Sociology

Terminology Related to Addictions

The first scenario is about a female calling an addictions professional employee to make an appointment, as she has been referred by a court. She claims that another car, which ran a red light, hit her vehicle. A police officer who arrived at the scene of the accident suspected that the woman was in a state of alcoholic intoxication. Even though she admits alcohol abuse during that night, she does not consider herself an alcoholic. She claims to drink only a limited amount of low alcohol drinks on rare occasions. In short, the woman describes herself as a social user and does not experience any problem with systematic abuse of addictive substances.

The term substance abuse refers to the use of alcohol or drugs in amounts or with methods, which are harmful to the user or the others. The discussed scenario represents a case of abuse, as the woman drank an excessive amount of alcohol, which may have caused danger to herself and other members of society. The woman may also be considered a social user, as she drank during a birthday party. However, alcohol misuse did not cause any mental or physical health problems connected to dependence or addiction; therefore, the woman in this scenario cannot be called an alcoholic.

People in the first three scenarios described the cases of alcohol or abuse because they all demonstrate how addictive substance administration may be harmful or hazardous. In the first situation, impairment may have prevented a driver from avoiding a car accident. The second case demonstrates how systematic alcohol misuse is hurting marriage, making the spouse of the addict fear for his well-being. The third scenario describes how smoking marijuana can cause financial problems and conflicts with other family members. In short, the term “substance abuse” is applicable in three out of four offered scenarios.

Explaining Individual Nature of Addiction through Theories

Addiction is a phenomenon that is widely spread in human society; however, there is no universal explanation of why some people develop this condition, and others do not. Some theorists argue that all mammals have signs of compulsive drug-seeking and drug-taking behaviors (Ouzir and Errami 61). At the same time, there are different ways of explaining the matter through neurobiology, genetics, and social learning. Some theorists explain addiction as an inherited matter, as there are changes in genes of addicts (Ouzir and Errami 64).

Therefore, one of the answers to the question of how a man becomes an addict is that an individual has a genetic predisposition to the condition. However, even though there is significant evidence to the matter, scientists failed to find a specific gene that increases the risk for a person to acquire a certain addiction (Ouzir and Errami 64). In short, genetics cannot perfectly explain the phenomenon.

There is no doubt that drug addiction is related to brain activity and, hence, the matter can be explained through neurobiology. According to Ouzir and Errami, the brain is constantly seeking pleasure and enjoyment, which is controlled by the brain reward system (64). A disorder in dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and stress systems can cause addictions (64-65). Additionally, the environment can contribute to the matter, as people that see that the behavior is accepted by peers are more exposed to the condition (Ouzir and Errami 65). In other words, an individual acquires a habit from other members of society; therefore, people exposed to the matter have a higher chance of becoming an addict.

The theory that resonates the most for me is social learning, as I believe that humans are social creatures in the first instance. I have several real-life examples when people become alcoholics or drug addicts because they live in a bad neighborhood, where almost everyone including their parents are substance abusers. However, I understand that addiction may be a result of mental illness, as people may become unable to control their actions. In conclusion, even though I lean towards social learning theory, I understand that it cannot explain every case of addiction.

Short- and Long-Term Dangers of Substances

The hallmarks of addiction are tolerance, withdrawal, impaired control over substance use or behavior, preoccupation with the matter, and continued use despite consequences. All these can be summarized by impaired self-control, as continued use of a substance or practice of behavior a person usually demonstrates a deterioration in the ability to regulate his or her actions (National Institutes of Health 6). These hallmarks are a result of a person perceiving only positive effects of a drug or action when he or she first tries it (National Institutes of Health 5). In short, the hallmarks of addiction are rather explicit and can be easily explained.

The number of people taking drugs in the United States is disturbing. Even though the National Institute of Drug Abuse reports a decrease in the number of hard drugs, there is “a substantial and significant increase in vaping” (para 1). The number of drug abusers is the result of the psychological effects of addictive substances. At first, drugs produce pleasurable effects such as a feeling of power, self-confidence, or relaxation and satisfaction (National Institutes of Health 5).

However, chronic use of addictive substances can lead to pathological changes to the brain and long-term mental problems, while enjoyment and satisfaction are no longer achieved. These effects can be related to the hallmarks of addiction, as people become obsessed with getting pleasure from substances and cannot see the adverse effects of the matter.

For instance, medical professionals are well aware of the positive effects of some painkillers to relieve stress. These professionals may tend to use the drug for the positive effect as they think they can control behavior. Over time, they need to increase the dose of the drug as a positive impact becomes harder to achieve. This causes a preoccupation with consuming the substance.

