Deviance and Social Control Application Assignment: Freedom Writers
Differential Association Theory (define in your own words; complete sentences required):
The theory was founded by Edwin Sutherland in order to portray that people are taught deviant behavior from their peers and other groups they may associate themselves with.
Key terms/concepts: Symbolic Interactionism Perspective is a perspective in which one views society in the specs of everyday life and daily occurrences.
Examples from film:
1) Eva is shown initially as child being beaten as she is initiated into the Gang life. She was born into a family that required her to grow up around gangs and related bad behavior. That being said, Eva’s upbringing is an example of the Differential association theory.
2) Another example of this theory is the moment when Mrs. Gruwell asks the class how many students know what the holocaust is and only the one white student raises his hand. She then asks the class how many people have been shot at and the entire class, except the white student, raises their hands. This demonstrates how being brought up white can influence who you become as a person, as well as the things you learn. While the other students were busy dealing with gang violence and race issues their whole lives, the white student, who didn’t have to worry about such things, had more time to learn about history and specific things like the holocaust.
3) The final example is the scene where Mrs. Gruwell talks about how while she grew up, her dad was a political activist for African American rights. She even later compares him to Atticus Finch. Because of her father, Mrs. Gruwell wanted to do something relating to race and teens. She chose to be a teacher in an integrated school so she could address the issue from the class and not a courtroom a she would if she became a lawyer instead. She chose her values based on her upbringing and what she was taught was important as a child by her father.
Control/Bond Theory (define in your own words):
This was founded by Walter reckless and travis Hirschi. This theory explains the behavior of those who feel the temptations to deviate, but there are controls that aid them to resist their temptations.
Key terms/concepts:
Symbolic interaction Perspective
Inner controls, internalized moral values (fear of punishment, honesty, conscience, etc.)
Outer controls, involve the people that may influence why one might deviate.
Strong bonds to society and your family make you less likely to develop deviant behavior.
Weak bonds, to society and family make people more likely to deviate.
Examples from film:
Eva develops stronger bonds with her teacher that allows her to come closer to a better way of living. By choice of association, Eva starts making a better decisions for her own life by choosing who and what to associate herself with. Her teacher is an Outer Control that stops her temptations to deviate.
2) Additionally, Marcus withdrawing himself from the gang life on the streets demonstrates this theory. Because of what he learned from the english class, he decided to go home and lead a better life. He decides he wants to make it to 18 and to live apart from gangs.
3) Lastly, Eva creates a stronger bond with Sindy and later allows that bond to stop her from lying about who killed Sindy’s friend. Because of this relationship, Eva feels the need to be honest and respect the people around her. She, in turn, makes this decision to sell out her own people to do what is right due to her bonds she now has with her classmate.
Labeling Theory (define in your own words):
The labeling theory is expressed as a self-fulfilling prophecy because it specifies that the labels people are given affect how they perceive themselves, as well as how others perceive them from an outsider perspective.
Key terms/concepts: Symbolic interaction perspective, self-fulfilling prophecy, 5 techniques of neutralization.
Examples from film:
1) A clear example of the labeling theory in the movie is when Marcus is accused of killing his friend. Because of Marcus’s skin color, the police looked past the fact that it was an accidental suicide. Marcus’s skin color put a label on him that made it difficult for him when he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
2) Another example from the movie would be Andre and how he has a label placed on him that exemplifies how he is going to fail. He whole heartedly believes this about himself as well and gives himself a self evaluation grade of an F. Because of this, it is a clear expression of the labeling theory, as Andre lives through his self-fulfilling prophecy, until Mrs. Gruwell reminds him he is not a failure.
3) Lastly, when Eva is yelling in class about how she has seen white police officers shoot people in the streets and take away her dad for a crime he didn’t commit, she demonstrates the labeling theory. She expresses her hate for white people because of what she has seen them do, and looks past the fact that not all white people are bad. She labels all white people as bad just because of the instances she mentioned before.
Strain Theory (define in your own words):
Strain theory address how society wants people to obtain cultural goals. However, since. many of these goals may actually be unobtainable, these individuals may develop deviant behaviors and act in such ways to reach their original goals.
Key terms/concepts: functionalist perspective,
anomie, (strain)
cultural goals are goals society expects you to achieve.
Institutionalized means are ways in which you achieve cultural goals in a legal way.
Illegitimate means include stealing, cheating, lying, etc. to achieve cultural goals
Innovation is when a person uses actions like stealing or cheating to achieve goals
Ritualism is when a person gives up trying to achieve goals, but still lives morally
Retreatism is when a person gives up on their goals, and takes themselves away from society from society.
Rebellion is when person gives up on their goals but challenges these goals by doing something else in their place.
Examples from film:
1) Mrs. Gruwell’s husband is an example of this theory. After admitting that he is unmotivated and decides not want to finish his education, he ultimately walks out on his life with Mrs. Gruwell as well. This is specifically an instance involving retreatism, as her husband first withdraws from reaching his goals, and then from his marriage, giving up entirely on society.
2) Another example is when Andre stops coming to school after his brother received a 15 year sentence. He decides to give up on his goals, at least for the time being, and withdraws from society for that time period. In this case, however, he is persuaded by Mrs. Gruwell to get back on track.
3) Finally, Andres mom demonstrates this theory by how she completely ignores life around her now that her husband is gone. She cannot even look at her son because he reminds her too much of her husband. She completely withdraws from society after finding life to be too hard.
Rational Choice/Exchange Theory (define in your own words):
Rational Choice theory is using logic and reason to make the right choices
Key terms/concepts: logical choice,
risks and rewards, if we risk low, we may become deviant.
Examples from film:
1) In the clip where Eva testifies in court that Paco was the murderer, this situation demonstrates the Exchange theory. Eva is weighing her options as she hesitates to make her decision. Finally, she comes to the decision that telling the truth over lying for her people is the most rational thing to do.
2)Another time where this theory occurs is when Mrs. Gruwell goes to the higher power to get permission to take her kids on trips and give them certain reading materials that may otherwise not be allowed. As the man hears her out, he weighs his options, trying at first to reason with her. Eventually, you can see in the next few scenes that the students are allowed to read the book and go on a field trip. This demonstrates the theory because it shows how in the end, the higher power made the most rational decision for the benefit of the students education.
3) The last example of rational choice/Exchange theory from the movie is when Marcus decides to get his life together so his mom can see him graduate. After being inspired by the story of Anne Franke, he makes a rational decision to get off the streets and move back home with his mom. He wants her support and help so he can become a better person.
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