Deviant Sociology Interview/Reasearch 8 Page/Bibliography Essay, Research Paper
INTRODUCTION:
Topically, the subject of this interview is large scale drug dealing , with the questioning to focus on five different areas of deviant sociology. These are : Deviant Socialization, Deviant Ideology, Deviant Identity, Deviant Subculture and Societal Reaction. The anonymity of the subject has been guaranteed . In addition to the interview , an in depth discussion of deviant ideology followed by a summary of drug use/abuse will be discuss as related to sociology . SECTION I EVIANT SOCIALIZATION
Question 1: When you were first introduced and exposed to drugs, who was it from? Was it from a group or specific individual? At what age? How did you start?
Answer 1: ? A group, probably about 16. Just the kids in my neighborhood. I started as a buyer and became friends from people they got it from . We then had mutual friends as suppliers.?
Question 2: What were some of the reasons that they had for possessing / selling them?
Answer 2: ? Because they were fun, for entertainment value . They liked how it made them feel. I noticed the friends and money that was always around them.?
Question 3: Did you notice that these people were being rewarded either monetarily or through status by selling?
Answer 3: ?Yeah, the people were rewarded both of those ways. ?
Question 4: Was there anyone who actually showed you how to sell, or did you just pick it up from seeing others do it?
Answer 4: ?Just picked it up from seeing others doing it. When i started buying to use i just noticed how they did it and guess i picked up on it from there.?
SECTION II: DEVIANT IDEOLOGY:
Question 1: Have you ever thought by distribution you might get people dependent or ?hooked? on them? If so, why? Answer 1: ?Hopefully they do get hooked. Its just better for me if they are. The more people want the more ill give them.?
Question 2: Do you take any precautions from being detected by people that might not approve?
Answer2: ? Of course, i’m careful of what I say on the phone and make sure not to make a transaction in front of a large group of people… always on the down low. Also I make sure that I know the person before I would sell to them.?
Question 3: So when you began selling did you use anything that you sold or did you just distribute without using the product?
Answer 3: ? Yeah both, I use some but mostly just sell what i have to get more.?
Question 4: Is there a rule for markup of profit?
Answer 4: ? Not a rule per say but the highest profit the market will bear. Also it depends on which drug that is being sold.?
SECTION III. DEVIANT IDENTITY
Question 1: How does providing a controlled substance make you feel?
Answer 1: ?I really don’t think about that, all i really care about is that i’m making money and the bills are being paid.?
Question 2: Do you think that you could live the same lifestyle without the additional income of drug distribution?
Answer 2: ?Hell no, definitely not. ?
Question 3: What would be the same? What would be different?
Answer 3: ?The amount of income made in a short period of time, freedom of working at home, whatever hours you choose, freedom of not having a boss or someone to tell you what to do, not having to go do work , frees up time to do what i want to do. If i didn’t have these things then i would feel trapped in a 9 – 5 job making a percentage of what i do now . ?
Question 4: If you had a chance to compare yourself to other dealers that you know, how would you compare or relate?
Answer 4: ? I think that we are all in it more the money… but i’m better at it . We basically all sell the same products to the same clientele. I have respect for others that do the same thing as i do because can be a dirty game.?
IV. DEVIANT SUBCULTURE
Question 1: Are the majority of your friends into doing the same type of things as you? If so, what are some of the things that you have in common?
Answer 1: ?Yes , most of the friends i hang out with do the same things on a daily basis , we share a common interest. These are drinking, doing the drugs enjoying the same leisure activities and same ways of thinking.?
Question 2: How do you keep in contact with friends?
Answer 2: ?I would say keep contact with friends in numerous ways. One by phone contact, running into them into clubs or through visits.?
Question 3: Basically, what are some of the things that you and your friends believe
about drugs?
Answer 3: ?I think they really aren’t a bad thing if used moderately, they can be good in allot of ways. For me relieving stress, helping with depression , fighting boredom, basically they are just fun to do . ?
Question 4: Are certain drugs better than others to sell because of risk, availability or other factors?
Answer 4: ?Certain drugs are better to sell because of the amount of profit made off every drug is different. The more risk the more profit. As far as availability goes, it doesn’t make that much of a difference because anybody can get it at any time.. its out there .?
SECTION IV. SOCIETAL REACTION:
Question 1: If someone close to you such as parents or relatives found out that you were a dealer, what would they say?
Answer 1: They probably wouldn?t be supportive, but really they have no right to make it their business. If they knew they would probably just state their concern for me , maybe . Probably say something about health reasons or the law risks.?
Question 2: Do you think that there is a stereotype of dealers amongst agents of social control (political figures, police, judges, lawyers)?