Works Cited

National Institutes of Health. Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction. NIH Publications, 2018.

National Institute of Drug Abuse. “Monitoring the Future Survey: High School and Youth Trends.” Drugabuse, 2018. Web.

Ouzir, Mounir, and Mohammed Errami. “Etiological Theories of Addiction: A Comprehensive Update on Neurobiological, Genetic and Behavioural Vulnerability”. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, vol 148, 2016, pp. 59-68. Elsevier BV. Web.

Although all people are born with a certain biological gender, our perception of what it means to be a man or a woman is formed by society through the course of our lives. In his essay, Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender, Aaron Devor examines the concept of gender roles and the role of society in perpetuating them. The author of Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt, Jean Kilbourne, explores the same topic but emphasizes the role of the media and advertising in establishing social norms. I agree with both authors and believe that as the media and advertising expanded to new platforms over the years, its ability to shape gender roles has increased greatly.

Femininity and masculinity are social definitions, which determine the degree of our perception of ourselves as male or female. In his essay, Aaron Devor argues that femininity and masculinity are culturally specific qualities that we learn as children and develop throughout the course of our life. In other words, they are the product of socialization. Children take on a specific role based on observation; they copy the behaviors, which seem to be appropriate for their gender. Despite the fact that “gender

destiny is set before a baby takes its first breath,” children evaluate whether their boyish or girlish behavior is appropriate through “generalized other,” a device which helps them to assess that their behavior is either approved or disapproved by the society (Devor 557). The socially accepted expressions of femininity and masculinity are based on the so-called natural roles of men and women, which are accepted and approved by the society with the traditional attitude towards gender roles. The author describes the way different characteristics are considered feminine or masculine, despite being expressed by both men and women.

Characteristics attributed to the female gender role such as emotional speech or “no-threat” gestures are thought to express subordinate status, while characteristics attributed to male gender roles such as stern facial expression and aggressive posture, communicate dominance and toughness. According to Devor, the concepts of male and female gender roles are based on the dominant gender schema, in which women are seen as powerless and dependent on men. This ideology suggests that women are naturally inclined to have children and be dependent on men, while men are naturally predisposed to being aggressive and, therefore, dominate. The author suggests that there is no clear evidence to support the role of biology in defining gender roles and concludes that gender roles, as we know them, are a by-product of power imbalance and gender bias (Devor 558).

In her paper, Jean Kilbourne argues that media and advertising have a more profound impact on our perception of the world than we realize. In particular, she describes the depiction of both sexes in advertising and the way they shape what we perceive of ourselves as men and women. The author claims that both women and men are objectified in adverts. Women, in particular, are often depicted in sexually inviting poses or in submissive roles and are constantly encouraged to be sexy and attractive. Many adverts explored the idea of violence toward women to the point of glorifying it. For example, some adverts used slogans such as “take no for an answer” and implied that “no” means “yes” (Kilbourne 463). The author argues that this is particularly worrisome as it encourages rape as well as sexual assault. Adverts typically depict dangerous, violent, and uncommitted men as the most desirable and ridicule men who do not take control of women. Men are encouraged to be ready for and interested in having sex with any available woman. Children are also sexualized due to little girls being depicted in seductive poses and little boys being shown as sexually precocious. The author concludes that although such depiction of sexes in popular culture does not directly cause violence, it creates “a climate in which there is widespread and increasing violence” (Kilbourne 466). In other words, the depiction of men and women in ads promotes domestic violence, rape, sexual harassment and supports victim-blaming.

Gender role characteristics are similar to social norms: they define those types of behavior, which are accepted and encouraged by society. I believe that society’s expectations define our behavior as men and women since childhood. When growing up, children rely on adults who are perceived as powerful and knowledgeable. Scientific studies on the role of parents’ expectations about the adherence of children’s behavior to gender roles suggest that parents and teachers discourage any expression of cross-sex behavior (Lee 33). This fact supports Devor’s argument that children take on a specific gender role based on what they perceive as accepted as normal by others. It also implies that those who do not conform to accepted gender roles are likely to be rejected by society. What is perceived as gender-appropriate by adults is largely defined by the history as well as the culture of the country they live in. Women have been objectified and sexually exploited for centuries, both in the West and East.

