Week 1: Readings

Question 1

What is the main argument of Costello regarding cultural relativism in the study of deviance?

Answer 1

Costello argues that the study of deviance has lost effectiveness due to an overreliance on cultural relativism, which assumes norms vary widely across cultures.

Question 2

Define cultural relativism.

Answer 2

The belief that norms, values, and morality vary widely across cultures and subcultures, with no universal standard for defining deviant behavior.

Question 3

What is Costello’s critique of cultural relativsm?

Answer 3

Costello critiques the foundational belief in cultural relativism within deviance studies. She notes that sociologists often assume values vary substantially both within and between cultures, but this assumption lacks empirical support. Instead, she suggests that harmful behaviors evoke more consistent condemnation across societies.

Question 4

How does Costello evaluate behaviors in relation to harm?

Answer 4

Behaviors are evaluated based on the harm they cause to individuals, others, or the social order.

Question 5

What are victimless behaviors?

Answer 5

Actions that do not cause direct harm to others, such as premarital sex or body piercing, often judged less harshly than behaviors with clear victims.

Question 6

According to Costello, which type of sexual behavior received the most universal condemnation?

Answer 6

Extramarital sex.

Using GSS data, Costello tests her hypothesis by examining public attitudes toward three types of sexual behaviour:
* Extramarital sex (potentially harmful due to betrayal of a spouse).
* Premarital sex (less harmful, no clear victim).
* Homosexual sex (victimless behaviour).
She finds that extramarital sex is more universally condemned and exhibits less variation in public attitudes than the other two behaviours, supporting her harm-based framework.

Question 7

What does the harm-based framework propose?

Answer 7

The moral condemnation of deviant behavior is primarily determined by the degree of harm it causes to individuals, others, or society.

Question 8

What did Costello find in her analysis of public attitudes toward sexual behaviors?

Answer 8

Extramarital sex is more universally condemned, while premarital and homosexual sex are judged more variably.

Question 9

What does Costello believe about both liberal and conservative views?

Answer 9

Costello believes that both liberal and conservative views exaggerate the variability of group values.
* Liberals (left) argue that norms are arbitrary and constructed by those in power to control others.
* Conservatives (right) claim that increasing tolerance for deviant behaviour (e.g., teenage promiscuity) leads to societal decay.

Question 10

What is the General Social Survey (GSS)?

Answer 10

A long-running sociological survey that collects data on public attitudes, behaviors, and demographics.

Question 11

Fill in the blank: Costello critiques both _______ and _______ biases in deviance studies.

Answer 11

liberal; conservative

Question 12

What is the consensus on crime seriousness?

Answer 12

The level of agreement among the public on the relative severity of different crimes, with more harmful crimes typically eliciting greater consensus on their seriousness. Costello notes that people evaluate behaviours in predictable ways, with a clear link between perceived harm and moral judgment.

Question 13

What does Costello suggest the sociology of deviance should focus on?

Answer 13

The empirical study of values and identifying universal standards for harmful behavior.
* She argues that moral condemnation arises from the perceived harm of a behaviour rather than arbitrary cultural differences. She cites examples where harm-based arguments effectively influence public opinion, such as campaigns against drunk driving and smoking.

Question 14

What is labeling theory?

Answer 14

A sociological perspective asserting that deviance is not inherent in an act but is instead the result of societal reactions and labeling.

Question 15

What are normative systems?

Answer 15

Socially accepted rules, values, and behaviors that guide group conduct and serve as a standard for evaluating deviance.

Question 16

What are functional prerequisites?

Answer 16

Basic norms or values deemed essential for the survival and stability of a society.

Question 17

What is public opinion manipulation?

Answer 17

Attempts by advocacy groups or the media to shape societal views on certain behaviors by emphasizing their potential harm or benefits.

Question 18

What hypothesis does Costello confirm regarding sexual deviance?

Answer 18

• Behaviors with negative consequences for others will be more strongly condemned than those that do not.
• There is less variation in attitudes towards the behaviours that have more negative consequences in comparison to victimless behaviours.

Question 19

What is moral relativity?

Answer 19

The idea that moral judgments and perceptions of deviance depend on cultural, social, or individual values.

Question 20

List three types of sexual behaviors examined by Costello.

Answer 20

• Extramarital sex
• Premarital sex
• Homosexual sex

Question 21

What conclusion does Costello reach about the study of deviance?

Answer 21

• The field must move away from cultural relativism and focus on universal standards for harmful behavior.
• She also suggests exploring the origins of value systems and their role in shaping public attitudes toward deviance.

Question 22

Fill in the blank: Costello’s harm-based framework suggests that moral condemnation arises from the perceived _______ of a behavior.

Answer 22

harm

Question 23

What is the significance of behaviors causing harm according to Costello?

Answer 23

They evoke more consistent condemnation across societies.

Question 24

What is the main thesis of Howard Becker’s Outsiders?

