Reference no: EM134032645

Assignment:

Watch these videos and answer the questions:

• 1. Milgram Experiment - Big History NL, threshold 6
• 2. The Stanford Prison Experiment

1. How would you react in situations like those depicted in the Milgram and Zimbardo studies shown above? Answer this question honestly and introspectively. Most folks were surprised to learn they were capable of the actions presented in the films.

2. What effect does the social context have on behavior? In other words, broadly speaking, think about how your actions are shaped and influenced by the social context you're in. For example, are you more inclined to sit down someplace if there are ample chairs available? Throw something away in the garbage can when there are plenty of garbage cans available?

3. How can we apply these insights (shown in the videos and discussed in questions 1 and 2) to explaining crime? Where does accounting for the social structure and social context do a good job explaining criminality and where does it fall short in explaining criminality? (For example, does it work better at the micro level or the macro level?)

4. Thinking sociologically, what function does it have for society to attribute criminality to only certain kinds of folks? In other words, what does it do for everyday folks to think only some kinds of people are capable pf committing crimes rather than anyone in certain circumstances is capable?