The feminist movement in the 20^th century brought into focus the problem of gender-based discrimination, which has only recently been reduced in the developed countries and remains an ongoing issue in some of the developing countries. The US is yet to see a woman president, and despite the tendency toward improving women’s presence in managerial positions, gender parity is still under reach for most corporations and public institutions. Women have long been under social pressure to take on their “natural” role: start a family, bear a child, and leave important decisions to men. Cultural differences also support the idea that gender roles are products of socialization. Both masculine and feminine characteristics vary from one culture to another. According to Ashmore and Del Boca, “from a societal standpoint, roles contribute to the differentiation, allocation, and coordination of human activities” (212). In almost every culture, gender provides people with gender-specific obligations and expectations as well as rights.

It is important not to underestimate the role of the media and advertising in our perception of others and ourselves. As we grow older, we are bombarded with advertising, which reinforces the characteristics of masculinity and femininity in ways described by Kilbourne (450). It is especially evident nowadays when the advances of technology and rapid expansion of the web made advertising ever-present and more influential than before. A TV at home is a commodity now, and many American families own tablets and other gadgets that promote all kinds of ads. Smartphones and tablets have apps, which are reliant on advertising as a source of profit (Lee 32). Many advertisements use images of children, and even before any visible gender-specific distinctions are present, gender role is assigned with clothing and colors.

Advertisements depict older children doing gender-specific activities; girls are typically shown dressing up or playing with dolls, and boys are pictured playing sports. In other words, advertisements aimed at boys and girls send different messages. Such ads only help reinforce gender roles, which are accepted by society, and typically do not cause any real damage or harm. However, as the children grow older, they face the problem of the sexualization of women, which, as noted by Kilbourne, may result in many problems ranging from body image issues to sexual assault. Many ads nowadays use edited images of very slim young women, while overweight women are underrepresented. Apart from that, sexuality and the topic of sex is highly attributed to women and is frequently used to emphasize messages that are remotely connected to it. For instance, there was a commercial with Tyra Banks, in which she wanted to empower women with the words, “my boobies! I’m going to help women put their best chest forward” (Lee 118). The playful sexual implication of a message aimed at delivering a drastically different value is evident. This example vividly reveals that sexuality and being facetious can be easily confused when mixed, and the core of the message becomes vague.

At the same time, many American girls and young women are dissatisfied with their bodies. Studies suggest that there is a correlation between exposure to advertising, which includes thin women, and body image problems (Ashmore and Del Boca 220). When people are repeatedly presented with the same content, at some point, it is assumed as a representation of reality. The media depiction of women as having attractive, thin-ideal bodies make women think that such body is not only normal but expected and leads to body image issues since such bodies are often unreachable by the majority of women (Ashmore and Del Boca 221). The consequences of body image issues are depression and eating pathologies. The women’s desire to achieve such a physical form is further exploited by pharmaceutical companies who promise that their drugs will help women lose weight. The sexualization of women in the media, as described by Kilbourne, also rectifies victim-blaming.

This concept describes those situations when the victim is held responsible for the crime committed. Victim-blaming is perpetuated by sexism and is most commonly associated with sexual harassment and rape. Rapists often say that their victim “asked for it” by putting certain clothes on or by behaving in a certain way (Kilbourne 478). Such sexist expectations are the by-product of the media, which uses advertisements that imply that “no” means a woman is teasing, and it is “manly” to force sex on women. Kilbourne claims that such depiction of sexes in popular culture encourages sexual harassment and form the basis for rape and domestic violence. I believe that it is quite possible that continuous exposure to such advertisements, as described by the author, could affect people on a subconscious level, prompting them to act violently.

I believe it is our responsibility as adults to take a stance against forcing gender roles through media and advertising. It is necessary to understand that as the world changes, the roles of men and women change, too. Several decades from now, it is likely that what is seen as traditional gender roles nowadays will be less strictly defined. Nevertheless, as the influence of advertising has expanded greatly and the media has become one of the main sources that affect social perceptions and attitudes, it is crucial to realize the potential dangers that come from massive advertising and provide young people with the platform on the basis of which they would be able to draw their own conclusions.

Works Cited

Ashmore, Richard D., and Frances K. Del Boca. The Social Psychology of Female-Male Relations, London: Elsevier, 2013. Print.

Devor, Aaron. Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meaning of Gender. Web.

Kilbourne, Jean. Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt. Web.

Lee, Shayne. Erotic Revolutionaries, New York: Hamilton Books, 2010. Print.

What is the paradigm or paradigms in the existing social system that you are addressing?

