Ch 3

Question 1

Subjective (interpretive and critical) theories

Answer 1

• Focuses on the nature of social expectations (rule-making)
  → interpretive theories: focuses on now people develop understandings of the world, other people, and themselves
  → critical theories: focuses on power dynamics that underlie the creation of social rules

Question 2

Symbolic interactionism (interpretive)

Answer 2

Assumptions:
- we develop understanding and attribute meaning to the world/ourselves based on our interactions with others
- society is created by social interaction (via symbols)
- role-playing: other people’s perspectives (stepping in other people’s shoes)
- looking-glass self: we see ourselves as a reflection of how we think others see us
- significant others: internalization of expectations of those close to you
- generalized others: internalized norms (society)

Question 3

Labelling theories (interpretive)

Answer 3

Assumptions:
- how others see you and how you see yourself
- can lead to self-fulfilling prophecy

Question 4

Tannenbaum (labelling theory)

Answer 4

• tagging: when a deviant label is attached
• dramatization of evil: deviant label is associated with the act at first but is soon generalized to the person (causes changes in identity and subsequent behaviour)

Question 5

Lemert (labelling theory)

Answer 5

• primary deviance: occasional rule-breaking
• secondary deviance: deviant lifestyle and identity
• getting caught and labelled is what results in the transition

Question 6

Becker (labelling theory)

Answer 6

• Once a person is labelled deviant it becomes their master status (what others know them by)
  → someone with a deviant master status becomes an outsider (changes in identity and lifestyle)

Question 7

Goffman (labelling theory)

Answer 7

• three types of stigma:
  → physical
  → moral (character traits, behaviours people engage in)
  → group (religion, race etc.)
• discredited stigma (stigma is obvious /well-known) and discreditable (stigma is hidden /unknown)
• dramaturgical approach: people play roles, front-stage selves (identity/impression management) and back-stage selves (identity when alone or with people who are close to us)
• spoiled identity: someone who has been stigmatized as deviant struggles with identity/impression management and requires stigma management instead

Question 8

Positive consequences of stigmatization

Answer 8

• Disintegrative shaming: reject deviants (cast-out)
• reintegrative shaming: goal is to integrate into society after making amends (restorative justice)
• tertiary deviance: resisting or challenging a deviant label

Question 9

The deviant career (interpretive)

Answer 9

• People engaged in deviance progress through a series of stages with different paths
  → paths: entry phase (how they became involved), management phase (how involved they are), exit phase (circumstances when leaving)
• career contingencies: certain events/turning points that influence the direction people take
• typology:
  → pure deviant: caught and labelled as deviant
  → falsely accused
  → secret deviant: deviants who are never caught or stigmatized

Question 10

Limitations of interpretive theories

Answer 10

• Lack of attention to how social structure shapes interactions
• reflect processes rather than formal theories
• labelling theory only looks at those formally labelled and is not specific about the transition process from primary to secondary deviance

Question 11

Conflict theories (critical)

Answer 11

Assumptions:
- social rules emerge from conflict and serve the interests of those in power
→ powerful groups less likely to break rules because they created them
→ powerless groups more likely to break rules because of alienation and their actions being labelled as deviant
- exploitation of proletariat by bourgeoisie creates alienation resulting in deviance

Question 12

Instrumental Marxists

Answer 12

• believe social rules are made by the powerful to serve their own interests
• deviant labels are used to control the powerless (protect capitalism)

Question 13

Structural Marxists

Answer 13

• Believe social rules are made by the powerful to protect capitalism
• deviant label car be given to anyone who threatens capitalist system regardless of power

Question 14

Pluralist conflict theories

Answer 14

• Emphasize multiple dimensions of inequality/power opposed to just an economic dimension

Question 15

Cultural conflict theories

Answer 15

• Believe the dominant culture in society imposes its norms on everyone even if there are different cultures with varying norms

Question 16

Group conflict theory

Answer 16

• Addresses groups struggling for power (each group attempting to challenge the status quo of the authorities)

Question 17

Ideology (Marx)

Answer 17

• Convince the powerless that the current social rules are the way things should be (perspective of the powerful)

Question 18

Hegemony (Gramsci)

Answer 18

• The powerful promote their views as natural/common sense to maintain dominance

Question 19

False consciousness

Answer 19

• Convince powerless that trey have a false way of thinking and that they have more power/freedom than they think they have

Question 20

Power-reflexive theories (critical)

Answer 20

• Emphasize the interconnection between power and knowledge
  → multiple discourses exist but power dynamics determine which ones become legitimized
• a panoptical society results in self-surveillance
  → form of social control
  → internalization (regulating own behaviour through internalized norms)

Question 21

Feminist theories (critical)

Answer 21

• Emphasis on understanding the divergence of female experience from male experience
• intersectionality: different dimensions of identity interact to shape experience
• matrix of domination: overlapping systems of disadvantage
• mainstream theories criticized: ignoring women, assuming male experience can be generalized, treating women as the “other”

Question 22

Postmodern theories (critical)

Answer 22

• Rejecting of overarching grand theories
• skeptical postmodernism (knowledge isn’t possible) and affirmative postmodernism (can generate knowledge but cannot generalize that understanding)
• society more commercial than industrial
• being consumers rather than citizens
• “end of the individual”: pursuing external image (defining identity through companies and brands)
• erosion of moral codes (rise of individualism, “do what you want how you want”)

Question 23

Limitations of critical theories

Answer 23

• Reflect processes, perspectives or ideologies rather than formal theories
• failing to recognize the consensus that exists in society (too much emphasis on conflict)