient integration and regulation. He rejects Marxism as a pseudo-science because its concepts are too abstract to be seen or measured (false class consciousness) Destructive method- Theory has loads of challenges to the hypothesis. Inductive method- Finds loads of evidence to prove self. Research process- If it should be a science it must adopt body of metholgical principles common in natural sciences: Empiricism- Must be able to prove or disprove theories with direct experience. Religion can never be proved so isn’t science. Objectivity- Conclusions should be based on available evidence and not opinions or beliefs of researcher. Controlled Experimentation- Systematic and controlled experiments where any other influence isn’t involved. Cumulative progression- Science is a march of progress, where new discoveries improve previous knowledge. Sociologists can adopt research methods that are faithful to the natural sciences, quantitative data used to reveal patterns of human behaviour, and then conclusions can be made which gives laws. Durkheim- believes sociology is the study of social acts that are external to the individuals, didn’t directly observe the social cause of suicide but did observe its effects. Not science: Interperatives Weber-...
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...Term Paper On Disciplines that Contribute to Organizational Behavior Prepared by – Shambhavi Reg. no. 1220759 Class: Ist MBA – V Date : 9th July, 2012 Abstract: This study covers different disciplines that affect the discipline of organizational behavior. Disciplines like psychology, sociology, anthropology, etc are self acclaimed disciplines that contribute to the study of organizational behavior and they determine how an individual would behave in a scenario. It also includes mention of a case study to determine corporate psychological defenses, which explains how organizations try to avoid charges even if it’s their fault. This term paper discusses how different attributes of organizational behavior are affected by disciplines of different nature. Key words: Interdisciplinary, Organizational Behavior, Psychology, Sociology, Social Psychology, Anthropology, Management, Political Science, Medicine. 1 Introduction: 1. Meaning & Definitions: Organizational Behavior is a systematic study of the actions and attitudes that people exhibit within organizations, according to P G Aquinas (2006). This study is basically concerned with the psychosocial, interpersonal, and behavioral dynamics in organizations. The term ‘Organizational behavior’ is defined by Stephen P Robbins as “a field of study that investigates the impact of individuals, groups and structures on behavior within organizations for the purpose of applying such knowledge towards improving on Organization’s...
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...Personal Statement Growing up, I was always interested in stories. I read everything I could get my hands on, whether it was fiction or nonfiction. I would spend hours on end, consuming the stories of other people and learning how their pasts affected their present lives. I would read books such as Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War and The Stranger Beside Me. I always thought that the stories with the most complex background were the ones that were the most interesting. When choosing my A-Levels, I was drawn to study sociology as a result. Sociology, as the study of society as a whole, has helped me see the way that someone’s environment shapes the person that they are. It is incredible to take the person’s context and really examine...
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...investigation begins with two key requirements: 1. Apply the sociological perspective. 2. Be curious and ask questions. B. Sociology is a type of science, a logical system that bases knowledge on direct, systematic observation. Science is one form of truth. Scientific knowledge is based on empirical evidence, or information we can verify with our senses. C. Scientific evidence sometimes contradicts common sense explanations of social behavior. 1. SOCIOLOGY IN FOCUS BOX (p. 28)—Is What We Read in the Popular Press True? The Case of Extramarital Sex. Every day, we see stories in newspapers and magazines that tell us what people think and how they behave. But a lot of what we read turns out to be misleading or even untrue. Take the issue of extramarital sex, which refers to a married person having sex with someone other than his or her spouse. A look at the cover of many of the so-called women’s magazines you find in the checkout aisle at the supermarket or a quick reading of the advice column in your local newspaper might lead you to think that extramarital sex is a major issue facing married couples. II. Three Ways to Do Sociology. There are three ways to do research in sociology: positivist sociology, interpretive sociology, and critical sociology. A. Positivist Sociology. 1. Scientific sociology is the study of society based on systematic observation of social behavior. The scientific orientation to knowing, called positivism, assumes that an objective reality exists. 2. Concepts...