Answer 2: Yes there are many stereotypes of dealers in many different levels of society, they range from the community which makes the dealer out to be a bad person, also from the aforementioned that are roughly the same… i believe that they are unfair because many cops and politicians are either using or selling themselves.?
Question 3: How do you think that they might label dealers?
Answer 3: ?It depends on what they are selling, what they are selling and how much. For example if selling heroin or crack might be more of a h
Question 4: Have you found that there is a substantial risk of punishment from engagement in selling drugs?
Answer 4: ?Also in this case it depends on what your selling, different drugs come with different penalties. I’m sure the more traffic someone has the greater the chance of being caught. ?
Question 5: What would you if you did not sell drugs as a profession?
Answer 5: ?I never really thought of that because i make good money and most likely i will do it for a long time, but if i had to do something else in my life it would be to invest the money into a business ; pretty much the same thing as i’m doing now, sales.?
Question 6 : How do u think selling drugs affects your personal life and your relationships?
Answer 6: I think that it introduced me to allot of people, girlfriends are limited because they have to be understanding and not judgmental about what i’m into.?
STATEMENT OF DEVIANT IDEOLOGY:
The idea that beliefs about ?who we are? are created in a social context reflects the basic sociological theory that human beings are socially created, not prisoners of instinct. Sociologists see ideologies as related to the society in which people exist. People, are, in part, socialized into their ideologies. There are assorted ways that conceptions about individual and group ideologies are socially constructed. An ideology is created against a social background that tries to make social interaction meaningful, understandable and well-organized by categorizing people in various ways. The nature of ideology is expressed as a social phenomenon and a dynamic feature of social life. The understanding that ?who we are? is socially constructed permits us to account for the fact that how we view ourselves and how others see us is not socially static. The concept of ideology narrates an understanding of who and what we are; and what we and other people believe us to be. An ideology involves a set of characteristics that define us as individuals, groups, societies and so forth. In order to develop a sense of identity, it is essential to have a sense of self-awareness. Individuals develop this sense of self through the socialization process when they learn the manner of social interaction on the basis of various cultural identities. The one, in short, is dependent on the other. Ideology is a social construct, in the way that once an individual assumes a particular way of being ? they acquire and exhibit specific social characteristics. Erving Goffman?s approach uses a theatrical metaphor to represent the social world. It illustrates how an individual develops a sense of self and personality through adopting a role, assuming a status and learning a set of flexible behavioral principles during social encounters. Sociological perspectives all agree that ideology is a social construct, and reject any notion that ideology is innate. Social circumstances and expectations create who we are and cast the ideology. These perspectives are rooted in the basic concept, and provide opinions on the manifestation of social ideology. The Structuralist perspective places great emphasis on socialization as a means of social ideology being a social construct. Socialization is viewed as an influential steering force in terms of the way people are branded or labeled into particular structures of cultural identities. Social factors like religious teachings, laws, the media, medical definitions, social politics, psychological theory and the media all inform and influence our ideology. It is a shared sense of belonging to a grouping with its own values, norms and forms of behavior. By being labeled or categorized into one of the cultural groupings, an individual plays a role. An ideology complementing the way of thinking is assumed, and that individual further defined that identity through the learning of and conforming to that group?s set norms, values and expectations. Certain cultural assumptions about how it is appropriate/inappropriate for people of a certain age to behave and justifications are made.
CONCLUSION:
In interviewing a large scale drug dealer, a few commonly held beliefs and justifications for the behavior between the subculture of deviance existed. These are the lack of shame or guilt and the true feeling that what they participate in is not harming themselves or anyone else. The main sentiment is that of fast money for a small amount of work. Drugs have become a very serious problem in the United States. They have become a component of one?s every day lives. This Nation?s reliance on drugs for pleasure, depression, and medical relief dominates the political and economic scene. Much debate over the drug issue occurs daily. Pleasure is one of the main reasons for drug use in America. More and more people are getting addicted and are running their lives. The overall opinion amongst dealers is basically that they are a social means to become affluent and popular when in fact, not realizing the harm it does in the long run. Sure, it does give them a buzz and a good feeling for a while, but once one gets addicted it can totally ruin their life. The dealers of these drugs aren?t concerned with where the money for the drugs come from, only that they get paid, which is illustrated in the interview. Depression is a problem stemming from the use of drugs. People who use drugs for pleasure are using them because they are looking for a good time. People who use drugs for depression use them to try and get through hard times throughout their life. Alcohol and drugs should not be the answer to depression. There are other ways . Another excuse for using drugs is for medical relief. There are many people out there who use drugs for medical relief in moderation, but there are also many people who abuse them. This can lead to serious injury or even death. No matter what the use of the drug is for it always ends up turning out bad. If a person is considering using some drug for pleasure, depression, or medical relief I would strongly suggest reconsidering their choice.
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