Questions and Answers
What are values?
What are core values?
What is a value conflict?
A choice between two personal values
What are norms?
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What are folkways?
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What are mores?
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What are laws?
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How do we enforce norms?
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What are the four basic reasons why we put people in prison?
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What is the biggest punishment?
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What is recidivism?
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What do you need to successfully get out of prison?
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What does it mean to be deviant?
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What determines if behavior is deviant?
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Who is Durkheim?
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What do deviants do for society?
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How much does it cost a year to put a person in prison?
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What happens under the 3 strikes law?
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What percentage of a sentence must be served for potential release?
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What is norm enforcement?
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What is the Differential Association Theory by Sutherland?
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What is Culture Conflict Theory by Sellin?
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What is Labeling Theory by Becker?
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What is Anomie Theory by Merton?
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Study Notes
Values in Sociology
- Values are shared beliefs regarding what is considered right, good, or important within a society.
Core Values
- Core values are foundational beliefs that are instilled early in life, often by family, and endure over time, such as the importance of punctuality.
Value Conflict
- Value conflict occurs when an individual faces a dilemma between two competing personal values, necessitating a choice.
Norms
- Norms are societal rules of behavior that arise from shared values, guiding how individuals should act in various situations.
Folkways
- Folkways are informal customs and etiquette that, while important, do not result in punishment if broken (e.g., covering one’s mouth while sneezing).
Mores
- Mores are significant norms with moral significance; violations can lead to serious consequences (e.g., cheating on an exam).
Laws
- Laws are norms deemed essential enough for government enforcement, with clear repercussions for transgressions (e.g., bank robbery).
Enforcing Norms
- Norms can be enforced through:
- Internalization: individuals adopt norms as part of their behavior (e.g., dressing appropriately).
- Sanctions: rewards or punishments corresponding to obeying or violating norms.
Reasons for Imprisonment
- Common justifications for incarceration include rehabilitation, keeping individuals off the streets, punishment, and deterring future crimes.
Impact of Freedom
- The greatest form of punishment for individuals is the loss of freedom.
Recidivism Rates
- Recidivism indicates that 80% to 85% of released prisoners eventually reoffend and return to prison.
Post-Prison Support
- Successful reintegration into society often depends on access to a stable job, housing, and rehabilitation programs.
Deviance
- Deviance includes behaviors that violate societal norms, classified as:
- Minor norm violations (e.g., habitual speeding).
- Major norm violations (e.g., a severe act like murder).
Contextuality of Deviance
- Deviance can be determined by time and place; acts acceptable in one context may be viewed negatively in another (e.g., killing in war vs. at home).
Durkheim's Observation
- Durkheim suggested that eliminating major crimes could lead to an escalation of minor crimes into significant offenses.
Function of Deviance in Society
- Deviance serves societal functions such as clarifying norms, prompting social change, and reinforcing what is considered normal behavior.
Cost of Incarceration
- The annual cost to incarcerate an individual averages $50,000, with many prisoners being involved in drug-related offenses.
Three Strikes Law
- Under this law, individuals convicted of three felonies receive a mandatory life sentence.
Sentence Serving Requirement
- To be eligible for early release, individuals now must serve 85% of their sentence, a change from the previous requirement of one-third.
Judicial Discretion
- Judges have historically had significant latitude in sentencing, but current regulations impose limits based on established guidelines.
Norm Enforcement
- Norms are upheld through enforcement mechanisms; for instance, timeliness may not be strictly enforced until a critical threshold (e.g., job expectations).
Differential Association Theory (Sutherland)
- This theory posits that individuals are influenced towards deviance through association with deviant peers.
Culture Conflict Theory (Sellin)
- This theory highlights that behaviors acceptable in one culture may not be in others, leading to misunderstandings and conflicts.
Labeling Theory (Becker)
- Labeling theory suggests that deviance is determined not only by actions but also by societal perceptions and labels attached to individuals.
- Conformers: adhere without breaking norms (e.g., a nun).
- Falsely accused: do not deviate but are perceived as evildoers.
- Secret deviants: break norms without anyone knowing.
- Pure deviants: openly violate norms (e.g., notorious criminals).
Anomie Theory (Merton)
- Anomie theory asserts that individual deviance stems from an imbalance between societal goals and the means available to achieve them (e.g., figures like Hitler).
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Test your knowledge of core concepts related to values in sociology with this interactive flashcard quiz. Explore key terms like 'core values,' 'value conflict,' and 'norms' to better understand their significance in social contexts.
