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Explaining Social Deviance cover art

Explaining Social Deviance

By: Paul Root Wolpe, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Paul Root Wolpe
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Summary

How do deviants reconcile their behavior with society's norms? This set of 10 lectures examines the complex topic of deviance and how major sociological theories have attempted to define it and understand its role in both historical and modern society. Professor Wolpe introduces deviance as "a complex, often ambiguous, social phenomenon that raises numerous questions about how a varied and often arbitrary set of characteristics can be used to name the same idea."

Intended for those with some understanding of sociology, these lectures trace Western theories of deviance from classical demonism to constructionism. Along the way, you'll get a chance to investigate a range of fascinating, thought-provoking, and sometimes even frightening topics and issues.

You'll discover the relationship between deviance and criminology, and come to terms with three major sociological perspectives on deviance in human society. You'll explore the concept of demonism, with divides the world into good and evil, and see how it's often been used to explain and categorize bad behavior when no other explanations are available. You'll learn about the influence of science on sociological thought as proposed by a range of important thinkers, as well as the impact of this science on everything from the IQ controversy to the eugenics movement to Social Darwinism.

Professor Wolpe has crafted an engaging series of discussions that are sure to have you looking at the world around you (and the people in them) in a new way.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©1995 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)1995 The Great Courses

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  • 15-06-15

Thought provoking

Found this course very interesting I only wish it had been updated for 2015 this is from 2004. A real shame.

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A tad dated but interesting all the same

Which scene did you most enjoy?

There were plenty of lectures that were interesting but the sociology of science was certainly something to ponder.

Any additional comments?

These lectures came out around the time of the OJ Simpson trial and so has references rooted around this time. I would be interested to learn where the study of social deviance has progressed to from that point.

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Interesting introduction but outdated & flawed.

I enjoyed it up until chapter 10 with the rant on scientists. What makes science a science is not who has power but data and evidence. Good Science is not about a subjective position it's about robust evidence and data. if you are unable to back up your argument with data then it is not science it's pseudoscience this is why creationism and parapsychology are considered deviant science because it's difficult to prove objectively. The lecturer showed real ignorance in this area and should leave biology and geology to the biologists and geologists. As for quantum theory, those ideas aren't entirely pulled from nowhere. There's robust mathematical evidence, physical evidence and data from particle accelerators and cloud chambers and much technology is based in quantum theory and works. Science is often abstract, counterintuitive and hard to explain but it is regulated by logic, objectivity and a constant attempts to " kill your darlings." Yes science evolves when popular thought advances but it is wrong to say that deviant science is just as legitimate because it's simply not even science.

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Reinforced my opinion of sociology

First, a disclaimer, I am a graduate of Mathematics and Economics with post graduate Psychology. I was always sceptical of Sociology. This set of lectures confirmed my assumption. The worst was the final lecture when equating astronomy with astrology and creationism with evolution. The level of confirmation bias used was shocking. For example, Einstein's theories was not a revolution of Newton's, it was an extension.

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Excellent and enjoyable tutorials

This is an excellent set of tutorials looking at social deviance from a sociological perspective as opposed to what I've read from my psychological studies and subsequent career in which I work to support offenders in the community.

Extremely informative and highly recommended.

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