Overview of the Book Stigma by Erving Goffman

Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity is a book written by sociologist  Erving Goffman in 1963 about the idea of stigma and what it is like to be a stigmatized person. It is a look into the world of people considered abnormal by society. Stigmatized people are those that do not have full social acceptance and are constantly striving to adjust their social identities: physically deformed people, mental patients, drug addicts, prostitutes, etc. Goffman relies extensively on autobiographies and case studies to analyze stigmatized persons’ feelings about themselves and their relationships to â€Å"normal† people. He looks at the variety of strategies that stigmatized individuals use to deal with the rejection of others and the complex images of themselves that they project to others. Three Types of Stigma In the first chapter of the book, Goffman identifies three types of stigma: stigma of character traits, physical stigma, and stigma of group identity. Stigma of character traits are: â€Å"...blemishes of individual character perceived as weak will, domineering, or unnatural passions, treacherous and rigid beliefs, and dishonesty, these being inferred from a known record of, for example, mental disorder, imprisonment, addiction, alcoholism, homosexuality, unemployment, suicidal attempts, and radical political behavior.† Physical stigma refers to physical deformities of the body, while stigma of group identity is a stigma that comes from being of a particular race, nation, religion, etc. These stigmas are transmitted through lineages and contaminate all members of a family. What all of these types of stigma have in common is that they each have the same sociological features: â€Å"...an individual who might have been received easily in normal social intercourse possesses a trait that can obtrude itself upon attention and turn those of us whom he meets away from him, breaking the claim that his other attributes have on us.† When Goffman refers to â€Å"us,† he is referring to the non-stigmatized, which he calls the â€Å"normals.† Stigma Responses Goffman discusses a number of responses that stigmatized people can take. For example, they could undergo plastic surgery, however, they still risk being exposed as someone who was formerly stigmatized. They can also make special efforts to compensate for their stigma, such as drawing attention to another area of the body or to an impressive skill. They can also use their stigma as an excuse for their lack of success, they can see it as a learning experience, or they can use it to criticize â€Å"normals.† Hiding, however, can lead to further isolation, depression, and anxiety and when they do go out in public, they can, in turn, feel more self-conscious and afraid to display anger or other negative emotions. Stigmatized individuals can also turn to other stigmatized people or sympathetic others for support and coping. They can form or join self-help groups, clubs, national associations, or other groups to feel a sense of belonging. They might also produce their own conferences or magazines to raise their morale. Stigma Symbols In chapter two of the book,  Goffman discusses the role of â€Å"stigma symbols.† Symbols are a part of information control; they are used to understand others. For example, a wedding ring is a symbol that shows others that someone is married. Stigma symbols are similar. Skin color is a stigma symbol, as is a hearing aid, cane, shaved head, or wheelchair. Stigmatized people often use symbols as â€Å"disidentifiers† in order to try to pass as a â€Å"normal.† For instance, if an illiterate person is wearing ‘intellectual’ glasses, they might be trying to pass as a literate person; or, a homosexual person who tells ‘queer jokes’ might be trying to pass as a heterosexual person. These covering attempts, however, can also be problematic. If a stigmatized person tries to cover their stigma or pass as a â€Å"normal,† they have to avoid close relationships, and passing can often lead to self-contempt. They also need to constantly be alert and always checking their houses or bodies for signs of stigmatization. Rules for Handling Normals In chapter three of this book, Goffman discusses the rules that stigmatized people follow when handling â€Å"normals.† One must assume that â€Å"normals† are ignorant rather than malicious.No response is needed to snubs or insults, and the stigmatized should either ignore or patiently refute the offense and views behind it.The stigmatized should try to help reduce the tension by breaking the ice and using humor or even self-mockery.The stigmatized should treat â€Å"normals† as if they are honorary wise.The stigmatized should follow disclosure etiquette by using disability as a topic for serious conversation, for example.The stigmatized should use tactful pauses during conversations to allow recovery from shock over something that was said.The stigmatized should allow intrusive questions and agree to be helped.The stigmatized should see oneself as â€Å"normal† in order to put â€Å"normals† at easy. Deviance In the final two chapters of the book, Goffman discusses the underlying social functions of stigmatization, such as social control,  as well as the implications that stigma has for theories of deviance. For instance, stigma and deviance can be functional and acceptable in society if it is within limits and boundaries.

