Drug Quiz

Try to guess which drugs go along with these side effects (Hint: 3 of the 4 are legal)

A: Difficulty walking / Blurred vision / Slurred speech / Slowed reaction times / Impaired memory and blackouts / Mental confusion / Paralysis of the nerves that move the eyes / Difficulty with muscle coordination / Persistent learning and memory problems / Liver disease / Unintentional injuries

B: Impaired judgment and motor coordination / Shortened attention span and distractibility / Anxiety and panic attacks /Increased heart rate / Increased risk of heart attack

C: Shortness of breath and dizziness / Lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema / Heart disease, including stroke, heart attack, vascular disease, and aneurysm (burst blood vessel)/ Lung, mouth, throat, bladder, pancreas and kidney cancer / Dry skin and premature wrinkles

D: Jitteriness / Increased heart rate / Increased risk of panic attack / Irregular heartbeat / Prolonged depression / Sleep deprivation / Irritability / Increased blood sugar

Answers: D: Caffeine C: Tobacco B: Marijuana A: Alcohol

As you can see, the negative effects of drugs have nothing to do with whether they are legal or illegal. There is much more to it.

"As with deviance in general, the very definition of which substances are 'illegal' is influenced by powerful interests," According to David Newman in Sociology. In 2006, $157 billion was brought in from alcohol sales in the United States. Tobacco, too, brings in billions each year and is an industry on which many states depend. Though the government limits the use of tobacco and alcohol, it never goes as far as to criminalize use (Newman 249).

http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/facts/drugstobacco/
Newman, David. Sociology. Ed 8. 2010.

Deterrance (Assignment 8)

According to David Newman's Sociology, the deterrence theory is "a theory of deviance positing that people will be prevented from engaging in deviant acts if they judge the costs of such an act to outweigh its benefits." In simpler terms, this theory assumes that people are rational and consider the positive and negative results that will come from doing something.  If the negatives are more than the positives, the task is not worth doing and vice verse.

If this theory were correct, then states without the death penalty would have lower incidences of homicide, but that is not the case. In fact, "the homicide rate in the 38 states with the death penalty has been 48% to 100% higher than the 12 states without the death penalty" (Newman 227).  It could be argued that states in certain areas of the country are more or less prone to crime, but the trend applies even to neighboring states with different capital punishment laws.

Supporters of the deterrence theory argue that punishment must be quick and severe to deter acts; and capital punishment is, by no means, swift. According to David Newman, "On average, death row inmates spend almost 13 years awaiting execution, a figure that has been growing steadily for three decades" (Newman 236). Supporters also argue that acts of violence are not thoroughly thought through; rather, they are spontaneous.

Though its application is not perfect with the death penalty, deterrence plays a huge role in less passionate crime.  According to the state of Minnesota, one's first DWI is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. If that isn't enough deterrence to someone, and he or she still drives drunk, his or her punishment will, hopefully, deter others from offending.  My boyfriend was recently written a $106 seat belt ticket and has been wearing his seat belt consistently since. In this way, deterrence is the basis for all law enforcement.

Though the deterrence theory assumes that people are rational, that isn't always true, especially in passionate crime like homicide. Deterrence is, however, an important tool in law enforcement, and, therefore, should not be discounted.

Newman, David. Sociology. Ed 8. 2010.

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/dwiover.pdf

Why Do Men Abuse Women?



After reading passage "Personal and Institutional Responses to Intimate Violence" in Chapter 7 of Newman's Sociology, I did some research on abuse within intimate relationships. The question that repeatedly came up was "why do women stay in abusive relationships?" The text provides many reasons:  Being emotionally, physically, or economically trapped; fear; and lack of assistance and public resources (Newman 214) A quick web search provided hundreds of articles and blogs on this topic. However, the question I feel we should be asking  is why do men abuse girlfriends/wives? And how can we prevent it in the first place?

According to The Better Health Channel's website, many abusers hurt women to control them. They feel it is their right and that they can behave how they choose in their own homes. Some men use violence to stress that they are the head of the household.  Drugs and alcohol can also play a role:  In about half of reported domestic abuse cases, the perpetrator is intoxicated. 

To add to the problem, men are likely to resist accepting help in dealing with anger problems. Some think that masculinity means being strong and silent and that accepting help is weak or feminine. Others believe that they are not at fault-- that the provoker had it coming.

