SO 314:  Social Deviance

CLASS Spring 2018

 

Professor: Mrs. Jamie Padgett MSW                                      Office: 

Phone: 573-210-0146                                                 Classroom:    

E-mail: jamielpadgett@gmail.com                                       Class Time: M&W 5:00-7:30

             

Office Hours:  by appointment                                                        

Required Text:

            Humphrey, J.A. & Schmalleger, F.  (2012).  Deviant Behavior (2 ed.).  Sudbury, MA:  Jones & Bartlett Learning.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

All societies have formal and informal rules that guide behavior. These rules are socially constructed in historical contexts and infused with power. The study of social deviance focuses on individuals and groups who are at the margins of these rules. In this class, we investigate some of the individuals and groups who have been defined as deviant. We investigate why some people are deviant, how people react to the deviance, and how our society is organized to facilitate and prevent deviant behavior.

 

STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1.         Demonstrate understanding of the different types of deviance.

2.         Be able to explain why some people engage in deviant behavior.

3.         Demonstrate understanding of the various ways people react to deviance.

4.         Locate the organizational underpinnings of deviance.

5.         Students should gain an ethical understanding of deviant behaviors and establish practices of tolerance and understanding towards those who have been labeled as deviant.

 

Evaluation:

1.         Exams - There will be two exams throughout the course.  Exams will not be comprehensive and will be worth approximately 100 points each.  Exams may include objective items, short-answer, multiple choice, true/false, and essay questions.   

2.         Journal: You will be responsible for FOUR journals (30 points each) where you will find an example of deviance from the mass media and write a 2-3 page paper, using the following format.

                        a. Describe the deviant behavior

                        b. what makes this behavior deviant? (Use definition)

                        c. What theory or theories might best explain this kind of deviance?

                        d. Cite references.

YOU MUST USE A DIFFERENT DEVIANT BEHAVIOR FOR EACH JOURNAL

 

3.         Social Experience: You will be expected to participate in the Social Experience assignment as described in the last page of this syllabus.  Along with participation you will be expected to turn in a 3-5 page double spaced type paper describing your behavior along with reactions from others.  You will be expected to turn this paper in on 5/6/19 as well as present to the class a brief description of your experience.  (100 points, paper and in class presentation) 

  

3.         Final course grades will be determined based on the percentage of total possible points in the class. 

            90-100%=A   80-89%=B   70-79%=C   60-69%=D   <60%=F  

           

Course Policies:

Attendance - Attendance will be taken each class period and will be used to determine your final grade should you be on the borderline between grades (i.e., A/B, C/D, etc.).  Absences due to college-related activities will be given special consideration as per CMU policy in the University Catalog.  It will be your responsibility to inform me prior to your absence should you be involved in such an activity.  The decision to allow makeup work will be handled on an individual basis and will be granted only at the professor's discretion. 

Make-up Exams - If you know that you will miss an exam it will be your responsibility to request permission to take the exam prior to the scheduled time.  If you miss an exam for an emergency reason I must be notified before the next class period (preferably within hours of the missed exam) and appropriate documentation regarding the unavoidable nature of your absence must be produced (e.g doctor’s note, tow truck bill, funeral program, etc.).  In that case, individual arrangements may be made.  The format of any make up exam may be different from that given in class.

Late Assignments -  Assignments are due at the beginning of class.  Late assignments will be lowered by 10% (one-half letter grade) for each day they are late.  Assignments are not accepted more than one week late.  Assignments over one week late will receive a zero. 

Academic Conduct - Students enrolled in this course are expected to be familiar with and follow Central Methodist University’s Policy on Academic Honesty.  This policy can be found in the student handbook and college catalog.  Violations of this policy may result in a score of 0 points on the assignment and will be reported to the Academic Dean.  Should you have any questions or need clarification of the policy, please feel free to ask me at any time.

Disability Accommodations - Please refer to the University Catalog for CMU policy on students with disabilities.  It is your responsibility to make arrangements with the Learning and Teaching Center and with this professor for special accommodations.

Course Schedule – The course schedule posted on MyCMU and in this syllabus is a tentative schedule.  The professor reserves the right to alter this schedule.

Extra Credit – Extra credit opportunities will not be offered to students on an individual basis.  Should an extra credit opportunity be offered, it will be made available to everyone in the class.

Classroom Environment – I think a good classroom environment is an open one where students are safe to ask questions, discuss material and share life experiences.  In an effort to create this environment I ask you to be respectful of others’ opinions.  Cell phones used during class (including texting) send the message that what we are doing is less important than your social life.  Please turn off cell phones before class.

