SOC 1500 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: The Xyy Man, Enrico Ferri, Xyy Syndrome
20 Feb 2016
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Theory: a way of explaining & understanding a particular phenomenon. Theoretical concepts: the building blocks of theory. (ex: see assignment topics. The group is the theory, the term is a concept that makes up the theory) Independent variable: something that happens to help the outcome. Dependent variable: the outcome/what we"re trying to explain. Ex: age is a determinant of crime. Young people are more likely to commit crimes than older people. Defining & explaining crime: objectivist (consensus) approach. Relies on the assumption that there is a consensus among the people on what is right or wrong (when people are being good or bad) and that criminals are different than non-criminals. Individual attributes used to explain why people commit crime. Think that crime is inherent in an individual due to factors like genetics, where you grew up and what your childhood was like. Consensus: behaviors are classified as good or bad. The majority agrees on what is right or wrong.