Now that we know some reasons behind it, how can it be prevented? I didn't have much luck finding resources about prevention, but it's my opinion that talking to kids about the consequences of hurting others is key and then keeping the dialogue open throughout adolescence and adulthood.  As a woman, I've had ideas pounded into my head for years on how to avoid being hurt by men:  Carry pepper spray, walk away when he gets angry, tell someone if he hurts you, etc.  But I don't think the reverse is being pounded into young male brains. Parents need to teach boys the consequences of hurting others; boys also need to know that asking for help is not a sign of weakness.

Abuse is, unfortunately, a part of many peoples' lives.  I chose to talk about men abusing female partners, but, as Newman's Sociology points out, abuse can happen to anyone for so many reasons. I truly believe that teaching our children respect and leading by example can make a huge difference in their choices to abuse or not abuse others.

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Domestic_violence_why_men_abuse_women?open

Newman, David. Sociology. Ed 8. 2010.

Image: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=domestic+violence+graphic&hl=en&gbv=2&biw=1192&bih=587&tbm=isch&tbnid=HFPR-VEoGDCFsM:&imgrefurl=http://abduzeedo.com/most-creative-ads-series-domestic-abuse&docid=xcRGKV2k_3ggMM&imgurl=http://imgs.abduzeedo.com/files/articles/domestic-violence/img7.jpg&w=600&h=380&ei=PeGlTv3dIeeRiQLw6LSnDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=599&vpy=150&dur=184&hovh=179&hovw=282&tx=181&ty=95&sig=110286977754190018626&page=1&tbnh=124&tbnw=166&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0

Family Values

According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, a family is defined as "two or more persons, including the householder who are related by birth, marriage, or adoption, and who live together as one household."  Based on this definition, I don't think my household would be considered a family:  I live with my son and boyfriend.  Before my boyfriend moved in with my son and I about two years ago, however, my son and I would have been considered a "single female parent with children under 18" family (Newman 195). It certainly feels more like a family now, though. Anyway, even though we're not officially a family by the government's standards, we have family values. 

My son knows not saying "please" will have consequences just like my boyfriend and I know that saying certain four-letter words will have consequences. We value health and try to eat leafy greens each day.  We encourage my son to respect others and be accepting of differences.

Every family has values. They're often passed down from generation to generation.  When we think of family values we often think of ideas like "respect your elders" and "family comes first."  But can negative values like racism can be passed down, too? I think so.

 

According to ZenFamilyHabits.com, ten essential family values exist:  Belonging, flexability, respect, honesty, generosity, forgiveness, curiosity, communication, responsibility, and traditions.  The author acknowledges that values differ from family to family, but I really like this list.

Family values guide everyones' decisions to some extent. My family is practical, so my first degree was in x-ray because the job market in hospitals was stable and the degree would only take three years. My family values education; so when I couldn't find a job after technical college, I chose to return to school to get a bachellor's degree. 

I'm thankful for my family's values, as they have shaped me into who I am. I'm excited for my "non-family household" to instill positive values in my son that he will someday be thankful for.

http://www.zenfamilyhabits.net/2010/02/top-10-essential-family-values/
image: http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/archive/2008/07/08/my-kids-are-racist-and-yours-are-too.aspx
Newman, David. Sociology. Ed 8. 2010.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

In the "Illusion of Youth" passage within the "Managing Impressions" section of the text, Newman briefly touches on a condition called body dysmorphic disorder:  "And about 2% of the population is so self-conscious about their looks that their lives are constricted in some significant way, from feeling inhibited during lovemaking to becoming homebound or even suicidal" (Newman 167).

I was first introduced to this condition on the Oprah Winfrey show. Two of her guests were young, attractive people suffering with body dysmorphic disorder.  They were so limited by their condition that they could not drive because of the mirrors involved (they'd get into crashes due to looking into the mirrors instead of at the road). And, if I remember correctly, neither of them were able to work. They truly thought of themselves as monsters. I couldn't find a clip of this episode, but I was able to find a similar one from the Dr. Phil Show (you really only need to watch the first few minutes to understand what it's all about):

I can't imagine being one of Diana's loved ones. In the clip, her mother says that when she tells Diana that she's beautiful, Diana responds, "Mother, don't lie to me."  How helpless everyone around her must feel. 

Body dysmorphic disorder is an extreme psychological condition, but research shows that 30 to 40% of U.S. adults are concerned with their physical appearance. Another study showed that 90% of white and 30% of black teens are not satisfied with their bodies (the difference between those two figures is explained more on page 164). I, too, often feel dissatisfied with my physical appearance. I think the key is to learn to focus on  the good things we have going for us and to pay less attention to physical flaws.

