SOC 105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Jaywalking, Traffic Ticket, Crack Epidemic

• School: Stony Brook University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 105
• Professor: Nicholas Wilson

Document Summary

Every society is structured by norms (rules of conduct that specify appropriate behavior in a given range of social situations) Norms come from the connection among social structures, identities, and social interactions. Modern societies (both in the developing world and contemporary industrial societies) are characterized by subcultures. Subculture = values and norms distinct from those of the majority, held by a group within a wider society. Norms rely on sanctions, any positive or negative reaction to a behavior. These can be formal or informal, ranging from subtle social cues to physical restraint or even death. Examples (negative): stinkface, shouting at someone, traffic ticket, prison, execution. Examples (positive): smiling, pat on the back, praise, cash prize, public recognition, Crime = any actions that contravene the laws established by a political authority. We all commit crimes all the time, but there are some (in the us, felonies) that are recognized as especially bad. Examples (major): aggravated assault, (some) fraud, rape, murder.