Sociology Values Flashcards

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).