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...When a person with a mental illness is discriminated and prejudiced, he is suffering from social stigma. On the other hand, perceived stigma or self stigma hates oneself because of the discrimination they have been receiving (Davey, 2013). Tracing history, mental illness has not been considered unhealthy. As a matter of fact, those who are mad are considered to be a source of entertainment. There is even a day that they are given feast, so that they too, can celebrate. This is what we call April Fool’s Day that we are celebrating nowadays. However, when information evolved, cultural and societal view and understanding of mental illness has shifted. What worsens someone's mental illness is stigma. When one stigmatized, he is also discriminated. Reality is, those who are having mental health problems are more likely to be attacked or even harm themselves than causing harm to other...
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...Social Learning Theory (Week 2: Assignment) The Social Learning Theory (Week 2 Assignment) There are several theories that have been developed in order for man to explain social development and the social concepts created by these developments. The many different theories that “explain how people become socialized, including the psychoanalytic theory, the functionalism theory, the conflict theory, and the symbolic interaction theory look at the individual learning process of man” (Vissing, 2011). They dive into the formation of one’s self, and they explain how the influence of society within socialization affects individuals. The social learning theory is one of these theories that attempt to explain the details of socialization and the effects of one’s own development. The social learning theory has been noted and acknowledged within the psychology community for some time now and was greatly shaped by psychologist, Albert Bandura. Overall, the social learning theory has several aspects and elements that make it a formidable and studied theory by many psychologists and it is used by many while attempting to explain how exactly people become socialized. To begin with, the social learning theory takes in to account the formation of one’s identity. The identity is considered to be a learned response to social encounters. The theory “emphasizes the societal context of socialization rather than the individual mind” (Anderson, 2009) and it “postulates that an individual’s identity...
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...International Journal of Medical Sociology and Anthropology ISSN: 2546-9763 Vol. 2 (2), pp. 066-075, February, 2013. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals Review Review on Medicalisation: A critical appraisal with special reference to India Zulufkar Ahmad Khanday Department of Sociology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, 202002, India. E-mail: k.zulufkar.amu@gmail.com, Tel.: 8171286053 Accepted 10 December, 2013 The concept of medicalization emerged from the intellectual and social turmoil of the 1950s and 1960s as a critique of medicine as authoritarian and the expansion of its conceptual model to the analysis of social ills and attendant policy. “Medicalization” refers the process by which non-medical problems become defined and treated as medical problems, usually in terms of illness and disorders”. This review is based mainly on three objectives; (a) first is to explain the nature of medicalization- i.e. what medicalization actually is and why there is need of de-medicalization, (b) second is to explain the how the medicalization has negative effects on the health of people- i.e. ‘the medical establishment has become a major threat to health’ and providing a dossier of medicine’s adverse effects – the wrongs and harms it has done – through processes of clinical, social and cultural ‘iatrogenesis’ or doctor-induced conditions, and finally (c) third is to explain the impact of the...
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...#1: The Field of Social Psychology: How We Think About and Interact with Others Introduction: Interaction between individuals is a regular fact in life. The impact of relationships and interactions is of interest to Social Psychologists. This lecture will provide you with a basis for examining social behaviour and the various theories that explore human interaction and its resultant outcomes. Lecture #1 Notes: This week’s notes will provide a brief introduction into the discipline of Social Psychology - covering some of the basic principles and tenets of this branch of psychology before we dive into the topics and research. So what is Social Psychology? Definition of Social Psychology: the scientific field that seeks to understand the nature and causes of individual behavior and thought in social situations. • Allport (1935) defined social psychology as the scientific study of how people’s thoughts, feelings and behaviours are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. • Social Situations = actual, imagined or implied presence of others • Behavior = Overt behavior plus thoughts, feelings, beliefs, attitudes • Scientific Field = Combination of Arts and Science skills How Does Social Psychology Differ from Sociology? • Differ in level of analysis Sociology: Tends to use societal level of analysis. How do unemployment rates affect levels of violent crime in Vancouver? Social Psychology: Tends...
