The Sociology of
Dexter
Popular Culture
Fall 2012
Robert Wonser
Dexter and Goffman
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How is it that no one is aware that Dexter is a
serial killer?
Impression management: Goffman’s term
for the conscious and unconscious efforts at
managing the impression others have of us
through the use of props, setting, wardrobe
and behavior. Uses the metaphor of the
theater to explain social life.
No one sees his box of slides
No one else (who is still alive anyway) is
aware of his ‘dark passenger’
Dexter and Goffman
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Emotion work: the effort needed to
outwardly conform to the feeling rules
(expectations of what emotion to feel, how to
express it and when) regarding specific
emotions.
Dexter has no emotions but is well adept at
faking them (aren't we all?)
"People fake a lot of human interactions, but
I feel like I fake them all, and I fake them
very well." (Dexter 1-1)
Dexter is a Serial Killer
Serial killers are usually white males in
their thirties; this describes Dexter.
 He is able to blend in anywhere because
he does not stand out
 White privilege
 Ironically, who is one of the few to see
through him?
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Arousal Theory
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Arousal theory: baseline
level of stimulation is
needed
rush of killing doesn't last
long
He needs another fix
Sought treatment for his
‘addiction’
Role Theory
We play the roles
society lays out for
us.
 Dexter: "I became a
husband, a father"
(4-6)
 And he plays the
part…
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Victim Precipitation Theory
victim precipitation theory: criminals
choose victims on the basis of some trait
about the victim or something the victim
does
 In Dexter’s case, he targets serial killers
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Labeling Theory
Labeling theory: external labels (names,
statuses, etc.) become applied (usually by
those in positions of power; parents,
teachers, law enforcement, etc.) to a person
who internalizes the label which then
modifies that person’s self concept
 Harry saw primary deviance (behavior that
departs from social norms before it is
recognized; eg: killing animals) and labeled
Dexter a psychopath.
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The Self-fulfilling Prophesy
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Dexter was ‘born in blood’, setting him on his
deviant path
Dexter’s being labeled by Harry and giving him
the code set him toward a self-fulfilling
prophesy (simply because something is labeled
it tends to bring about the outcome it predicted
whether it would have happened or not with out
the prediction)
The power of significant others
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Also, socialization the process of
internalizing a social
group’s norms, values,
and ways of life.
Dexter was socialized
by Harry (his adoptive
father) who taught him
his code of right and
wrong.
Neutralization theory and Drift
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Dexter is a father, husband, brother,
blood spatter analyst and normal guy.
Except when he is a sociopathic
murderer.
He is able to do this by 'drifting' from
a murderer to a father buy using
techniques of neutralization
(rationalizations and excuses made
to justify a person’s momentary lapse
of judgment thus allowing them to
remain ‘normal’ and not fully adopt a
deviant identity).
Rationalizing his behavior by only
killing murderers.