Infidelity Laws Vs. United States - 986 Words

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hristopher McCandless last journal entry before dying of starvation in the Alaska bush was simply the words Beautiful Blueberries Essay Example For Students

hristopher McCandless last journal entry before dying of starvation in the Alaska bush was simply the words Beautiful Blueberries Essay Over the previous two years he bought a secondhand canoe on impulse and paddled to Mexico. Then he lived on the streets of Los Angeles with vagrants, camped in the Arizona dessert with hippies, tramped through almost every western state, occasionally holding odd jobs. He also lived completely off the land in the Alaskan backcountry. McCandless epic journey separated him from his parents and peers, a world of security and material excess, and a world in which he felt grievously cut off from the raw throb of existence. It was a journey that would have been a complete waste if it werent for Jon Krakauers book entitled Into the Wild. A lot of people believe that McCandless was an idiot. He was simply one more dreamy half-caulked greenhorn who went into the country expecting to find answers to all his problems and instead found only mosquitoes and a lonely death. Some people blamed Krakauer, in the magazine article that preceded the book, for glorifying a foolish, pointless death. But the beauty of Krakauers writing is that he doesnt glorify Chris McCandless life or even try to hide his personal weaknesses. Instead, that which becomes evident is a vivid portrait of McCandless journeys and an examination of why people are attracted to high-risk activities. Krakauer begins the book with Chris McCandless hiking into the Alaskan wilderness to his ensuing death. He does not return to this scene until the next to last chapter, effectively forcing the reader to see McCandless as more than an unprepared misfit who deserved to die because of the risks he took. We learn of his adventures tramping around the continent, discern how McCandless differs from people whom he had been favorably compared to in the outdoors community, learn of his family and upbringing, and we are told of a similar adventure in Alaska which almost claimed the authors life. Only then are we returned to the morbid Alaskan scene and the controversies surrounding McCandless death. Krakauer succeeds in writing a powerful book because we become attached to McCandless dream and sympathize to a greater degree with his desire to undertake what he labeled as the ultimate challenge. There are some unconventional aspects of the book, which turn it into something greater than a story of Chris McCandless. These are the way in which Krakauer goes about examining Chris McCandless through his own life, through others who have a similar desire for adventure, and through an examination of the novels he read. Into the Wild is not a fluff story about a misdirected youth; it has themes to which anyone who has ever dreamed of undertaking their own adventure, however large or small, can relate and gain insight. Overall Krakauer believes Chris McCandless wasnt that different from anyone else who liked adventure. Throughout the book there is an underlying battle against McCandless critics by trying to justify the  journey. Krakauer confesses that after writing a magazine article on McCandless he remained haunted by the particulars of the boys starvation and by vague, unsettling parallels between events in his life and those in my own. Unwilling to let McCandless go, Krakauer spent more than a year retracing the convoluted path that led to his death in the Alaska bush, chasing down the details with an interest that bordered on obsession until he finished writing the book. In this fierce passion, Krakauer is not only telling of McCandless life but his own, and in the process trying to make a world of critics understand why he, McCandless, and countless others are drawn to a life of potentially suicidal adventure. This passion draws the reader in, spins them around and spits them back out into the world with a different perception of life. This passion makes Into the Wild an amazing book.