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...Exam I Study Guide 1. Definition and focus of sport sociology. a. Sociology: interaction between groups and their inherent cultures b. Sport sociology: relationship between sport and society by examining its inherent institutions (race, genders…) i. “Sport is a microcosm of society. It mirrors our culture” (drugs, women, scandal) 2. Definition of the following terms: c. Socialization: The process of interacting with other people and learning social customs, morals and values. One becomes socialized by observation, participation, and/or reinforcement . *economics affects socialization more than anything* as well as personal attributes, significant others, and social situation d. Culture: Shared beliefs, values, symbols, ideologies-> changing patterns of learned behavior. (ex. After 9/11 one team, not individual players) (criteria: class, income, gender, age, education, occupation, religion, ethnicity, race, appearance, athleticism) ii. transformation of sport: social roles -> social statuses-> role behavior-> social interaction -> social organization e. Play: Free activity that involves exploring our environment, self-expression, dreaming, and pretending. There are no firm rules, and the outcome of the activity is unimportant. f. Games: an aspect of play that shows more evidence of structure and is competitive. The goals for participating are clear. They are mental, physical, or a combination...
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...Important terms from sociology related to crime: 1. Aggression: it is hostile, injurious, or destructive intended behavior directed towards harming or injuring another person or persons. Aggression results from anger, frustration, or even provocation. It can be expressed physically or communicated verbally or non-verbally through negative body language. There are two forms of aggression, hostile aggression- aggression that stems from angry feelings example a child throws a temper tantrum after her mom refuses to buy a candy. Instrumental aggression- it is a form of aggression resulted to achieve a goal. Example two children fighting over the same toy and one of them is hitting the other to take the toy. http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/330/a/8/sociology___deviance_6_by_kanmuri_san-d33ofxl.png Citation: (Ritzer & Ryan, 2011, p. 9) 2. Capital punishment: it is a punishment of death for committing a serious crime. There are different methods of capital punishment like- disembowelment (example beheading ), electrocution (the electric chair), shooting, and also hanging, these are just a few ways, from which hanging is the most common form of death penalty. Capital punishment is legal in India. The most recent examples of death penalty in India being Ajmal kasab in 2012 and Afzal guru in 2013. Currently there are 135 countries that have abolished death penalty and around 62 countries including India that have retained...
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...illness for health workers. Let’s start with some questions … o Why do people stop taking antibiotics before they have finished the packet? o Why do people smoke even when they know its unhealthy? o Why are women more likely to be diagnosed with depression than men? o Why are poor people sicker than rich people? o Why do people seek complementary and alternative remedies rather than going to the doctor? o Why do migrants to Australia have more accidents at work? o Why is there a 15‐20 year life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non‐Indigenous Australians? 2 2/17/2016 What is sociology? “The study of society” Links between individual lives & social forces Systematic patterns in groups of people – Behaviour – Meanings – Beliefs How do aspects of social life influence others? How does the distribution of power affect social life? Sociology offers: A ‘second opinion’ about common sense ideas...
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...In my opinion, of the classical sociologists, Emile Durkheim stands out as the most relevant to modern sociology. I believe that his first-hand exposure to societies shift into an industrial nature, although temporally brief, allowed him to a more comprehensive view of how sociology would impact the future. In addition, Durkheim through his writing sought to encompass the large picture of society through the concept of structural functionalism. By analyzing social morality Durkheim attempted to bring a greater understanding to how our day to day interactions were knitted into the social fabric. The rules of how we should and should not behave, have a clear bearing on our interactions with others as well as the development of others perceptions....
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...Myths and Reality of Crime Sociology 305 - Crime and Society June 4, 2013 Myths and Reality of Crime Crime and its definitions vary across time and space. Shaped the cultural values and ideas, norms and practices of the society in question and the political sphere’s interpretation of such, one society’s definition of crime may be incongruent with another (Morrison, 2009). Not surprisingly then crimes, as perceived by society members significantly differ from that of officials. In fact, these differences are portrayed in the mainstream media and serve as main components of popular television shows like Law and Order, Criminal Intent, NCIS, and Burn Notice. Given the popularity of these shows and their focus on violent criminal acts, these biased media forms appeal to prevailing thought that violent crimes in America are commonplace (Morrison, 2009). By extension, these shows call into question ideas about criminal propensity, the conditions that induce each criminal participation or even vigilant justice (Stark, 1993). However, these television shows fail to highlight the real increase in white collar crimes in scale and incidence and in many ways reinforce the myths of crime and violence (Holtfreter, Van Slyke, Bratton, & Gertz, 2008). Defining Crime through Myth and Pseudoscience Without question the notions of crime, of one’s inclination to commit such and the avenues for redress within American Society have changed dramatically since America’s beginning...
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