Midterm 1 - Introduction, Diversity of Deviance, Anomie/Strain Theory, Social Disorganization Theory

Deviance

actions or behaviors that violate social norms (folkways, mores, and laws)

Social Control

the pressures and mechanisms within a society that allow it to maintain social order and cohesion

Norm

rules or expectations that are socially enforced

Folkways

general customs of daily life. violations don't cause outrage. examples include waiting in line and shaking someones hand to greet them.

Mores

rules in terms of morals and ethics. determination of right and wrong. violation causes some outrage. examples include gossiping, bullying, and lying

Laws

formal things that are illegal. violation causes outrage. examples include breaking into someones house, killing, etc.

Beliefs

shared ideas held collectively by people about what is true

Values

abstract standards in a society or group that define ideal principles about what is desirable, proper, good and bad. (equality, autonomy, individual effort = success, etc.)

Sociological Imagination

ability to see connection between personal lives/experience and our social world issues.

Critical Perspective on Deviance

the idea that the understanding of deviance in a culture is defined by those in power in order to maintain in power.

Stereotype

a generalized belief about a person or group of people based on one aspect of their character

Discrimination

actions or practices that excludes, disadvantages, or merely differentiates between individuals or groups of individuals on the basis of some ascribed or perceived trait

Stigma

a mark of deviance or disgrace; a negative label of perceived deviance often leads to stigma that may then reduce an individuals life chances

Dominant Culture

the culture of the most powerful group in society

Subculture

a group within larger society that has its own norms, values, behaviors, etc.

Counterculture

a subculture created as a reaction to the values of a dominant culture

Elite Deviance

the wrongdoing of powerful individuals and organizations

Altruistic Suicide

suicide that is not individualistic; when a person is closely oriented with to fulfilling expectations of a group, suicide is obligatory when they fail to met the expectations of the group, or when it is necessary to carry out group goals

Fatalistic Suicide

suicide when one takes their own life due to despair of living in restrictive conditions

Egoistic Suicide

suicide that is very individualistic, excessively self oriented in fact; occurs when an individual sees themselves as not being a part of the greater group

Anomic Suicide

anomie is the absence of norms, so this occurs when normal patterns of social life are uprooted, can result from rapid change. when a scale is upset but a new scale cant be immediately be improvised.

Anomie

a state of normlessness where society fails to effectively regulate the expectations or behaviors of its members

Conformity

when one accepts both traditional societal goals and the means to obtain those goals

Ritualism

when one rejects traditional societal goals but still uses the available means to them

Innovation

when one accepts traditional societal goals but rejects the typical means to obtaining them

Retreatism

when one rejects traditional societal goals and rejects the typical means of obtaining the goals

Rebellion

when one creates new goals and new means to obtain those goals

Social Disorganization Theory

a theory that asserts that deviance flourishes in some places but not others due to structural characteristics of a city or area.

Social Ecology (or Socio-ecological approach)

the approach that looks at how individuals interact with their environment

Collective Efficacy

social control exerted by cohesive communities and based on mutual trust, including intervention in the supervision of children and maintenance of public order

Social Cohesion

The interpersonal relationships among group members, often as a part of a community

Broken Windows Theory

a theory proposing that even small acts of crime, disorder, and vandalism can lead to more serious crimes that can threaten the safety and structure of a neighborhood

Segregation

Separation of people based on racial, ethnic, or other differences

Redlining

the practice of labeling black neighborhoods as "red" compared to the nicer white neighborhoods that were labeled green, blue, or yellow (listed in order of decreasing white population compared to black)

Restrictive Covenants

provision in a property deed preventing sale to a person of a particular race or religion; loan discrimination; ruled unconstitutional

Longitudinal Study

a study done over a long (months to years) period of time

Cross-sectional Study

a study done at one point in time