Newman, David. Sociology. Ed 8. 2010.

Impression Management

Impression management is a huge part of every day in my life. From the time I get dressed in the morning to the time I come home and post a last blog comment, I'm managing outsiders' perspectives. Some say that they don't care what others think, but everyone is, whether consciously or subconsciously, putting an image out for judgement. We manage impressions and "sell" our image with almost every aspect of us:  The way we look, talk and behave and the groups in which we are members are a few factors that mold others' impressions of us.

The most dramatic impression management that I engage in is when I'm with my son. I feel that his teachers, other parents at school, doctors, and everyone else for that matter expects me to act ditsy or uneducated because of my young age; and I compensate for this in every way possible. At parent-teacher conferences, doctors appointments, and other "mom" functions, I make sure to dress "older;" no graphic t-shirts or flip flops-- always loose fitting, practical mom attire.  I've noticed a good response from sweaters and chords combined with my dark-framed glasses (I hope it looks better than it sounds).

   < Perhaps these will help? ;)




It's certainly not all about the look though. I've also got to be armed with the proper small talk about the new principal or addition to the playground or, when all else fails, the great/awful weather we've been having!

My son recently had his hearing tested at the Children's Hospital, and his father (who I am no longer seeing but still get along well with) attended the appointment as well. I had my "adult pants" on and felt prepared but was completely mortified when his father said both "like" and "whatever" to the specialist.  I instantly thought, "Great, now she thinks we're stupid." This somewhat irrational anger at my son's father's "exposing" us made me realize how important this image is to me.

I know I could spend less effort managing my image. My son's teachers and doctors and other parents at his school are all great people, and they probably wouldn't be completely disgusted if I did wear flip flops occasionally.  I know the image is only a big deal to me.  Still, it makes me feel more confident in a world I don't feel comfortable being myself in, so I'm going to hold onto it... for now, anyway.


Image: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=snl+mom+jeans&um=1&hl=en&biw=1441&bih=687&tbm=isch&tbnid=Vi_cx7ZGYg1foM:&imgrefurl=http://coleandjosephine.blogspot.com/2010/03/tina-fey-is-my-hero.html&docid=wNEgWKtIEYdbRM&imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JjP3ZiT9AWyH0d3pKP4AWrclPRTPEBzFV2LwzLnFv_tYSLTXnMXQ1sD9OscK3CjDESq2sM7HwvVn9vVMKhIiHNBM3WReV00g5yQ6iIk4GGVWtHqS6Beh4T9sptXVx5jWnBQwhCCy2-gD/s400/mom_jeans.jpg&w=400&h=301&ei=Pw6ZTtbPCuXY0QHIr6WwBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=757&vpy=191&dur=1215&hovh=195&hovw=259&tx=142&ty=133&sig=110286977754190018626&page=1&tbnh=146&tbnw=195&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0

Wedding Rituals

Pages 111-120, entitled "Funeral Rituals in the Netherlands" describe the different ways the Dutch deal with death.  The rituals vary immensely from one religion or culture to the next. This inspired me to check out some wedding rituals from around the world.

South Africa: In some South African weddings, the couples' parents carry torches lit by fire in their own homes. They then take the fire to the newlyweds' home, where a new fire is lit. 

Japan: Some Japanese ceremonies include drinking Sake; it signifies unity. Some brides choose to wear the traditional kimono, though a white dress is also common.

Turkey: Many couples in Turkey continue to celebrate with family and friends for days after the ceremony has ended.

Jamaica: At traditional Jamaican wedding receptions, rum cake is served. The leftover cake is then mailed to family members unable to attend the reception.

Switzerland: Brides at traditional Swiss weddings wear a wreath crown to signify being young and unmarried. After the ceremony, the wreath is burned, and it is viewed as lucky if it burns quickly.

Yemen: The sweet desserts served at Yemeni wedding receptions signify a sweet life for the newlywed couple.

Venezuela: It's not uncommon for a newlywed couple to sneak away from their reception without saying goodbye. It's even considered lucky (worldweddingtraditions.com).

I couldn't determine with certainty how common these rituals are, but they certainly are different. It got me thinking about the typical Christian, American wedding traditions, and they likely seem strange to outsiders. ("So the person who catches the bouquet will be the next to get married?") But however diverse the rituals, happiness and celebration are a common theme.