 

 

 

 

 

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE

 

Date	Topic	Readings/Assignments Due
3/18	Review Syllabus/ Intro to Deviant Behavior	Chapter 1
3/20	Theory	Chapters 2 & 3
3/25	Journal Assignment
3/27	Homicide/Domestic Violence	Chapters 4 & 5
4/1	Journal Assignment
4/3	Suicide and Life-Threatening Behaviors & Mental Illness	Chapter 6& 7
4/8	Alcohol Abuse and Illicit Drug Use	Chapters 8 &9
4/10	TEST-
4/15	Sexual Offending/Property Crimes	Chapters 10& 11
4/17	Work on Social Experience Project
4/22	Journal Assignment
4/24	White Collar and Organized Crime/Cyber Deviance	Chapter 12 & 13
4/29	Journal Assignment
5/1	Positive Deviance & Extreme Forms of Everyday Behavior	Chapters 14 & 15
5/6	Terrorism, Class Presentations, Social Experience Paper DUE!	Chapter 16
5/8	TEST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Central Methodist University

 

Mission

Central Methodist University prepares students to make a difference in the world by emphasizing academic and professional excellence, ethical leadership, and social responsibility.

 

Educational Goals

The Central Methodist University experience engenders, through the academic program and opportunities for practical experiences, student growth in knowledge, personal integrity, spirituality, and professional competence.  In addition, students are challenged to develop a sense of global citizenship and a commitment to the betterment of the world.  Students with a CMU education are prepared to:

Academic Goals

• Demonstrate knowledge of the liberal arts and academic specialties as well as technical skills and professional competencies.
• Think critically and conceptually and apply their knowledge and skills to the solving of problems.
• Communicate accurately and effectively through listening, speaking, and writing.

Character Goals

• Continue to develop self-knowledge, confidence, and a sense of honor and commitment by assuming responsibility and leadership in the service of others.
• Seek an understanding of ideas, issues, and events within and beyond their immediate community and appreciate the gifts of diversity.
• Evaluate their personal strengths and abilities and explore appropriate career choices in a changing world.
• Have the courage to make decisions based on considerations of ethical, aesthetic, economic, and environmental consequences.
• Commit themselves to a life exemplifying values in relationships with self, family, church, university, and community.

 

Creed

 The Central Methodist University Community believes in:

Seeking knowledge, truth, and wisdom;

Valuing freedom, honesty, civility, and diversity;

Living a life of service and leadership;

Taking responsibility for ourselves and the communities in which we live.

 

Values

Central Methodist University affirms its Wesleyan heritage and its unique place as the only United Methodist-related university in Missouri.  The location of its original campus in a small, historic, rural community provides an opportunity for students to live and to learn in a safe setting.  The University values its strong liberal arts tradition, providing a foundation for excellent professional programs.  CMU and its outreach activities foster an environment in which a diverse student body can develop intellectually, socially, and spiritually.  University life emphasizes honesty, integrity, civility, and a strong sense of personal responsibility as integral elements of character and leadership.  Central Methodist University nurtures a spirit of community and caring among students, faculty, and staff.

 

Who We Are

Central Methodist University is known for its high quality undergraduate and graduate educational programs, its values-centered learning experiences and longstanding church relationship, its strong liberal arts tradition, its emphasis on character and leadership development, and the success of its graduates through their further educational and professional pursuits.  Characterized by academic excellence and proactive, personalized student development initiatives, programs are offered in Fayette and statewide via distance learning technologies as well as through partnerships with schools, churches, hospitals, and other institutions of higher education.

                                                                                    

 

 

 

 

 

Social Experiment:

Breaking Norms in Everyday Life Paper (100 pts) For this assignment, you will break a folkway or social norm in front of 3 different groups of people (they can be family, friends, and/or strangers). It is important that you perform this norm-breaking exercise at 3 different times and/or in front of 3 different groups of people. 

 

Take notes of how others respond to your behavior (you can just take mental notes or write them down on a pad of paper). The goal is to examine the different responses you get from different audiences in different social contexts. The more different the audience or the locale, the more varied the responses. Plan your experiment with an eye towards assessing the impact of different social contexts and different social audiences in the responses you observe to your deviance. Do not engage in any act which is widely seen as immoral, illegal, or could potentially get you arrested!

 

            You will then write-up your findings in a short essay. Your essay should be in 3 parts: 

 

1) Explanation of your behavior, the norm broken, and social context where you broke the norm/folkway,

 2) Recollection of how others responded to your behavior,

 3) Significance for the study of deviance and connections to course material. 

 

Your paper should be 3-5 pages, double-spaced (1500-2500 words) and should include citations. You may reference the textbook, lectures, and supplementary readings, in addition to any other academic articles you locate on your own. 

 

Here are some suggestions: order dessert first at a restaurant, bring your own food to a restaurant, treat casual acquaintances like intimates (or vice versa), wear inappropriate clothing, initiate conversations with strangers, sit next to strangers when there are other seats available, or ask someone if they would like to join a cult you’ve created. You don’t have to be super creative. If you are still having trouble coming up with some ideas please come speak with me.