Week 2 $ peer Responses

PEER RESPONSES: WEEK 2 - DISCUSSION 1 6

Distinguished - Contributes to classroom conversations with at least the minimum number of replies, all of which were thoughtful, relevant, and contributed meaningfully to the conversation. Fully engages in the conversation with appropriate topic-based responses.

Proficient - Contributes to classroom conversations with the minimum number of replies that are somewhat thoughtful, relevant, and contributed meaningfully to the conversation. Attempts to fully engage in the conversation with appropriate topic-based responses.

Guided Response: Review several of your classmates’ posts. Respond to at least two classmates by sharing whether you agree or disagree with their view of capital budgeting considerations. Is there further support you can offer your classmate on their consideration? 

Week 2 - Discussion 1

G. Grant: Peer # 1

• The agents of socialization are family, education, peer groups, religion, workplace, mass media, and organized activities. All of these agents may not be so obvious to everyone but largely amongst the majority of us these are very obvious social agents in our society. Each agent directly affects every individual in it's own way. Family would be the first and one of the most important factors considering the fact that this is the first type of social exposure we get as children and in our youth. At school, our friends and teachers and even the staff begin to influence our attitudes and behaviors. I would include organized activities in school as well. There is so much pressure on us as children to do what it is right in the eyes of our surrounding peers or if our teacher says it is right or wrong then this is our new conformed conception. Religion could be considered an extention of our upbringing if anyone were raised in a religious household. Historically religion has been known for it's effects on the views we develop of ourselves and of others. Throughout the history of religion, one could also say that it has been an even greater social agent than family because of the impact it has on culture and the lifestyles people tend to practice more than others. In the workplace there is so much that we see that might contradict our childhood or even opinions we've developed on our own. People tend to conform easily to different ways of behaving or how they conduct themselves. Co-workers can affect our perspectives just as much as a friend or family member. I'd rather not get started on mass media because we have clearly seen the damage being done over the years from this. The media contradicts everyone's views and opinions. No one ever really knows what to believe when it comes to media outlets. It is true, however, that even as kids we were influenced by what we saw or heard on television. Through shows, movies and even cartoons, patterns and habits have been developed or learned. I've personally witnessed children come to daycare pretending to shoot bad guys because they were doing what they saw on tv. If we add race, class, and gender to the equation we have a disaster on our hands for some and for others they are simply apart of the toxicity of societal preconceived notions. To be black, we've seen the results of this and how being black does not fit the norms of society. Blacks are socialized as lower class, incompetent, and more likely to be imprisoned. It is a threat to be a certain race sadly. In the LGBT community, so many of them suffer the consequences of which sex they choose to identify with. People suffer oppression and indecent treatment from society because they appear a certain way through the lens of society. 

• As far as whether or not these social agents contribute to an institutionalized system of social inequality, I'd say yes they do because they are all around us and apart of our lives. Many judgments are formed based solely off of these agents. From history, slavery for example, we've learned that because one group normalized this practice; it began to spread like a wild fire even though morally and in many other ways it was completely wrong. 

References

Durkin, K. F., & Carrothers, R. M. (2015). Sociology: Beyond common sense. [Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/

1. LOTT: Peer # 2

Socialization is defined in our text as, “the process by which individuals learn skills and abilities necessary for survival and the attitudes, values, and norms encouraged by their culture” (Durkin & Carrothers, 2015, pg. 26). I believe that this process is more different today than any other time. The world has changed. The readings would have us believe that the Family and close friends are the primary group of influence in socialization. I am on the verge of disagreeing. While I believe family should be the primary source I see more and more parents who get busy and drop thrie kids in front of a tv or phone. Televison seems to be raising kids today. So depending on the show that are watched come the values attitude and social norms. Families will either inforce these or not. Being that this seems to be the norm. Kids learn this is how society works and as they grow they have less social interaction than that of previous generations.

Peer groups such as schools, religious groups, work and social groups is the second agent of socialization because they are more casual in nature, but can still influence a child or person in both positive and negative aspects.  While kids uded to learn by playing together they now interact through texting and social media. Younger kids have peer groups that consist of television shows as parent do require social interaction

Media is the third socialization agent and also considered a secondary group for its casual influence.  As stated before, though this is considered a secondary source, media proves to be most influential to our youth and adults alike. There are many quality programs on television today such as Discovery and the Science Channel that educate, but there are also a lot of programs that are violent or sexual in nature not suitable for children of a certain age.

