SOC 2070 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Talcott Parsons, Social Constructionism, Mccarthyism
16 Jun 2016
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Why do they do it or why don"t they. Take norms for granted, treat ppl as products of influences. Asks why is it deviant and how does society create the deviance it condemns. Can study physical deviance (such as hermaphroditism) and ascribed/inherited characteristics that are involuntary. Can study secret deviance ( marra os of spain) Can study imaginary deviance (mccarthyism, witchcrazes) & false accusations. Examines meaning for participants, and how it is created. Sensitive to issues of power and diversity of opinion: most research theories use a combination of both. Modern society has looser norms and an expanding division of labor. We need diversity of opinion to some degree. There are structures and there are functions. Serves social function (if not it is condemned) Structures and behaviors endure if they serve social functions. Assumes a basic consensus on values and a legitimacy of power structure. Always something bad for society: incest, female adultery, assault.