Answer 24

• Deviance is not inherent in any act but is a label applied by society.
• it is not an inherent quality of certain acts or individuals but is instead a social construct.

Question 25

How does Becker define deviance?

Answer 25

Deviance arises from rule-making and enforcement by social groups. Social groups establish rules, and individuals who break those rules are labeled as deviant.

Question 26

What is the labeling process in deviance according to Becker?

Answer 26

The deviant is someone to whom a deviant label has been successfully applied.

Question 27

What is the Statistical Definition of deviance?

Answer 27

Deviance as anything that significantly deviates from the average.

Question 28

What is Becker’s critique of the Statistical Definition of deviance?

Answer 28

It is too broad and lacks connection to rule-breaking.

Question 29

Define the Pathological Definition of deviance.

Answer 29

Deviance as a sign of social or psychological dysfunction.

Question 30

What is Becker’s critique of the Pathological Definition of deviance?

Answer 30

It oversimplifies deviance by attributing it solely to the individual.

Question 31

What does the Functionalist View suggest about deviance?

Answer 31

Deviance is behavior that disrupts societal stability.

Question 32

What is Becker’s stance on the Functionalist View of deviance?

Answer 32

What is deemed ‘functional’ or ‘dysfunctional’ is often politically contested.

Question 33

What is the Relativistic Approach to deviance?

Answer 33

Deviance is defined as the failure to obey group rules.
* Societies are made up of various groups with differing norms. A person might follow the rules of one group while simultaneously breaking the rules of another.

Question 34

Give an example of how deviance can vary between groups.

Answer 34

Italian immigrants making wine during Prohibition followed their cultural norms but broke U.S. laws.

Question 35

What is Labeling Theory?

Answer 35

Deviance is not defined by the act itself but by the response of others. Acts only become deviant when labeled as such.

Question 36

How do power dynamics affect labeling according to Becker?

Answer 36

Those in positions of power define norms and enforce rules, often labeling marginalized groups as deviant. For instance, youth may be labeled deviant by adults who impose rules that do not account for the realities of adolescence.

Question 37

What does Becker mean by ‘Whose Rules?’ in the context of deviance?

Answer 37

Rules reflect group interests and can conflict between different social groups.
* Different social groups create rules based on their own histories, traditions, and challenges.
* When rules of different groups clash, behaviour considered acceptable in one context may be judged deviant in another.
* Powerful groups can impose their rules on others, creating a hierarchy of norms. ie: Orthodox Jews consider violating kashruth laws deviant, but outsiders might not share this view.

Question 38

What are the consequences of being labeled deviant?

Answer 38

• Stigma and marginalization, leading to exclusion from society making the individual an “outsider”.
• Can lead to self-identity. The labeled individual may internalize the deviant identity, which can influence their future behavior and interactions. Becker discusses how this process can lead to a “deviant career,” where the person continues to engage in deviant behavior due to societal rejection.

Question 39

What is a ‘deviant career’?

Answer 39

The process where a labeled individual internalizes the deviant identity and continues engaging in deviant behavior.

Question 40

What is the role of moral entrepreneurs in deviance?

Answer 40

Individuals or groups who define behaviors as deviant and push for rule enforcement.

Question 41

What is Primary Deviance?

Answer 41

Initial acts of rule-breaking that may go unnoticed or be excused.

Question 42

What is Secondary Deviance?

Answer 42

Behavior that results from societal reactions and internalization of a deviant label.

Question 43

What is the significance of subcultures in relation to deviance?

Answer 43

Deviant individuals often form subcultures where their behavior is normalized and supported.

Question 44

How does Becker describe the situational and contextual nature of deviance?

Answer 44

The same act can be judged differently depending on context, time, and audience.

Question 45

What is the importance of empirical research in studying deviance?

Answer 45

Investigating how different groups perceive and enforce rules in specific contexts.

Question 46

True or False: Becker believes that sociologists should take a neutral stance in their analysis.

Answer 46

True

Question 47

What does Becker suggest about the relationship between deviance and power struggles?

Answer 47

Deviance and rule-making are tied to power struggles between different social groups.

Question 48

What are the implications of Becker’s theory?

Answer 48

• It shifts the focus from the individual to the societal processes of rule-making and labeling.
• It emphasizes the role of power and politics in defining and enforcing norms.
• It encourages a more empathetic view of those labeled as deviant, highlighting the arbitrariness and variability of societal judgments.

Question 49

What are social establishments according to Goffman?

Answer 49

Bounded spaces where specific activities occur regularly

Social establishments are characterized by the interplay of ‘front’ and ‘back’ regions.

Question 50

What is the significance of ‘front’ and ‘back’ regions in Goffman’s framework?

Answer 50

‘Front’ regions are where performances are presented, while ‘back’ regions are where they are prepared

This distinction highlights the nature of social interactions and performances.

Question 51

What is impression management?

Answer 51

The process of controlling how one is perceived by others

Impression management is central to social performances and requires teamwork.

