5 Deviance, Law, & Crime

Social construction

The concept that reality is constructed through social interactions and shared perspectives.

Systemic Racism

An organized system of privilege based on race, perpetuating inequality at a macro level.

White Privilege

Invisible privileges afforded to white individuals that benefit them in society.

Post-Truth

Circumstances where emotional appeal overshadows objective facts in public opinion.

Realistic Conflict Theory

The theory that group competition over scarce resources breeds animosity between groups.

Contact Theory

The theory suggesting that increased intergroup contact can reduce prejudice if there is equal power and cooperation.

Macro level analysis

Focus on large-scale systems such as nations to understand societal issues like racism.

Meso level analysis

Examines group dynamics and organizations affecting race relations within society.

Micro level analysis

Explores individual interactions, including biases and micro-aggressions, that impact racial dynamics.

Authoritarian Personality

A personality type characterized by a susceptibility to prejudice and influenced by societal conditions.

Indigenous Peoples

Groups with distinct cultural identities that have been marginalized, especially in colonial contexts.

Intersectionality

A foundational principle of critical race theory recognizing how various identities intersect to shape experiences of oppression.

Colonialism

A system of domination where one group establishes control over another territory and its people.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI)

Concepts aimed at promoting representation and fairness for all individuals, especially in organizational contexts.

Micro-aggressions

Subtle, often unintentional, discriminatory comments or actions against marginalized groups.

Thomas Theorem

Says that defined situations carry real consequences; the way we perceive reality impacts our actions.

Robbers Cave Experiment

An experiment demonstrating how intergroup conflict arises from competition for limited resources and how cooperation can reduce prejudice.

Social Inequality

A condition where access to resources is patterned and not randomly distributed, affecting various social groups.

Standing Rock protests

A case study exemplifying Indigenous rights activism and resistance against colonialism.

Cultural Hegemony

The dominance of one culture over others, influencing societal norms and values.

Racial Micro-affirmations

Small gestures of inclusion or support that help counteract micro-aggressions.

Systematic Discrimination

A systematic pattern of unfair treatment based on race, ethnicity, or other characteristics.

Affirmative Action

Policies designed to improve opportunities for historically marginalized groups.

Colorblind Racism

The belief that ignoring racial differences promotes equality, often obscuring ongoing discrimination.

Social Mobility

The ability for individuals to move up or down the social ladder, influenced by various societal factors.

Critical Race Theory (CRT)

An academic framework that examines the relationship between race, law, and power.

Implicit Bias

Unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding and actions.

Racial Identity

How individuals perceive and express their race within a cultural context.

Colorism

Discrimination based on skin tone, often within a racial or ethnic group, privileging lighter skin over darker skin.

Cultural Competence

The ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across cultures.

Ethnocentrism

The belief in the superiority of one's own culture, leading to prejudice against other cultures.

Racial Profiling

The discriminatory practice of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on their race or ethnicity.

Cultural Exchange

The sharing and exchanging of cultural aspects such as traditions, practices, and knowledges between different groups.

Anti-racism

Active stance against racism, advocating for policies and practices that promote racial equality.

Empowerment

The process of gaining freedom and power to make choices that affect one’s life, often focused on marginalized communities.

Discrimination

Unfair treatment of individuals based on their characteristics such as race, gender, or age.

Whiteness

A socially constructed category that implies not just physical attributes but a set of privileges associated with being white.

Transnationalism

The process of immigrants maintaining connections across borders, influencing cultural, economic, and social dynamics in both home and host countries.