Discussion
JoseRivera123
PPT_Week2.pptx
Week 2 Lecture: Some points on the Sociological Imagination and Definitions of Deviance
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The Sociological Imagination
C. Wright Mills
Sociological Imagination: A quality of the mind that allows us to understand the relationship between our particular situation in life and what is happening at a social level
“Intersection between biography and history” (and social structure)
Mills says, “To understand social life, we must understand the intersection between biography and history.”
How individuals understand their own and others’ past in relation to history and social structure
Helps us connect personal troubles to structure and change
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Are these Actions deviant?
Using marijuana
Picking you nose
Using your phone while driving
Drinking alcohol under age 21
Wearing a hat indoors
Using an online dating application
Speeding
Watching pornography
Maybe – Becker says it depends on who views it and how they react
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What is Deviance?
Deviance is a behavior, trait, or belief that departs from a norm and generates a negative reaction in a particular group or setting.
Defining something as deviant requires us to examine group or contextual norms and how groups react to behaviors
Folkways:
Mores:
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What is Deviance?
Deviance is a behavior, trait, or belief that departs from a norm and generates a negative reaction in a particular group or setting.
Defining something as deviant requires us to examine group or contextual norms and how groups react to behaviors
Folkways: less serious (e.g., holding a door open for someone, maintaining eye contact in a conversation, wearing a seatbelt)
Mores: more serious (e.g., driving drunk, homicide)
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Relativistic view on deviance
Again, deviance is just a departure from norms
Sociologists take a relative (not an absolute) view of deviance
Variability:
Culture
Historical period
Age
Social status
Location, situation, timing (i.e., context) Example
Note, deviance is not based on rarity
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