Question 52

What are the consequences of disruptions in social performances?

Answer 52

Disruptions can cause embarrassment, damage legitimacy, and undermine personal identity

They affect interaction, social structure, and personality.

Question 53

List the four traditional perspectives used to examine social establishments.

Answer 53

• Technical Perspective: Focuses on efficiency and organizational design.
• Political Perspective: Explores power dynamics, control, and sanctions among participants.
• Structural Perspective: Analyzes hierarchical and relational divisions within the establishment.
• Cultural Perspective: Examines moral values, norms, and decorum influencing behavior.

Each perspective provides a unique lens for analysis.

Question 54

What is the fifth lens introduced by Goffman for analyzing social establishments?

Answer 54

Dramaturgical perspective

This perspective emphasizes impression management and performance dynamics.

Question 55

How does the technical perspective relate to the dramaturgical perspective?

Answer 55

It focuses on managing impressions to meet performance standards

This intersection highlights the importance of efficiency in performances.

Question 56

True or False: The political perspective in Goffman’s framework explores moral values influencing behavior.

Answer 56

False

The political perspective focuses on power dynamics, not moral values.

Question 57

What does Goffman say about cultural variability in dramaturgy?

Answer 57

Western dramaturgy emphasizes privacy, while other cultures may have different norms

For instance, some cultures prioritize recognizing the ‘man behind the mask.’

Question 58

Fill in the blank: Goffman concludes that ________ offers the best method to trace changes in dramaturgical practices.

Answer 58

[case studies of specific establishments] = Goffman concludes that while cultural and historical variations exist, case studies of specific establishments offer the best method to trace changes and comparisons in dramaturgical practices.

This approach allows for a detailed examination of variations.

Question 59

What are the three levels affected by performance disruptions?

Answer 59

• Interaction: Disruptions disorganize the immediate social interaction, causing embarrassment and confusion. Participants feel “out of countenance,” unable to continue the interaction smoothly.
• Social Structure: Individual performances reflect on their teams, establishments, and societal roles. Failures damage the legitimacy and reputation of these larger units.
• Personality: Disruptions challenge the individual’s self-conception and ego, undermining their identity tied to successful social performances.

Each level experiences distinct challenges from disruptions.

Question 60

What historical example does Goffman provide to illustrate changes in social dramaturgy?

Answer 60

Transition of British pubs into ‘gin palaces’

This example shows how front regions for workers evolved.

Question 61

How do intra-societal variations manifest in performances according to Goffman?

Answer 61

Performances differ within Anglo-American society, such as in business and marriage counseling

These differences reflect shifting norms of discretion and honesty.

Question 62

What is the definition of Face Engagement according to Goffman?

Answer 62

A social interaction where individuals come together in a shared focus of attention, requiring mutual awareness and coordinated activities

Face engagements can be formal or informal and are central to human interaction in public spaces.

Question 63

What is the importance of mutual recognition in face engagements?

Answer 63

• It involves acknowledging others’ presence and establishing a shared ‘definition of the situation’
• Acknowledging others’ presence through eye contact, gestures, or verbal communication.

This allows participants to coordinate their actions effectively.

Question 64

List some rituals of interaction emphasized by Goffman.

Answer 64

• Greetings and Farewells
• Turn-Taking
• Body Language

These rituals help manage impressions and maintain social order.

Question 65

What does the concept of ‘face’ refer to in social interactions?

Answer 65

The positive social value individuals claim during interactions

Participants work to maintain their own face while supporting the face of others.

Question 66

What are the two key components required to maintain face?

Answer 66

• Deference
• Demeanor

Deference involves showing respect to others’ social positions, while demeanor involves managing one’s behavior to align with social norms.

Question 67

What challenges can disrupt face engagements?

Answer 67

• Accidental intrusions by outsiders
• Miscommunications or inappropriate behavior

These disruptions can lead to embarrassment or conflict.

Question 68

What are some repair strategies participants might use to restore disrupted interactions?

Answer 68

• Humor
• Apologies
• Redirection

These strategies help to re-establish the interaction after disruptions.

Question 69

What are the two types of face engagements identified by Goffman?

Answer 69

• Focused Engagements
• Unfocused Engagements

Focused engagements are deliberate interactions, while unfocused engagements are passive and incidental.

Question 70

Give examples of face engagements in public spaces.

Answer 70

• Casual encounters with strangers in parks
• Organized events like performances or protests

Public spaces foster spontaneous and diverse face engagements.

Question 71

True or False: Face engagements are not influenced by cultural norms and societal expectations.

Answer 71

False

The dynamics of public interactions are indeed influenced by these factors.

Question 72

Fill in the blank: Face engagements are the _______ of social interaction.

Answer 72

[building blocks]

They require mutual recognition and coordination.

Question 73

What is a key takeaway regarding the maintenance of face?

Answer 73

It is central to preserving social harmony and avoiding disruptions

Participants actively work to maintain face during interactions.