SOC 001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Muzafer Sherif, Labeling Theory
Document Summary
Sociology: the scientific study of interactions and relations among human beings. Labeling theory: ard some crimes (petty theft, do community service, etc (record erased, doesn"t work for molestation, etc. Conformity: a change in behavior due to the real or imagined influence of other people. Muzafer sherif: autokinetic effect: very small movements of the eye, spot of light in dark room looks like it"s moving because no frame of reference, shows 3 people and lets them average distance it moves (all confirms) Autokinetic effect: makes things appear to move when they are not really. Sherif drew conclusions about conformity: in an uncertain situation, people depend on one another for cues, group consensus doesn"t need a group, this process occurs without us being conscious of it. Barriers to independent behavior: fear of disapproval from other members of the group, lack of alternatives (or perceived alternatives, fear of disrupting the group"s operations, absence of communication within the group, diffusion of responsibility.
