Question One a) According to Bauman, sociology is distinct from common sense in that sociology provides a systematic study of the social world around us that is grounded in empirical evidence, while common sense relies on taken-for-granted assumptions and everyday experiences (Bauman, 2013). Sociology aims to go beyond individual experiences and understand the larger social structures and processes that shape them. Bauman argues that while common sense may be useful in everyday life, it is limited in its ability to provide a comprehensive understanding of complex social issues. Bauman, Z. (2013). Crafting sociological lenses. In Sociology (7th ed., pp. 3-18). Polity Press a) According to Bauman, sociology offers a systematic study of the social environment around us that is backed by scientific data, in contrast to common sense, which is based on assumptions and experiences from daily life (Bauman, 2013). Sociology aims to understand the more significant societal structures and forces at play in addition to concentrating on personal experiences. According to Bauman, common sense may be useful in day -to-day situations but is insufficient for understanding complex social issues. b) One social phenomenon that highlights the usefulness of Bauman's distinction between sociology and common sense is the media. While common sense may suggest that the media simply reflects reality, sociological analysis shows that the media is a powerful force in shaping public opinion and constructing social reality (Giddens & Sutton, 2017). For example, media representations of crime and deviance can influence public perceptions of crime and shape policy decisions. Sociological analysis allows us to examine the larger social structures and processes that shape media representations and understand their impact on society. social reality (Giddens & Sutton, 2017, p. 696) Giddens, A., & Sutton, P. W. (2017). Sociology (8th ed.). Polity Press. b) One social phenomenon that demonstrates Bauman's distinction between sociology and common sense is the media. Contrary to what one may assume from common sense, sociological analysis shows that the media is a powerful tool for shaping social reality and swaying public opinion (Giddens & Sutton, 2017). Media depictions of crime and deviance, for instance, can have an impact on how the public views crime and how laws are created. Sociological study helps us understand the effects of media portrayals on society by looking at the more significant social structures and processes that influence them. Question Three a) According to Sewell's 'Theory of Structure', structure and agency are interconnected and both play a role in shaping criminal behavior. Structure refers to the social, economic, and political institutions and systems that shape individual opportunities and constraints, while agency refers to an individual's ability to act and make choices (Sewell, 1992). Sewell argues that individuals have agency within the structural constraints they face, and that structure can both enable and constrain individual action. Therefore, criminal behavior is shaped by both the structural factors that create opportunities for criminal activity and the individual choices made within those opportunities. b) Sewell, W. H. (1992). A theory of structure: duality, agency, and transformation. American journal of sociology, 98(1), 1-29. c) The page number for the specific information provided in the text is page 5 a) Agency and structure are interwoven, according to Sewell's "Theory of Structure," and both have an impact on criminal behaviour. Structure refers to the social, economic, and political organisations and procedures that set individual opportunities and boundaries, whereas agency refers to a person's power to act and make decisions (Sewell, 1992). Humans have agenc y within the confines of the structural constraints they are exposed to, and structure can both support and limit individual activity, according to Sewell. As a result, criminal behaviour is influenced by both the structural factors that create chances for illegal activity and the individual choices that people make within those opportunities. b) In 'In Search of Respect', Bourgois examines the experiences of Primo, a Puerto Rican drug dealer living in East Harlem. Primo's experiences illustrate the complex interplay between structure and agency in shaping criminal behavior. On the one hand, Primo's involvement in drug dealing can be seen as a response to the limited opportunities and structural constraints he faced as a member of a marginalized community. On the other hand, Primo also exercised agency in his decision to become involved in drug dealing and his strategic choices within that world. For example, Primo chose to deal crack instead of heroin because it was more profitable, and he strategically avoided violence to maintain his reputation and business. Therefore, Primo's experiences illustrate the importance of understanding both structure and agency in shaping criminal behavior. Bourgois, P. (1995). In search of respect: Selling crack in El Barrio. Cambridge University Press. The discussion on Primo's experiences in relation to structure and agency can be found throughout the book, but specifically on pages 24-27 and 70-83. Sewell, W. H. (1992). A theory of structure: Duality, agency, and transformation. American Journal of Sociology, 98(1), 1-29. doi: 10.1086/229967 This source discusses Sewell's theory of structure and its emphasis on the interplay between structure and agency in shaping individual behavior. b) In "In Search of Respect," Bourgois examines the life of Primo, an East Harlem based heroin dealer from Puerto Rico. Primo's experiences demonstrate the complex interactions between structure and agency that result in criminal behaviour. On the one hand, Primo's involvement in the heroin tr ade might be seen as a response to the institutional barriers and restricted opportunities he faced as a member of a marginalised group. Primo, on the other hand, exercised agency in his choice to engage in drug distribution as well as his operational choi ces throughout. Primo, for instance, chose to sell crack rather than heroin since it was more lucrative in order to protect his reputation and business. Primo purposefully avoided violence. Primo's experiences show how important . The value of understanding how both structure and agency impact criminal activity is illustrated through Primo's experiences. References: Bauman, Z. (2013). On writing sociology. John Wiley & Sons. Giddens, A., & Sutton, P. W. (2017). Essential concepts in sociology. John Wiley & Sons. Sewell, W. H. (1992). A theory of structure: Duality, agency, and transformation. American Journal of Sociology, 98(1), 1-29. Research material links: 1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/35875094 2_The_sociological_craft_through_the_lens_of_thea tre_A_call_for_imaginative_critical_research 2.