Image: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=wedding+graphics&hl=en&biw=1441&bih=687&tbm=isch&tbnid=4HFJBKS7-Lr0dM:&imgrefurl=http://www.webweaver.nu/clipart/wedding2.shtml&docid=DSg5APZ6F0fUFM&w=245&h=267&ei=uTeRTt-yOsa9tgf4yZWDDA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=195&vpy=185&dur=5826&hovh=213&hovw=196&tx=109&ty=105&page=1&tbnh=156&tbnw=143&start=0&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

http://www.worldweddingtraditions.com/locations/north_american_traditions/united_states_traditions.html

Nature v. Nurture

Chapter Five of Newman's Sociology is entitled "Building Identity: Socialization." In this chapter, the idea of nature verses nuture is introduced.  According to Newman, those on the "nature" side believe that "we are who we are because we were born that way." Those on the "nurture" side believe that "we are who we are because of the way we were treated while growing up" (Newman 127).

When I read this section, it reminded me of a video I saw several years ago about a girl known as Genie. I'll summarize her story, but here's the link to the first section the video if you'd like to view it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEnkY2iaKis (If you watch the video: What do you think of their calling her a "wild" or "feral" child?)

Genie was abused and completely neglected for the first thirteen years of her life.  She was strapped almost constantly to a potty chair and beaten often. When police officers found her, she was thirteen years old and unable to talk or walk properly. She was wearing a diaper and was extremely malnourished.



 "Genie"

Scientists saw her as a perfect study subject in the nature verses nurture debate. She had clearly not been nurtured:  she was never allowed outside, very rarely spoken to, and never shown affection. When police found her, she was functioning like an infant. After her rescue, she lived with various scientists and foster parents. She learned to use simple words and was able to sign to express herself.

Genie's story proves that environment has an impact on development. It's unclear, however, what Genie's abilities could have been, had she been properly cared for: It's very possible that she would have still functioned at a low level. That's why the nature v. nurture question still lingers.  No methods exist to determine the percentage of development affected by biology or environment.

This video shows how being ignored affects a baby. It's easy to see how neglect could affect a child.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apzXGEbZht0&feature=BFa&list=PLE3C210B5E3118EB3&lf=results_video

Photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Genie_(feral_child).jpg

Newman, David. Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life. 8 Ed. 2010.

Social Norms

Social norms are, according to Newman, "culturally defined rules of conduct." He goes on to explain that social norms specify what people are supposed to do in each situation. In my social norms experiment, I violated a couple simple norms.

For my first experiment, I sat too far from my boyfriend in our post-work conversation.  As he sat in the living room telling me about his day, I sat at the kitchen table. As he talked, I nodded my head and was very engaged in what he was saying, as if we were right next to each other.  At first, I could tell he didn't notice, but throughout the conversation he seemed more and more confused. Finally he asked "Why are you sitting out there?" Then I explained the experiment to him. When I asked him what he had been thinking, he said it just seemed "a little off." He explained that it's normal for us to talk that way if I'm in the kitchen cooking or doing homework but not if I'm just sitting out there.

For my next experiment, I asked detailed questions about the common phrase "See you later."  My mom was in town visiting my sister, who just had a baby, so I tried it out on her. She was very busy helping my sister and spending time with the baby, so she didn't have much time to talk. When I told her I was going to go home, she said, "Okay, see you later." I asked her when later was, and she said "Maybe in a couple hours." Then I asked her what we were going to be doing in a couple hours, and she seemed annoyed. She said she didn't know. When I asked it about her later, she laughed and said she couldn't figure out why I was so concerned. She said it seemed especially weird because I live right next door to my sister; there's really no need to make plans because we just stop in at eachothers' houses.

Social norms help us know what's appropriate to do. Some of them don't really make sense, they're just "what we do," but I find them comforting: I always know what's appropriate. The experiment made me think of how difficult it would be for someone of a different culture with different norms to behave "normally" here.  It also made me wonder if any little social norms are universal. The norms that I chose to break were simple, but it was still uncomfortable. I think I'll stick to the norms.

Anyone who loves fishing like I do knows all about this norm!

Newman, David. Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life. Ed 8. 2010.

Image: http://www.google.com/imgres?q=social+norms&um=1&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1366&bih=651&tbm=isch&tbnid=OPrxbMVDUAFd1M:&imgrefurl=http://mat0515.wordpress.com/&docid=vgw3YS_I-RNetM&w=500&h=428&ei=Ry6KToe_GsapsQL12MCtDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=957&vpy=174&dur=7268&hovh=208&hovw=243&tx=141&ty=140&page=1&tbnh=129&tbnw=151&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0