Soc 2106 I

Front 1

What are two opposing perspectives on deviance?

Back 1

Positivist Perspective

Constructionist Perspective

Front 2

Three assumptions of the positivist perspective on deviance.

Back 2

1. Absolutism
2. Objectivism
3. Determinism

Front 3

Absolutism

Back 3

Deviance is intrinsically real in that it possesses qualities that distinguish it from conventionality

Front 4

Objectivism

Back 4

Deviance is an observable object in that a deviant person is real and can be objectively studied

Front 5

Determinism

Back 5

Deviance is determined or caused by forces beyond the individual's control

Front 6

Three assumptions constructivists make on deviance.

Back 6

1. Relativism
2. Subjectivism
3. Voluntarism

Front 7

Relativism

Back 7

Deviance by itself does not have any intrinsic characteristics unless it is thought to have these characteristics

Front 8

Subjectivism

Back 8

Deviant behaviour is a subjective, personal experience

Front 9

Voluntarism

Back 9

Deviant behaviour is a voluntary act

Front 10

What forms of deviance is the positivist perspective better at describing?

Back 10

Serious forms of deviance such as murder, rape, robbery.

Strong public consensus

Front 11

What forms of deviance is the constructionist perspective better at describing?

Back 11

Less serious forms of deviance such as drugs, prostitution, gambling etc.

Front 12

Personal Troubles vs Public Issues

Back 12

Personal troubles affect individuals and their immediate surrounding

Public issues impact a large number of people and are matters of pubic debate

Front 13

Theory

Back 13

A set of interrelated propositions constructed and fitting together logically, which claims to explain one or more aspect of the world around us

Front 14

Characteristics of a good theory

Back 14

- Logically sound
- Address conflicting positions
- Sensitizing ability
- Popularity

Front 15

How do we evaluate a theory?

Back 15

- Scope
- Accuracy
- Simplicity
- Ease to disprove

Front 16

Goal-Means Gap

Back 16

Robert Merton

Hint 16

Society encourages the individual to be deviant.
- emphasis on cultural value of success
- expected to be ambitious and high achieving
- legitimate means of success not universally available
- common goal without common means leads some to seek illegitimate means

Front 17

Status Frustration

Back 17

Cohen

Hint 17

Replaces merton's notion of success with Status. Applied to schools:
- lower class boys cannot measure up to middle class boys
- get attention by breaking rules
- develop their own rules

Front 18

Differential Illegitimate Opportunity

Back 18

Cloward & Ohlin

Hint 18

3 types of illegitimate opportunities are provided by delinquent subcultures:
1. Criminal subculture: theft, robbery, fencing
2. Conflict subculture: violence, delinquency
3. Retreatis subculture: drug use

Front 19

What are some critiques of anomie strain theory?

Back 19

1. No reliable evidence that lower classes are more likely to engage in deviant activities
2. No evidence to support the assumption that the lower classes have the same success aspirations as the upper class.

Front 20

Differential Association

Back 20

Edwin Sutherland

Hint 20

An individual who associates with deviants is more likely to become deviant.

Front 21

Differential Identification

Back 21

Glaser

Hint 21

Association with deviants is harmless unless we identify with them.

Front 22

Differential Reinforcement

Back 22

Burgess & Akers

Hint 22

People will continue to engage in deviant activities if they have been rewarded for doing so

Front 23

What are some critiques of social learning theories of deviance?

Back 23

1. People cannot readily identify from whom they learned their deviant/anti deviant ideas
2. No empirical evidence
3. Does not explain initial deviance

Front 24

What are four ways an individual bonds to society?

Back 24

1. Attachment to people and institutions
2. Commitment to conformity
3. Involvement in conventional activities
4. Belief in the moral validity of social rules

Front 25

Control Balance

Back 25

Charles Tittle

Hint 25

Individuals who lack control balance are likely to be deviant.

Front 26

Control Deficit

Back 26

The control others have over an individual is greater than the control he has over them

Front 27

Control Surplus

Back 27

The control an individual has over others is greater than the control they have over him.

Front 28

Disintegrative Shaming

Back 28

The punishment of the wrongdoer that results in stigmatization, rejection, or ostracization

Front 29

Reintegrative Shaming

Back 29

Shaming that makes the wrongdoer feel guilty while showing understanding, forgiveness or even respect

Front 30

Reintegrative Shaming

Back 30

Braithwaite

Hint 30

Society controls our behaviour through shaming. There are two types:
1. Disintegrative Shaming
2. Reintegrative Shaming

Front 31

Deterrence Doctrine

Back 31

Assumes humans are basically rational and will weigh the benefits agains the costs of committing a crime

Front 32

What are three ways a punishment can be carried out?

Back 32

1. Severity
2. Certainty
3. Timeliness

Front 33

General Deterrence

Back 33

The punishment of a criminal deters the general public from committing crime

Front 34

Specific Deterrence

Back 34

The punishment of a criminal deters that criminal from committing crime.

Front 35

What is the main focus of Labelling Theory?

Back 35

The meanings placed on actions and reactions of the deviant and the larger group

Front 36

Primary vs Secondary Deviance

Back 36

Edwin Lemert

Hint 36

Primary Deviance: a matter of value conflict in which society and the individual perceive a behaviour differently

Secondary Deviance: occurs once the individual comes to agree with society's definition of the behavior