SOC211H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Social Learning Theory, Police Misconduct, Social Control
Soc211 week2
How do functionalist, learning and control theories
explain why individuals do deviant actions.
•Not every deviant behavior is criminal.
Identify and explain the main critiques of functional,
learning and control theories of deviance.
•need to know main points (key points). What are the main
problems with it? Some are reductionist, some aren’t very
clear.
How can bullying and police misconduct be
explained using one of the following theoretical
perspectives: social
learning theory or self-control
theory?
How online bullying is related to strain and social learning theory. Police who use too much
force can be explained using self control theory – people are deviant because they cannot
control themselves.
Who is deviant?
How do we define and classify behavior?
Interactionist perspective – law is there to protect specific groups who are in political power
High consensus vs low consensus – highly debated vs accepted. gang violence vs gambling
Subjective definitions of deviance – there isn’t anything inherently deviant about how we
behave, what’s important is how we label, identify and associate meanings with.
Moral entrepreneurs decide what is deviant. They make social issues that need addressing –
social control. People in power are able to push agendas, institute sanctions for behavior they
deem socially unacceptable. Eg. Politicians invoke, revoke and determine legislation and policy.
Positivist theories:
a. Functionalist – social structure creates deviance
b. Learning -
c. Social control –
Anomie – we need deviance to keep society functioning. Deviance is good, to remind us of
consequences. Enforces social solidarity
Document Summary
How do functionalist, learning and control theories explain why individuals do deviant actions: not every deviant behavior is criminal. Identify and explain the main critiques of functional, learning and control theories of deviance: need to know main points (key points). How online bullying is related to strain and social learning theory. Police who use too much force can be explained using self control theory people are deviant because they cannot control themselves. Interactionist perspective law is there to protect specific groups who are in political power. High consensus vs low consensus highly debated vs accepted. gang violence vs gambling. Subjective definitions of deviance there is(cid:374)"t a(cid:374)ythi(cid:374)g i(cid:374)here(cid:374)tly de(cid:448)ia(cid:374)t a(cid:271)out ho(cid:449) (cid:449)e (cid:271)eha(cid:448)e, (cid:449)hat"s i(cid:373)porta(cid:374)t is ho(cid:449) (cid:449)e la(cid:271)el, ide(cid:374)tify a(cid:374)d asso(cid:272)iate (cid:373)ea(cid:374)i(cid:374)gs (cid:449)ith. They make social issues that need addressing social control. People in power are able to push agendas, institute sanctions for behavior they deem socially unacceptable. Politicians invoke, revoke and determine legislation and policy.
