Lec 4 Flashcards
Nonpositivist theorizing
Interpretive and critical approaches are nonpositive
Interpretive theories
Understandings of Deviance and Normality
Our perceptions of and reactions to deviance
Interpretive theories emphasize social interaction, meanings, understandings and interpretations
Varied understandings of deviance and normality
Symbolic interactionist theory
Communication creates understanding
We communicate with others using symbols
Physical cues (hair, clothing, posture)
Conversational cues (vocal inflection)
Interactional cues(double look)
Symbolic interactionist theory
Role taking
Significant others
Generalized other
Looking glass self
These processes result in varied interpretations of self and others
Looking glass-self
How we think of ourselves is based on how others perceive us
Labelling theory: Becoming an outsider
The labelling process steps
A deviant label is applied
Rejection by the conforming world
Changes in lifestyle and identity
Labelling theory: Tannenbaum
Tagging (a deviant label is applied) leads to Dramatization of evil (label is generalized from the behaviour to the person) leads to changes in identity and lifestyle
Labelling theory Lemert
Primary deviance then getting caught then secondary deviance
Secondary deviance
Deviant behaviour that comes from being labeled
Labelling theory: Goffman
We may be stigmatized for a variety of reasons (physical. moral, group)
Courtesy stigma or stigma by association- stigmatized for the actions of others (ie mothers of school shooters)
Labelling theory: Goffman
Dramatugical approach
difference between the front staged self and back staged self
Labelling theory: Goffman
If the role we have assumed is stigmatized we engage in
Stigma management on the front stage (changing oneself to prevent being stigmatized)
Labelling theory: Goffman
Acts that manage stigma in front of one audience may cause
Stigma in other audiences
Labelling theory: Becker
Deviance is a master status
A person with a deviant master status becomes an outsider
Changes in identity and lifestyle occur
The deviant career
Progressing through deviance
Progression through deviance= progression through a career
Both are interpretive experiences
Stages and career contingencies
Limitations of interpretive theories
Failure to address the social structure
Failure to address long-term effects of labelling
Critical theories
Power relations and social justice
Power relations interact with emancipatory foundation (freedom foundation)
Conflict theory Rules Serve the interests of
The powerful
The powerful are less likely to break the rules
the powerless are more likely
The powerful cannot only coerce the powerless but also convince the powerless that the rules are logical in a democracy
Hegemony and false consciousness
A leader makes people think they are in safe hadns
Power-reflexive theory
Knowledge that emerges from locations of power is legitimate
In a panoptical society, not only do we survey others, we also engage in self-surveillance
Panoptical society
Society where people are under constant surveillance
Feminist theory
Deviance is gendered
Scholarly work has an androcentric bias
Social experienced are gendered
Academic work should be combined with social action
Feminist theory
Intersectionality
Micro-level- intersecting identities
Macro level- matrix of domination
Matrix of domination
Interconnecting all social issues like oppression to social classification
