SOC 2106 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: William Graham Sumner, Social Control Theory, Substance Abuse
17 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Norms are rules and expectations by which a society guides the behaviour of its members. They may either respective {don"t) or proscriptive (do). There are two special types of norms that were identified by william graham sumner: mores (right and wrong) and folkways (right and rude). We respond critically to our own behaviour through shame on guilt. Ethnocentrism is the practice of judging another culture by the standards of one"s own culture. Sociologists tend to discourage this practice; instead, they advocate culture relativism, the practice of judging a culture by its own standard. Aspects of life seen to warrant concern and intervention. The identification of a social problem is the outcome of a social process including a moral evaluation of peoples behaviour. Some examples: crime, child abuse, poverty, substance abuse, racism. In analyzing a social problem it is important to identify the group of people for whom the behaviour is a problem.
