SOC 104 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Juvenile Delinquency, Social Constructionism, Labeling Theory

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 104
• Professor: Sal Guzzo

Document Summary

Sociology aim at understanding and explaining human behaviour. Sociologists use theory to understand and explain human behaviour. One theoretical approach used is symbolic interactionism. It can also be referred to a social constructionism. Symbolic interactionism is a mirco level theory. Interactionists try to understand and explain human behaviour by focusing on two concepts: symbols used to communicate, interaction between people. So, if you want to understand human behaviour, don"t focus on external factors, but instead focus on the relationship between people and study how they interact. It is through the interaction with other people that we become who we are. Example: if you want to understand why some individuals are deviant, don"t focus on external factors like poverty in the community, but instead focus on the relationship between people and study how they interact with each other. It is through the interaction with other people that some become deviant while others do not.