SYLLABUS
Fall 2013 (First Class: August 28 – Last Class: December 4)
SOCIAL DEVIANCY (SYG 3325) Section # 2 (previously Dr. Lowery)
Mondays 5-7:40
Law School (RDB), Room 1100
Dr. Abe Lavender, Professor (best contact is lavender@fiu.edu)
Office hours will be announced in class.
Office: SIPA Building, Room 334
Office Phone: 305-348-3672
Graduate Assistant: Parvaneh “Patty” Julian
ppull001@fiu.edu
786-412-1275
COURSE OUTLINE
Part 1: Introduction to definitions, concepts, statistics, and theories of deviance.
Part 2: Functions and dysfunctions of deviance; ways of being stigmatized, and ways of responding to
stigmatization; discussion of sexuality as deviance, drugs as deviance.
Part 3: Analysis of the belief in reincarnation, past life regression; deviance or not?
Part 4: Analysis of the belief in UFOs, examples of paranormal topics; deviance or not?
READINGS
(1) THE MYTHOLOGY OF CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, by Victor Kappeler and Gary W.
Potter, 4th Edition. This book takes a number of major topics related to deviance and crime, and
corrects some common myths, exaggerations, and false claims. Chapters to be read for Test 1 are 1, 2,
3, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.
(2) FORBIDDEN SCIENCE: FROM ANCIENT TECHNOLOGIES TO FREE ENERGY, edited by J.
Douglas Kenyon. This book includes 42 essays by different authors, “material that explores science
and technology that has been suppressed by the orthodox scientific community…There is an organized
war going on in science between materialistic theory and anything that could be termed spiritual or
metaphysical…The materialism or absolute skepticism of the scientific establishment is detrimental to
any scientific inquiry that thinks outside of the box…this book serves as a compelling introduction to
the true history of alternative and New Science research.” A little over half of the articles will be
assigned, mostly in the first half of the semester for Test 1. These articles tend to be short, about 6 or 7
pages each. For Test 1 read selection 41 (read this selection first), followed by 40, 42, and 1 through 5.
Some additional selections will be announced later for Test 1, and some other selections will be
assigned for Test 2.
(3) MANY LIVES, MANY MASTERS, by Brian L. Weiss, M.D. This was Brian Weiss’s first book,
but still, in the professor’s opinion, is the best for giving an introduction to, and overview of, his
concepts of reincarnation and past life regression. One purpose of this book is to study a belief
(reincarnation) which is considered deviant by the "powers" of western society, but which actually is
believed in by many millions of people (e.g., about 1/3 of the people in the world believe in
Christianity, the largest religion in the world, but more people believe in reincarnation than in
Christianity). So why is reincarnation considered deviant by many people, and laughed at by some
scientists and professors? Read all of this book for Test 2.
(4) LIFE AFTER LIFE: THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CLASSIC BESTSELLER, by
Raymond A. Moody, Jr., M.D. Originally published in 1975, Dr. Moody investigated over 100 cases
studies of people who experienced “clinical death” and were subsequently revived. This book started a
revolution “in popular attitudes about the afterlife and established Dr. Moody as the world’s leading
authority in the field of near-death experiences.” Read all of this book for Test 2.
TESTS
There will be a midterm test shortly before the middle of the semester, and a second test shortly before
the end of the semester. About half of the questions will be from readings and about half will be from
class lectures, discussions, and movies. Tentative dates for the two tests are Monday, October 14, for
Test 1, and Monday, December 2, for Test 2. Of course, there will be no class attendance required
during Exam Week, the 16th week of the semester. For the two tests, the highest grade, whichever it is,
will count 2/3s, and the lowest grade will count 1/3.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance is required, and will be taken frequently on a random basis. The professor reserves the right
to lower grades for those who miss more than one fourth of the classes. (Hint: in almost every class
there are a few students who fall into this category for bad attendance). This course is not structured to
be an online class or a correspondence course; it is an on-campus class and attendance is expected most
of the time. Class discussions and interactions, with the professor and with other students, are also
important to the learning process of this class.
CLASS FORMAT
Class will be a combination of lecture and class discussion; some topics (e.g., theories) mostly will be
presented in lectures, but frequently there will be class discussions on other topics