Sociology Chp. 5 & 6

dyad

a relationship of two

triad

a group of three or more

Mediator

member of a triad who attempts to resolve conflict between the other two parties in a group

Tertius Gaudens

the third that rejoices"; the new third member of a triad who benefits from conflict between the other two members of the group

Divide et Impera

divide and conquer"; the role of a member of a triad who intentionally drives a wedge between the other two parties in a group

Primary Group

social groups composed of intimate face to face relationships that strongly influence the attitudes and ideals of those involved

Secondary Group

group marked by impersonal, instrumental relationships; exist as a means to an end

Social Deviance

any transgression of socially established norms

Crime

the violation of laws enacted by society

Social Cohesion

social bonds; how well people relate to one another on a day to day basis

Mechanical/Segmental Solidarity

social cohesion based on sameness

Organic Solidarity

social cohesion based on difference and interdependence of the parts

Social Control

those mechanisms that create normative compliance in individuals

Formative Social Sanctions

mechanisms of social control by which rules or laws prohibit deviant criminal behavior

Informal Social Sanctions

the usually unexpressed but widely known rules of group membership; unspoken rules of life

Symbolic Interactionism

micro-level theory in which shared meanings, orientations, and assumptions form the basic motivations behind people's actions

Labeling Theory

belief that individuals subconsciously notice how others see or label them, and their reactions to those labels, over time, form the basis of their self-identity

Primary Deviance

the first act of rule-breaking that may incur a label of "deviant" and thus influence how people think about and act towards you

Secondary Deviance

deviant acts that occur after primary deviance and as a result of your new deviant label

Stigma

a negative social label that not only changes others' behavior toward a person, but also alters that person's self-concept and social identity

Broken Windows Theory of Deviance

theory explaining how social context and social cues impact whether individuals act deviantly; specifically, whether local, informal social norms allow deviant acts

Street crime

crime committed in public

white-collar crime

offense committed by a professional (or professionals) against a corporation, agency, or other institution

corporate crime

a particular type of white-collar crime committed by the officers (CEOs and other executives) of a corporation

deterrence theory

philosophy of criminal justice arising from the notion that crime results from a rational calculation of its costs and benefits

Recidivism

when an individual who has been involved with the criminal justice system reverts back to criminal behavior

total institution

an institution in which one is totally immersed and that controls all the basics of day-to-day life; no barriers exist between the usual spheres of daily life, and all activity occurs in the same place and under the same authority