Evaluating Viewpoint of Academicians

Question: Discuss about theEvaluating Viewpoint of Academicians. Answer: Introduction The initiation of knowledge and the insights drawn upon the intellect of any individual had begun from the advent of mankind. The cause and reason for development in the thought process of any human beings can be referred from the period of Renaissance. In fact the practices and the implantation of academic and research programs has improved (Haberman 2014). The modes and types of education practices have brought about significant alterations which has impacted the course of higher education. The review summarizes the probable viewpoints and cognitive recognition of the academics. This evaluation draws a comparison of the imposed political correctness in regards to the whole education sector. In a boarder perspective, though research and experiments enhance the process of education but still there are number controversies which have reacted against their conventional arguments. In view of this, the literature review proposes the ideologies that are affected by this hypothesis of validation of the academic views (Guo and Lakshmikantham 2014). Human Information Theories Information theories have existed in all fields. Depending in the cognitive patterns of the entire system there has been theories and beliefs that have a traditional outlook. The human mind operates on a system of information can be developed have been restored in their membrane and with due time it gets replenished with new category of information (Fawcett et al. 2104). The important concept of memory and how it accepts the general viewpoint because of the social peer should also be considered while analyzing the theories and conclusions drawn by the eminent experts. Extensive research is only an analysis and a complete evaluation supported by data which have previously been drawn from a similar conclusion on that topic ( Hanushek and Jackson 2013). Interviews and self revelations by many research pupils and academicians have revealed that often in the order to contribute an allegiance to the forefathers of the theory, people have caused many alterations in their proposals. Individu alistic views have been minimized in the sense that the decorum and principles of the concerned subject is mainly dominated by few of the individuals who have gained the power of that particular society (Haberman 2014). Procedures which are Essential for Comprehending the State of Affairs Withholding the fact that everyone is not capable of equal intelligible power and capability, the viewpoints should not be discerned, as the suggested ideas can help in improving the conservative theories (Fawcett et al. 2104). The curriculums have always promoted students for pursuing higher education. The issue that rises due to the accepted fact that all studies and mediums can be observed from different angles is not necessarily an option because the scenario changes from one point to the other. Academic comprehension suggests that viewpoints and conclusions are always supported by a number of exemplary references and evidence which must be used resourcefully (Haberman 2014). It is not an obligation to provide serious research to all the outputs of a study but the consideration is very important as it promotes and aids young minds to generate things which are equally accessible and accepted. In fact one of the most crucial onsets of the whole scenario is the phenomenon of imparti ng high skills and values regarding a particular subject. Everyone is not capable of proposing the best methods for innovations and scientific experiments but in the other hand the educational institutions presents the module and the scope in such a way so as to influence the minds who provides interest in exploring more about the subject. For instance if one can imagine the scenario of subject matter expert they can easily evaluate the generalizations that have been brought about by the modes of education ( Hanushek and Jackson 2013). Academicians often relegate and develop hypothesis on the same pattern that concerns the contemporary world. In order to understand and allow opportunities to students it s necessary to create options for self assessment as it will prepare their mindsets to proper research and the evidence of an available data. Efficiency and Assessment of the Academic Theories Considering the theories of sociology it can be assessed that nothing in the universe is rocket science, expect for rocket science itself which is more of a stated fact rather than proved theory (Guo and Lakshmikantham 2014). The query that can be raised while interpreting a data or any statements which has been made by eminent scholars must have a logical base, because the practical application of any research result is always not possible (Bartunek and Rynes 2014).The demonstrations of any character cannot assess through calculations or any numeric strategies cannot be observed through theoretical analysis. This basis of segmentation disallows the whole issue of composing or creating any theories which reacts to the system. Experts often deny the resistance they receive from the community for better and improved technique as this will overlap and counter act the previous theories raised by senior scholars (Fawcett et al. 2104). A huge number of proposals are being submitted and als o rejected every year. Many scholars too graduate to pursue higher studies and enable their expertise to create and formulate the best of opportunities for better analysis (Haberman 2014). In fact it can be realized more when as the student move to the upper grades, the specialization increases and as the elementary development on all subjects begins to decline. In this scenario the interest of the student is very potent because it will realize their subject topic and help them in invoking with activities that will aid their research. This is the core reason which makes the whole scenario very important as the aspects are necessary to be indentified and subjected to various factors (Fawcett et al. 2104). There is never a dearth of producing new dynamics and dimensions of new perspectives but the incorporation must be regulated and maintained by the University and Research Institutes (Bartunek and Rynes 2014). The probability and facility is not similar for all subjects but regardles s of the environment that exists in the whole education circuit, sometimes the complication that is associated with the subjects can be rendered as pretentious (Hanushek and Jackson 2013). It is never to be misunderstood that the subjects dont carry any weight rather it might add to the peer pressure and make the students less confident after applying for a subject. This is obvious that the examination patterns that the schools have in order to evaluate their students are due to the peer pressure for better grades (Bartunek and Rynes 2014). Grade systems are not considered the best method for evaluation but in the pretensions that the whole system might get disturbed this is followed accordingly. The reflections for understanding the scenario reading the academic condition of any country depends on many such factors that addresses the issues of the educational reform (Bartunek and Rynes 2014).Simplification is an easy process but the way to deconstruct a theorem is not final solutio n for this pretention of the course or the subject. Conclusion There are many articles which have been represented through the academic scholars and how they respond to the reactions of the society. There is an unwritten antagonism which is prevalent within the whole circumference of the subject matters. It is obligation to comply with the rules of these academic associations which is filled with like mind people who are serious practitioners of the subjects. The different strategies that are built within the forum of the same academic subject can be accessed through the means. There are individual societies that help in relating to the concerned arenas of knowledge. In order to access the instances of activities where the students does not take the curriculum seriously, this method is applied. This will not only help generating a sense of responsibility and well as in boosting their confidence towards their subject and scope. The fact that subjects are not that difficult as it seems because the schools intentionally have a curriculum which will improve and help in adopting and honing to the skills that are required for the development of that child. Australian University and several other Universities regard this cognition power as it is also important to alter the magnitude and need for learning and self improvement. A number of positive impacts have been observed in regards to the whole scenario that comprehends the possibilities of the statement. The motivation factor can also be regulated from this scenario as the students have been associated with a duty towards enhancing their skills and capability. 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