The Realm Of Sociology, By George Herbert Mead - 1466 Words

In the realm of Sociology, the study of social behavior is deeply explored. Social life, social change, social causes and consequences are what makes us all human. Psychologically and sociologically, we are all different. Each individual has different characteristics and personalities. Society has its way of organizing people who share the same similarities typically by their cultural (or ethnic) identities, gender identities, class identities, and so forth. According to George Herbert Mead’s classic text, Mind Self and Society, he stated that those identities are established through interaction with people. They are produced through agreement, disagreement, and negotiation with other people. We adjust our behavior and our self-image based†¦show more content†¦The majority of people perceive members towards a certain group. The perceiving of one person based on their appearance, behavior, race, gender, and etcetera are considered stereotypes. Labels and stereotypes ar e a huge issue in society today. Especially those who are labeled by targeted groups by the larger society. Labels can be applied to anything. Be it positive or negative. Even though it is a natural human reaction, but when taken to extremes it can have a negative consequence. Those reactions are want we call deviance. The word deviance itself does not have simple definition. The most useful explanation would be: one who does not conform to the norm or behaviors, thoughts, or attributes to which some people react negatively or would react relatively if they know about it. (Goode 1994) Another definition would be: an individual or organizational behavior that violates societal norms and is usually accompanied by negative reactions from others. Sociologist S. Becker, stated that it is not the act itself that makes an action deviant, but rather how society reacts to it. Though not always people do react negatively. It many not seem deviant to some people, though may certainly be devian t to others. Basically when people react disapprovingly towards something, that something is deviant. When society does not approve someone’s deviant behaviors, thoughts or attributes they will