Childern are learning about the world and what the world thinks about race, class and gender long before the family can be involved. Parents that want their kids to be an active part of society need to be an active part of their childrens lives. Teach them the world by getting out there in it. Get them interacting with real people and kids their age. Get them involed in groups, religion, clubs or anything else that requires social interaction with peers. These groups will also serve to give them a sense of belonging which will serve them well later.

Reference

Durkin, K. F., & Carrothers, R. M. (2015). Sociology: Beyond common sense [Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/

L Spitzer: Peer # 1-

The functionalist perspective is based around everything in society having a purpose that when put together with everything else making a smooth flowing system; deviancy in society is just another mechanism that society needs to function correctly per Durkheim. Durkheim argued that deviants play an integral role in society for many reasons, such as enforcing social cohesion. Durkheim stated that when there is deviant behavior in a culture of people it allows for all the members of that culture who’s follow the norms and values to join and have a mutual outrage. When there is social cohesion in a society of people it often leads to less problems in the system, this can be seen for example by the recent terror attacks in Paris. After these attacks, many European cultures joined together for a unified front against terrorism.

As well as enforcing social cohesion, deviants can also help to let a society of people know what is acceptable behavior and what crosses the line. Without a group of people that go against the norms we would not know exactly how and how not to behave because we would have no reference of what is unacceptable behavior. In modern society, we see the punishments and condemnation that these criminals or deviants receive all around us whether it be through social media or global news; seeing how other members of society are treated when they break rules helps to keep the regular population from straying too far off the correct path because in most cases it evokes a fear of not wanting the same treatment thus allowing society to flow smoothly.

Finally, Durkheim states that a social groups identity can be seen through how they react when a deviant goes against the norms and values of that group. Feldman (1984) argued that though this process it will help to clarify the central values of the group in question. This is an important function for society because of the sheer number of social groups that exist with each one having different values and norms; a good example of this playing an integral role in society is a high fitness level for people that are in positions that protect civilians such military, police officers and fire fighters. In the social group, it is a norm violation to be physically un-fit which is why in most cases all the members of this group are often very healthy and active. This is an essential value of the group and helps to shape its identity, if there were no consequences when members of this group deviate we as a larger society could end up with sub-par protection.  

References:

Durkin, K. F., & Carrothers, R. M. (2015). Sociology: Beyond common sense. [Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/

A Mornes :Peer # 2-

After reading the required resources, explain why Emile Durkheim alleges that if we did not have deviants, we would create them. In other words, Durkheim is making an argument that having a group of people society considers deviant serves broader functions for society. What are these functions? Support your answer with detailed examples.

Deviance is described to be the behavior that goes against or disrupts the norms from the anticipated conduct. The norms would consist of people abiding by sets of rules on a daily basis. There are rules for every situation, for example, employees are held to a certain dress code at work, which is considered “business causal”, Monday- Thursday and if someone breaks or violates this rule, then consequences are set in place. But, the same place, allows you to wear jeans to donate money to a certain cause all week without consequences. Depending on the situation, categorizes deviance or not or rule bending. I believe because society requires so much, it cause the individual to become overwhelmed or stressed to meet the demands. Emile Durkheim spoke of suicide being at an increasing rate during the time of economic crises, economic change, and inadequate regulation of sexual desires, which could cause a chronic state of anomie. I can recall the time, when gas prices where almost for people to drive cars. In Texas, I believe it was almost $5 a gallon. For those that struggled financially, this would cause a great amount of depression, and end results to doing things that would harm another for gain, or even committing suicide because of mental breakdown. Durkheim stated, “Out of disillusionment and despair with the pursuit of limitless goals, many individuals in the anomic society take their own lives ((n.d.) The anomie tradition.).” The function of public reaction to deviants or deviances help lead to social cohesion. For example, the crisis that happened in Flint, Michigan with the water being contaminated, and people from across stepping up to help. Often, it takes things as such to happen, but in all respect, it sometimes unites the people. Also, punishments and condemns stresses the line of what is accepted or not for deviants. The text spoke of motorist being able to drive a few miles faster than what the normal speed limit is. So, depending on situation, is depending on what the norm is for acceptable behavior in a public fashion.

References

Durkin, K. F., & Carrothers, R. M. (2015). Sociology: Beyond common sense [Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/

(n.d.). The anomie tradition. Retrieved from http://deviance.socprobs.net/Unit_3/Theory/Anomie.htm