Social Deviance Current Event Project
It is important that you not only master the content knowledge from this course, but also, learn to relate this course to everyday life. Many of the articles that you will research will be topics discussed or mentioned in class, but they might dive deeper into that subject than we may have time for in class.
Your articles must relate to one subject in the class text.
You will select 3 articles that are at least 6 paragraphs.
For your analysis/ reaction you must use complete sentences and proper grammar and punctuation. This is a formal writing assignment (A paragraph is at least 5 sentences!)
Articles should be no older than 3 months from now.
Use a valid news source! If you are not sure if your source is acceptable please ask me before you complete and submit the assignment. You may use Newspapers, Magazines, or Internet news sites. (Do NOT use Wikipedia or other random Google results!)
Attach APA citations for your articles and images.
Your current event assignment must follow the format below…
– Article Title:
-Summary Paragraph: Without copying verbatim from the article describe what the article is about. You should use your own words. Please do not plagiarize.
-Type of Sociology Paragraph: (25 points)
Identify at least 3 sociological concepts ( see BB menu) from the textbook that the article relates to; explain how and why. Include key vocabulary terms used in the article that we have discussed in class or relate to the course.
Make sure you identify the deviant behavior /social control.
Use your own words to describe why this behavior or control impacts our society
Please identify the theory of social deviance that you believe applies to the article explain why you think so.
-Reaction Paragraph: (25 points)
a. This paragraph should tell us what you thought about the article. You will answer these
questions in your reaction:
How did this article affect you?
In your opinion what should be done about this issue?
APA Citations:
For the article and any sources, you cited in the current event
Social Deviance
Date:
Name:
Institution:
Social Deviance
Summary Paragraph
Social deviance is the violation of social norms and cultures in society, either formally or informally. A person can choose to conform or violate social norms, although social norms keep changing with time depending on the situational context. Additionally, a person can conform, and at the same time, violate social norms based on the situation. For instance, over speeding is against the law, hence violation, and conforming to over speeding on a freeway road, where the driver has no option. The paper is about sociology, deviance, and criminal law by Anleu (2020).
According to the article, sociology of deviance is a critical area with various controversies, especially where the concept of deviance has changed over time (Anleu, 2020). The complexity of social deviance is the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour, where the concept directly overlaps with the idea of sociology law. The article discusses several social deviance concepts, supported by current trends, and examples that emphasize the topic. Additionally, the topic discusses the link between crime, social norms, and deviance.
Type of Sociology Paragraph:
Sociology explains how crime occurs in society, and types of social factors that influence deviance, for instance, socialization, social frustrations, and social learning. The author uses qualitative sociology, which focuses on the ideas within the topic by conducting a historical analysis, ethnography, and comparative analysis, such as analysis of Emile Durkheim theory. The author also gets ideas from the various study areas, such as public health study, cultural sociology, alcohol studies, penology, and social psychology (Anleu, 2020).
sociological concepts
The article uses the three main sociology concepts: symbolic interactionist, functionalist concept, and conflict concept of sociology. According to the symbolic interactionist concept, the article discusses how social groups and social institutions influence the world through a study known as the micro-social, for instance, how individuals respond to various life situations, according to Thomas, a sociologist. On the other hand, human social behaviour is based on gender norms and identity developed through various social interactions (Anleu, 2020). According to sociology, the conflict concept explains that society consists of different groups of people with different levels of power and resources. Additionally, the difference in power is a huge determinant of social deviation, where a certain group of people engages in deviance for survival, whole others based on influence and power. For instance, politicians can violate formal and informal social norms under the influence of power and resources.
On the other hand, a functionalist concept, according to Emile Durkheim and Robert Merton, that’s social elements lead to social dysfunctions and social instability, for instance, deviance is both functional and dysfunctional because it creates awareness on morality, enhances social cohesion, and at the same time affect social stability.
Deviant behaviour /social control
According to the article, deviance occurs due to a lack of self-control and improper socialization (Unlu, et.al.,2021). According to Walter Reckless, an individual internal and outer control system determine their deviant tendencies. For instance, some people can choose to engage in deviant behaviours while others may choose not to due to a self-control system based on values, morals, and conscience. On the other hand, a person may not engage in deviance due to fear of external controls such as religious authorities and police officers (Anleu, 2020). Children’s proper socialization, especially since childhood, helps people stay away from engaging in deviant behaviours in adulthood.
describe why this behaviour or control impacts our society
The article discusses the legalization of Marijuana and the act being a concept of crime or deviance. Marijuana is an act of deviance, where the user goes contrary to the social norms in the society, such as the prohibition of drug use, as well as according to religion. Involvement in deviant behaviours impact society positively and negatively (Anleu, 2020). For instance, deviance makes the society come together and find solutions to various issues, such as theft and alcoholism. Additionally, deviant behaviour promotes moral boundaries and leads to social change, according to Durkheim.
Identify the theory of social deviance that you believe applies to the article explain why you think so.
Control theory and containment theory are some of the theory, that explains social deviance and criminal law (Mai’a, 2021). The theory explains why some people engage in criminal behaviours and why some do not engage in criminal behaviours. The theories explain that social relationships and social gains determine social deviance; for instance, individuals will conform to a deviant behaviour because of what they gain. People follow social norms because of the strong bonds created in the society, such as civil and religious authority (Anleu, 2020).
Reaction Paragraph:
How did this article affect you?
The article was very impactful and educative, especially in understanding the reason behind the implementation of state control over public protests and personal Marijuana. On the other hand, the article has helped me understand the boundary between deviance and crime and how gender norms influence deviancy (Anleu, 2020). On the other hand, the article discusses deviance’s sociology and its theoretical developments, which is a popular subject, especially in criminology. Sociology of deviance is used to determine social norms and how society responds to violations of social norms.
In your opinion what should be done about this issue?
To understand and distinguish the sociology of deviance and sociology of law, it is important to understand the sociology of law is more interested in social norms than are written laws. In contrast, the sociology of deviance focuses on norms that operate within the non-legal environment (Mai’a, 2021). On the other deviance is a perception based on the cultural and social norms in the society, where not all cases that deviant behaviour is a crime (Anleu, 2020).
References
Anleu, S. R. (2020). 25. Sociology of deviance and criminal law. Research Handbook on the Sociology of Law, 318.
Mai’a, K. (2021). Social Constructivism. In the Palgrave Handbook of EU Crises (pp. 195-211). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Unlu, A., Ekici, N., Tasgin, S., & Entzminger, P. (2021). An Empirical Test of Age-Graded Informal Social Control Theory: New Correlates of Youth Deviance. Crime & Delinquency, 67(2), 179-211.
