Social Structure, Interaction, and Deviance in Society

Mechanical solidarity

Found in traditional societies where people share similar values and lifestyles.

Organic solidarity

Found in industrialized societies with a high division of labor, where interdependence creates social bonds.

Dramaturgical analysis

Goffman's description of social interaction as a performance, comparing everyday life to a theatrical presentation.

Front stage

The public persona individuals present to others.

Back stage

The area where individuals can relax and be themselves.

Impression management

The process of controlling how others perceive you.

Individual perception

How individuals interpret and understand situations, influenced by their unique experiences and viewpoints.

Role conflict

Occurs when a person holds two or more roles with conflicting expectations or demands.

Work-family conflict

A parent missing a child's event due to work obligations.

Work-school conflict

A student needing to prioritize work over studying for an exam.

Intra-role conflict

A parent struggling between comforting a child and promoting independence through 'cry it out' sleep training.

Status

A social position or rank that a person holds within a social system.

Role

The expected behavior associated with a particular status or position.

Primary group

Small groups characterized by intimate, long-term relationships, emotional bonds, and frequent face-to-face interaction.

Secondary group

Larger, more impersonal groups formed for specific, practical purposes.

Social structure

The stable patterns of social relationships within a society that provide an ordered framework for interaction.

Social group

A collection of people who interact with each other and share common expectations about each other's behavior.

Social institutions

Established patterns of beliefs, behaviors, and relationships that organize social life and meet societal needs.

Stigma

A negative label or mark of disgrace that can affect an individual's self-perception and social interactions.

Role exit

The process of disengaging from a role that was once central to one's identity.

Achieved status

A social position gained through effort and accomplishment.

Ascribed status

A social position assigned at birth or involuntarily later in life.

Category

A collection of people who share a common characteristic, but do not necessarily interact or have a sense of belonging.

Expressive leadership

Focuses on group morale, emotional support, and conflict resolution within the group.

Instrumental leadership

Concentrates on achieving group goals and completing tasks.

Social solidarity

Stronger in smaller, primary groups due to intimate relationships and shared identity, compared to larger, secondary groups.

Consciousness of kind

A sense of shared identity or belonging among members of a social group.

Milgram's study and findings

The Milgram experiment demonstrated people's willingness to obey authority figures, even when instructed to perform acts conflicting with their conscience.

Asche experiment and findings

The Asch experiment revealed the power of conformity and social pressure, demonstrating how individuals may adjust their beliefs or behaviors to align with a group.

Aggregate

A collection of individuals who are in the same place at the same time but do not interact or share a common purpose.

Authoritarian leadership

A leadership style where the leader makes decisions independently and expects strict obedience from group members.

Laissez-faire leadership

A hands-off leadership style where the leader provides minimal guidance and allows group members to make their own decisions.

Groupthink

A phenomenon where group members prioritize conformity and avoid dissenting opinions, leading to flawed decision-making.

Conflict theory view on deviance

Views deviance as a product of social inequalities and power struggles between different groups.

Differential association theory

Suggests that deviance is learned through social interaction, particularly within primary groups where individuals are exposed to attitudes and values favorable to deviance.

Labeling theory (primary and secondary deviance)

Argues that deviance is not inherent but is a result of being labeled as deviant by society.

Primary deviance

Initial deviant acts that do not necessarily lead to a lasting label or social consequences.

Secondary deviance

The internalization of the deviant label, leading to a deviant identity and further deviant behavior.

Merton's Strain theory and adaptations

Explains deviance as a result of the strain between societal goals (e.g., success) and the legitimate means to achieve them.

Conformity

Accepting both goals and means.

Innovation

Accepting goals but using illegitimate means.

Ritualism

Giving up on goals but adhering to legitimate means.

Retreatism

Rejecting both goals and means.

Rebellion

Rejecting goals and means and seeking to replace them with new ones.

Internet crime

Criminal acts committed using the internet.

Victimization facts (United States)

Facts related to crime victimization in the United States.

Rational choice theory

Suggests that individuals commit crimes based on a rational calculation of costs and benefits.

Furman vs. Georgia 1972 case on death penalty

A Supreme Court case that ruled the death penalty unconstitutional as it was being applied at the time.

Cloward and Ohlin gang types

Identified three types of delinquent subcultures or gangs based on access to illegitimate opportunities.

Gender differences in arrest rates for types of crime

Differences in the rates of arrest for various types of crimes between men and women.

Uniform Crime Report (how it is compiled)

The FBI's compilation of crime statistics based on data submitted by law enforcement agencies.

Percentage of cases resolved by plea bargain

The percentage of criminal cases that are resolved through plea bargains.

Misdemeanor

A less serious crime punishable by fines or short jail sentences.

Property crimes

Crimes that involve the taking or damaging of property.

Occupational crimes

Crimes committed by individuals in the course of their occupations.

Corporate crimes

Crimes committed by corporations or their executives.

Limitations on victim data in the U.S.

Limitations on the accuracy and completeness of crime victim data in the United States.

Durkheim's functions of crime

Durkheim argued that crime is normal and serves positive functions in society, such as clarifying moral boundaries, reinforcing social integration, and promoting social change.