W. I. Thomas
Sociological Theories of Deviance
Sociology 3305
UMD
W. I. THOMAS & FLORIAN ZNANIECKI
I. SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION REFERS TO
INSTITUTIONS, DIFFERENT THAN
INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATION
A. DIFFERENCES RESULT BECAUSE
1. DIVISION OF LABOR
2. SOCIALIZATION
II. DEFINITION
"A DECREASE OF THE INFLUENCE OF
EXISTING SOCIAL RULES OF BEHAVIOR
UPON INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE
GROUP."
III. LIKE DURKHEIM, IT IS FOUND EVERYWHERE AT ALL TIMES
FOR THOMAS, RULE BREAKING IS
DYSFUNCTIONAL
MUST NEUTRALIZE DISORGANIZATION OR
IT WILL DESTROY A SOCIETY
PROCESS OF DISORGANIZATION AND
REORGANIZATION
IF DISORGANIZATION GETS OUT OF
CONTROL, IT IS LIKELY TO END IN
1. DESTRUCTION
2. SOCIAL RECONSTRUCTION
THE SECOND IS MORE LIKELY
NEW NORMS, VALUES, ETC.
HOW DO WE FIND CAUSES AND WHERE DO
WE LOOK?
1. RULES REFLECT ATTITUDES
VALUES, COLLECTIVE CONCEPTION OF
WHAT IS DESIRABLE
2. RULES MAY REFLECT A MULTITUDE OF
VALUES,
THEFT = PRIVATE PROPERTY,
AUTONOMY, PRIVACY, FREEDOM OF
MOVEMENT, ETC.
TOO MANY CAUSES OF RULE VIOLATION
INSTEAD, LOOK FOR:
"LAWS OF SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL
BECOMING, I.E. FIND CAUSES WHICH
ALWAYS AND EVERYWHERE PRODUCE
CERTAIN DEFINITE ATTITUDES, AND THESE
CAUSES WILL EXPLAIN ALSO SOCIAL
DISORGANIZATION..."
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