Group Influence, In Groups and Out Groups PDF

Group Influence, In Groups and Out Groups SEPTEMBER 13 Schneider and Ingram  Target Populations (advantaged, contenders, dependents and deviants)  Varying levels of power.  Social construction (positive or negative).  Benefits  Burdens Target Populations  Group t...

Group Influence, In Groups and Out Groups SEPTEMBER 13 Schneider and Ingram  Target Populations (advantaged, contenders, dependents and deviants)  Varying levels of power.  Social construction (positive or negative).  Benefits  Burdens Target Populations  Group towards which a given policy can be aimed.  Target populations can be created on the same basis as identity groups.  Target populations with power and positive social construction will receive the most benefits.  Target populations with the least power and negative social construction will receive the most burdens. Social Construction  An idea which was created and has been accepted by society.  Groups can either have positive social construction or negative social construction.  Governments will want to be seen as giving benefits to positively socially constructed groups.  Governments will want to be seen as giving burdens to negatively socially constructed groups.  However, social power plays a role in distributing benefits and burdens. Benefits  Advantage given to a certain target population.  Example: Tax break, welfare credit, exemptions. Burdens  Drawback given to a certain target population.  Example: Tax increase, targeted law restriction (harsher sentencing for drugs). Advantaged Target Population  Advantaged Group is positively socially constructed.  Advantaged group has strong social power.  This group will be oversubscribed benefits.  Governments will want to be seen as supporting this group due to their positive social construction and strong social power.  Example: The elderly. Contender Target Population  Contenders are negatively socially constructed.  Contenders have strong social power.  This group is oversubscribed benefits because of their social power.  Governments will want to be seen as opposing these groups because they are negatively socially constructed.  Example: Big businesses (oil and insurance companies). Dependent Target Population  Dependents are positively socially constructed.  Dependents have weak social power.  This group will be undersubscribed benefits and may be oversubscribed burdens because they have weak social power.  Governments will want to be seen as supporting this groups since they are positively socially constructed.  Example: Students, children. Deviant Target Population  Deviants are negatively socially constructed.  Deviants have weak social power.  This group will be undersubscribed benefits and oversubscribed burdens due to their position.  Governments will want to be seen as being tough on this group.  Example: Drug addicts. Perception Matters  There might be disagreement on who belongs to which group based on an individual’s perspective.  Example: Ethnic minorities- Most see them as dependents but some see them as contenders. Schneider and Ingram Overview Social Construction Power Result Advantaged Positive Strong Oversubscribed Benefits Contender Negative Strong Mostly Benefits, Occasional Burdens (perception) Dependent Positive Weak Mostly Burdens, Occasional Benefits (perception) Deviant Negative Weak Oversubscribed Burdens Strain Theory (Robert Merton)  Pressure which comes from social factors(lack of social status, lack of income, lack of education etc.) can drive individuals towards deviant behaviour by causing strain.  Based on the American Dream(If you work hard enough and follow the socially accepted rules, eventually you will achieve “the good life” (material wealth).  People are expected to accept these goals as well as use the socially accepted institutional means of achieving those goals.  The pursuit of (or failure to achieve) the American Dream can lead to 5 reactions based on Strain Theory (Conformity, Innovation, Ritualism, Retreatism, Rebellion). Conformity  The most common response.  Accept both the goals and the means.  People continue to conform to the cultural goals and follow socially accepted means for those goals.  Typically, do not feel strain.  Example: Working 9-5, office job. Innovation  Accept the goals but not the socially accepted means.  They will resort to unapproved means to achieve the approved goals.  Example: Drug trafficking/Organized Crime. Ritualism  Have given up on achieving the cultural goal.  Continue to conform to the means despite feeling they will never achieve their goal.  Same process/actions as conformity but different mindset.  Example: Continue at current job but just going through the motions. Retreatism  Have given up on the cultural goals.  Have given up on the cultural means on achieving the goals.  Rarest form of strain.  Example: Addiction and isolation. Rebellion  Reject the cultural goals since only a few people can achieve them.  Reject the culturally acceptable means because systemic issues do not make it accessible to some groups.  They look to create new cultural goals and socially acceptable means of achieving those goals.  Example: Social movements, terrorism. Strain Theory Overview Goals Means Conformity Accept Accept Innovation Accept Reject Ritualism Reject Accept Retreatism Reject Reject Rebellion Reject and Rebel Reject and Rebel