Different sociological theories can have various explanations for the same phenomenon In this paper I will explain how different sociological theories can have various explanations for the same phenomenon. For example, we will explore crime rates in the US and I will show how three sociological theories—symbolic interactionism, functionalist theory and conflict theory—would explain the kind, distribution, or changing crime rates in the US. By the definition symbolic interactionism analyzes society by addressing the subjective meanings that people impose on objects, events, and behaviors. Subjective meanings are given primacy because it is believe that people behave based on what they believe and not just on what is objectively true. Thus, society is thought to be socially constructed through human interpretation.
Outline and evaluate Durkheim’s theory of suicide. Durkheim published his acclaimed book Suicide: a study of sociology. Many subsequent studies since of suicide have been due to his book. Others have tried to prove that Durkheim’s theory was successful in explaining suicide and consequentially tried to improve them, whilst others reject his theory completely. Emile Durkheim applied his scientific method to social facts in his study of suicide.
Michael Rea March 22, 2011 Koch vs. Bruck "Is capital punishment an adequate and necessary form of payback for the crime of murder? And will it prevent the occurrence of future murders? These are the vital issues argued by Edward I. Koch in his article, "The Death Penalty is Justice," and David Bruck's "No Death Penalty." In my opinion, Koch is able to ideally show the need for capital punishment, while Bruck is ineffective at justifying his stance that the death penalty is an unsuitable punishment for the crime of murder." In "Death and Justice: How Capital Punishment Affirms Life", readers view the opinions toward the death penalty in today's world.
The ruling clearly indicated his mental health diagnosis, yet, the ruling allowed for his sentencing to still have the death penalty consideration. (Hughes, 2015) The nuance is created when looking at competency and criminal or deviant behavior. Mental illness with undefined capacity is such a large variable. If this ruling were to hold true with any mental health diagnosis, a large percentage of the population could commit crimes without facing stiff punishment under the umbrella of incompetency. There are varying degrees of mental illness and lessened capacity, there must be a line as to accountability instead of excused behaviors.
This, Durkheim argued, is functional as crime allows values to be changed as time passes in order to adopt the current perceptions and attitudes the public holds. The third and final positive aspect which he identified was social cohesion. This refers to when a particularly horrific or violent crime is committed. The public unite in a shared outcry against the criminals’ actions and this strengthens the familiarity within the group. Bonds are strengthened and the sense of belonging to the group is
The Death Penalty Reviewed Matthew Christiani 5-22-12 Phil-05 In the debate over capital punishment, the opponents argue that the death penalty should be legalized because; it is by implementation, that we have been able to decrease the murder rate in society by placing such a high penalty on murder. On the other side of the debate, the supporters argue that capital punishment should not be legalized because it promotes the injustice in which it is intended to prevent. In this paper, I will argue that the stronger of the two arguments is to do away with the death penalty. In the article titled “The Ultimate Punishment: A Defense”, Ernest Van Den Haag concludes that the death penalty is moral and should be legalized because it deters
Summary of Policing In America Chapter’s 1 – 3 I found chapters 1-3 of “Corrections in Brief” to be very insightful as to how corrections was formed, and how it has transformed into the industry as we know it today. When I first began reading these chapters, one of the first questions I had was “how is corrections defined?” After reading chapter one I learned that corrections is defined as an institution in which society send those members who are in violation of established laws. I think one of the main purpose of corrections is to hold violators of crimes accountable for those crimes that he/she commits against society. And the main focus of corrections should be on rehabilitating violators of the law from a life a crime, while teaching
Kant also argued that society’s consequences for their actions do not make them right or wrong, but are determined by the motives that they have when they are carrying out their actions ( 2010, Hernandez). I agree with Kant’s theory and it coincides perfectly with the reason why patients seek physician-assisted suicide as an option. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines assisted suicide as the suicide of a patient, usually somebody
Durkheim conducted research; he compared suicide rates from different countries and highlighted an individual suicide rate for each country and then validated that the rate was created on the basis of statics to certain groups, i.e. sex, age, religious beliefs. He used official statistics in order to present through a functionalist theory which sociology could add to an understanding of suicide. Although Durkheim conducted a well-known research there are many limitations when using official statistics. This is evident in Durkheim’s work as he was interested in the relationship between both suicide and religion.
However, Douglas suggested causes of suicide included cries for help, revenge etc. Although, despite these differences, both quantitative and qualitative methods are advantageous in their own ways. Therefore it may be best to take Taylor’s method of triangulation to get a complete understanding of suicide. This is because if both qualitative and quantitative methods are used, you can gain a better understanding of both societies vulnerability and individuals vulnerability to suicide as quantitative methods focus more on the society, as official statistics are meant to be a whole picture. Whereas qualitative methods focus more on individual causes of suicide.