Introduction to Sociology Test 3

Deviance

Variation from set of norms or shared social expectations

Absolutist View

Certain behaviors are wrong (regardless of social/cultural context)

Medical View or Medicalization of Deviance

Deviance is a pathological evidence that society is unhealthy

Statisical View

Deviance is any behavior varying significantly from average or norm in population

Relativistic View

Deviance is interpreted only in sociocultural contexts which it occurs 

What are the positive functions of deviance?

Clarifies moral boundaries/norms, promotes social solidarity, stimulate social change, etc

What are the dysfunctions of deviance?

Disrupts social order, disrupts will of others to conform, destroys trust and diverts resources into social rehabilitation/control efforts

Moralist Views

Bad or wrong

Prevalence of Deviance

Society indicates it has a sickness

Internal Means of Control

Learned patterns that exist in minds of individuals and make them want to conform to social norms 

External Means of Control

Pressures of Sanctions applied to members of society by others

Sanctions

Rewards and punishments used to encourage proper behavior 

Positive Sanctions

Encourage individuals to continue a behavior

Negative Sanctions

Actions that discourage individuals from a behavior 

Informal External Controls of Deviance

Positive and negative controls used to influence behavior

Informal Social Controls

Behaviors used by people within our racial, ethnic, family or peer groups

Formal External Controls of Deviance

Systems created by society to control deviance (ex-, police officers, courts, prisons)

Cultural Transmission Theory

Community’s deviance may be transmitted to newcomers through learning and socialization

Differential Association Theory 

Deviance is learned (set of boundaries transmitted to people through interactions with others)

Strain Theory

Argues social structures within society may pressure citizens to commit crimes 

Labeling Theory

Certain behaviors can be labeled as “deviant” influencing the way a individual behaves 

Violent Crimes

Involves a victim (ex- homicide, forcible rape, aggravated assault and robbery) 

Property Crimes

Committed with crimes of gaining property with threat or use of force (burglary, larceny-threat, theft or arson)

National Crime Victimization Survey

Data collected by the Bureau of Justice Staton criminal victimization and Uniform Crime Report 

Victimless Crimes

Associated with society’s moral values/beliefs (prostitution, vagrancy, gambling, and public drunkenness) 

White-Collar Crimes

Individuals who break the law in course of their employment for personal or organizational gain

Organized Crimes

Groups arranged to carry out illegal activities (ex- distribution of drugs, operation of gambling distribution or loan sharking)

Juvenile Crime

Involves those under 18 (involves felonies or status offense)

Status Offenses

Individuals under age (running away)

Local Category of Policing

Involves city and county sheriff’s department

County Category of Policing

City and County Sheriff’s department

State Category of Policing

Highway Patrols

Federal Category of Policing

Drug enforcement, admin, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and explosives 

How many appellate courts are there 

12 of them, and 1 federal 

What does the appellate courts consist of?

Don’t hear new cases but act as reviewer of general jurisdictions, order new trials, allow defendents to go free and upholds lower courts verdict

Supreme Courts of U.S.

Highest law in country because when it hands down ruling, all states abide) 

Stratification 

Hierarchy or ranking of individuals/groups based on factors like; wealth, income, education, occupation, race and gender

Why does stratification very by societies?

Depends on cultural values, economic systems, historical legacies, and government policies 

Closed Systems

Social standing is determined at birth (ascribed), and individuals expected to remain in that strum for life (ex- caste systems and slavery)

Open Systems (class systems)

Social position is based on a mix of ascribed status (family background) and achieved status (education, occupation, income, and personal effort), and it allows for more mobility to move up or down the social ladder 

What is life chances like for people in high-income countries? 

Extended life expectancy, access to quality healthcare, access to high-quality education, economic stability allowing for more job opportunities, etc

What is life chances for people in low-income countries? 

Lower life expectancy, high morality rates, disease burden, lack of quality healthcare, limited educational opportunities, extreme poverty, poor infrastructure, etc 

The Bourgeoise Class (Karl Marx)

Known as capitalist class, this group owns mean of production (factories, land, raw materials, and tools) and their main goal is to maximize profit

The Proletariat Class (Karl Marx)

Known as the working class, and they own only their own labor power. They have to sell labor to bourgeoise in exchange for wages to survive 

How does Weber define social life?

A a group of people who share similar "life chances" based on their economic position in the market, which is determined by their possession of goods and opportunities for income

How do variables impact the upper class?

Defined by vast wealth giving them immense power to own lives and influence society 

How do variables impact the middle class?

Income: earning enough money to live comfortably

Education: Most hold college degrees allowing for more access to high paying jobs 

Occupation: Having “white collar jobs” like teachers, nurses or managers or “skilled blue collar” jobs like electricians or police officers 

Lifestyle/Stability: Have the ability to go on vacations, own a home, access good healthcare

How do variables impact the lower class?

Income: typically low wages making it difficult to afford basic needs

Wealth: living paycheck to paycheck

Education: Lower rates of highschool completion/college attendance

Occupation: Low skilled, physically demanding and require low experience or education 

Living Conditions/Instability: Housing and food security, limited access to healthcare, relying on government for food stamps

How was the poverty line established?

The U.S. poverty line was established in the 1960s by multiplying the cost of a basic food diet by three, based on the idea that families spent about one-third of their income on food

What variables were taken into consideration when the poverty line was established?

Family size and composition, with the thresholds adjusted annually for inflation

Which categories of people are more likely to fall below the poverty line?

Certain demographic groups, such as racial and ethnic minorities, are more likely to fall below the poverty line compared to others

What are the causes of social inequality in the U.S?

1. Historical and Systemic Discrimination (slavery, housing/labor market discrimination)

2. Advances in technology have increased demand for higher-skilled workers leading to decline in wages and job opportunities for those with less education 

3. Taxes and Transfer policies

4. Unequal access to education 

5. Gender pay gaps 

What are the consequences of social inequality in the U.S?

Mental health issues, worse health outcomes, lower social mobility, slower economic growth, higher crime/conflict, political polarization, etc

What does race refer to?

Social construct based on physical differences

What does ethnicity refer to?

Shared culture 

What are some traits of minority groups

1. Unequal treatment and Less Power

2. Distinguishing Traits: Physical (skin color) or cultural (language and religion) that are considered inferior by the dominant group 

3. People are born into the group; they don’t get a choice 

How are race and ethnicity socially constructed categories? 

Categories and their meanings are created, assigned, and agreed upon by society, rather than being determined by natural or biological reality

Stertoypes

Oversimplified, generalized assumptions of a particular group of people, which can be positive or negative. These are about how group is expected to behave or appear 

Prejudice

Negative attitude toward an individual based on perceived social group membership

Individual Discrimination

Actions carried out by one person over against another in a way that treats them differently based on race 

Institutional Discrimination

Unfair policies, practices and procedures embedded within organizations and institutions that produce racially inequitable outcomes for people of color and advantages for white people