SOC101-Intro to Sociology
March 2013

1. Part A. Describe the sociological concept of deviance. Briefly explain each of the approaches to explaining deviance (functionalist perspective, interactionist perspective, conflict perspective), telling which is most convincing to you and why. Provide examples from your own experience as appropriate.
2. Part B. Analyzing your own life; discuss your status in terms of ascribed status, achieved status, and master status. For each of these statuses, discuss the roles that you play. Give one example of role strain and role conflict from your own experience. Thinking about the future, which role do you think will cause you the most difficulty in terms of role exit? Why?

The Sociological
According to Conflict theorists, criminal law does not represent a consistent application of societal value, but instead it reflects competing values and interests. Conflict theorists also contend that the whole criminal justice system in the U.S treats suspects differently based on their racial, ethnic, or social class background (Schaefer, 2010, p178). All those characteristics created advantages to the powerful or dominant groups and disadvantages to the minorities I can mention the case of the ex president Bill Clinton who lies to the nation denying his adultery and at the end nothing happens or some business people that commit fraud in big corporations and receive minimum sentences because they have the money to pay good lawyers that use many excuses to minimize the offender responsibility. Differential justice is not limited to the U.S. Such dramatic difference in social treatment may lead to violent acts and crime in people who see themselves as victims and they may strike out towards fellow victims. The perspective advance in conflict and labeling theorists form varies of contrasts to the functionalists approach to deviance. Functionalists see standards of deviance behavior merely reflecting cultural norms, as to conflict and labeling theorists point out the most powerful groups in a society can shape laws and standards to then determine who is or isn’t persecuted as a criminal (Schaefer, 2010, p178). Differential justice then explains that powerful