Deviance is a social issue that has plagued all societies from the beginning of time and the sociologists’ attempts to comprehend why individuals take part in deviant behavior is still undergo. However, one theory’s explanation of deviant behavior can put things in perspective: Differential Association Theory. Through this theory is becomes obvious that the phrase “people, places, and things” has relevance. Disregarding any possible biological or personality influences Differential Association Theory explains that we learn from our encounters with others. Also, the mass media plays a significant role in shaping our opinions and what we accept as normal or deviant behavior.
051.3.1. Explain how people from different backgrounds may use and/or interpret communication methods in different ways. Backgrounds are a person’s education, experience, and social/ economics circumstances. Experiences and understanding of the world, the words we use and how we use them is influenced by your culture. In this sense, communication is very dependent on backgrounds, such as all about our origins: geographic, religion, social, economic, education, etc.
I found from this article that Miner was hoping to have us see that Americans have many cultural beliefs or practices that really are ridiculous when viewed from somebody else. Horace Miner presents in his article, Body Ritual among the Nacirema, that society is so stuck in their ways of living and forget about the way they used to live without the ‘materialistic’ ways of life. He is trying to portray that society has changed so much over the years and has made such a negative effect on this world, and that we need to learn what really matters and what a positive culture is. “A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” (Gandhi, M. (n.d.)). People in our world come from all different cultures that we may not always be familiar with.
However it’s when others choose an identity for an individual or a group because of their circumstances that we get negative value identity or in equal identity. As people we all have an identity, the most simple of which is personal identity, this is your individual knowledge of who you are, but there are many more identities to consider. We construct our identities by what we do, where we go, people we interact with. A social identity is both an individual-a specific person and group identity referring to others whether different and the same. Identities relate to each and every person; however a lot of social identities are characterised by inequality.
I wish more people looked at the world with the same eyes as Cohen does. I think the society that we live in makes it hard for us to just open up and teach each other about our cultures. If it were that easy, this world would be a friendlier and better place. My three thoughtful questions for class discussion are; Have you ever felt embarrassed of your race because of the media? Do you think that you are labeled and looked down upon because of your race?
Assimilation There are many people around the world who want to change their lives and make it better. Some of them leave their homes, their friends, their countries and come to the United States to find a better life here. For some newcomers the only way they can survive is living in their national communities, neighborhoods, but others try to assimilate to American people. Assimilation implies that people should forget their background to become a part of a new society. Although many people think that all immigrants should go through assimilation, however I believe that people can become a part of other culture without erasing their own background, because of several reasons.
It also goes for the rest of Central America, South America, Philippines and the Caribbean islands. This is what also makes these different cultures alike in so many ways they are almost like half siblings per say, half of the same beliefs but also half different this is what makes each country similar but unique in their own way. This theory can also be used in todays United States, people come to this country to change their lives but also keep apart of their own heritage. Conflict perspectives believe in a world that will always be in constant struggle (Schaefer, 2012, p. 14), to bring in this view in to the issue of interracial marriage there are topic brought up of racism. That a person will be looked on with disgrace for who they love one thing that comes to mind of this and the troubles that the country Cuba have gone through with
It is slick to see what the standards and estimations of these better places are and contemplate internally what else in my life would be diverse in view of the social contrasts that impact me as a person. Would I be hitched, would I take after an alternate religion, would my most loved sustenance be distinctive, what might be my most loved band? These are all inquiries that affected by our general public and society which encompasses us; it is fascinating to sit and miracle what may have happened in the event that you were only conceived in an alternate area of the world. It additionally helps you to comprehend why individuals act the way they do because people have different mind sets and lifestyles. This is critical in light of the fact that by learning and knowing these diverse traditions and standards it makes yourself be all the more tolerating and tolerant of
Culture can be defined by the geography, ethnicity, language, religion, history or other important social characteristics. Finally, culture is socially transmitted (Frisby, 1997). Within culture, there are subcultures, which include groups like corporate culture, drug culture and academic culture. These specific types of groups all fit into the predetermined definition of culture, they are socially constructed, each of its members shares it, and it is socially transmitted for example; drug culture and the affects of peer pressure. Objective culture include such things as physical artifacts, language, clothing, food or decorative objects while Subjective culture can be attitudes, values, norms of behavior, social roles and meaning of objective cultural elements (Frisby, 1997).
Popular culture has existed since the beginning of time. During every time period it has affected the people who live in it, affecting their thoughts, growth, development and actions. Popular culture exists in every culture, changing them continuously. It is the mainstream culture that can greatly influence everyone in negative or positive direction. In society today, the media is the main source that distributes the popular culture.