Moyer and others note that social movements rely on unconventional and radical movement strategies in promoting autonomy and self-determination in society as ways of enhancing the existing paradigm. This observation is also evident in the works of other scholars who note that social movements are varieties of submerged networks of paradigms i.e. they do not have a centralized form of organization. The main reasons for the rise of social movements are because of their focus on realizing change in daily life, raise the consciousness of society, reinforce identity, and transform social relations in society to establish paradigms.

Social systems are subsets of community organizations, as practices and strategies to change community relations and behavior patterns to promote development, allocation, redistribution, and control of community status and resources, including social power. Therefore, social systems rise as collective endeavors aiming at promoting a cause or making a social change in the face of the opposition. The social system brings together people with similar grievances to take similar direct action. The fundamental point of the social movement lies in the aggrieved feelings.

The social system aims at promoting change, ranging from reformist, incremental change to radical, fundamental change. Advocates who use social movements are mainly reactionaries and progressive. They aim to redistribute community resources, particularly social power, and social relationships. Some of the tactics and strategies advocates in social system use include social marketing campaigns to educate and create awareness about social conditions. Advocates in this movement also use coalition building and networking, direct action of coalitions, and political actions. These include public demonstrations, disruption, and nonviolent civil disobedience.

Scholars who have concentrated on New Social Movements argue that social movement emanates out of the need for both a challenge and an alternative to the conservative labor movement. The social system concentrates on new issues in society, such as peace (protest against nuclear weapons), the environment, and advocacy for the rights of women and children. Scholars note that social movement groups transcend materialism and distinction between left and right i.e. the concept of value shift hypothesis.

Gladwell points out that society is undergoing intense changes in terms of social, economic, political, and cultural dimensions (Gladwell, 2002). Occasionally, leaders may ignore the effects and transformations in the face of these changes. Instead, they should be ready to evaluate the direction, intensity, and nature of these changes in society. When such leaders fail to take action, social movement emerges to assess the effects of these changes on public values. Cohen sees social movement as a macro-context of mobilization and symbolic action in the state or political sphere.

The modern explanation of value, shift hypothesis lies with a model of society e.g. post-industrial society, information society, and advanced capitalism among others. To understand the hypothesis of value shift, its concepts must focus on the agents of change, such as social, political, and economic which have taken place within a given period.

Once the dissidents realize that changes have occurred in society, they begin to find out the extent and direction of these changes. The advocates measure these changes about materialist or post-materialist aspects.

When scholars approach social movements using Marxist theory, they note that collective actions have their roots in the economic logic of capitalist production and class reductionism. In other words, class relations rooted in the process of production define most of the significant participants in social movements. This mainly refers to marginalized collective action outside the revolution. However, new social movements focus on politics, ideology, culture, identity e.g. sex, gender, and gender, among others spheres as the basis of most collective action.

Is it necessary to facilitate change in the paradigm(s) to create the change you want to create in the system?

It is necessary to facilitate change in the paradigm to create the desired change in the system, at least, according to the New Social Movement. Occasionally, people may have a problem understanding what change is. This may involve the causes, processes, and consequences. We must also note that a change may involve multiple levels, such as individual, social, cultural, society, or organization. The problem is that there is no clear-cut line among these levels of change. As people begin to embrace the paradigm shift, they have noted that enhancing the change process is necessary to achieve the desired results. People tend to believe that creating change is essential in improving the current social situation.

Occasionally, the need for change may be necessitated by the prevailing social circumstances in society. As we have noticed, if we do not manage social conditions in society, then they are likely to affect us in negative manners. This is because the resultant change may influence how we think and act. Social systems can work for us or against us in achieving. In most cases, the prevailing social circumstances normally work against us.

If we manage the process well, then we can distinguish between success and failure in a social system. Therefore, it is essential to create and manage change in a way that it benefits and helps achieve the desired results. This implies that creating a change to achieve the desired change is not an option, but a necessity especially in areas of achieving social good and achieving performance improvement.

Scholars in the field of social movements have noted that a paradigm has a role to play in explaining several observed circumstances. It can also solve many problems people seek solutions to eradicate. Thus, the paradigm remains dominant in explaining social problems. When we have a new paradigm, the result is most likely to create a broad paradigm shift in social processes. This means that the usual social order in society can never remain the same. The results involve some revolutions that cover essential aspects of basic social conditions. Paradigm change is taking us close to an accurate and full knowledge of the objective truth in society.

However, as we seek change to create desired results, we must understand the roles resources play in enhancing change in society. People join social movements for resource gain rather than a collective end goal. Other studies by other scholars established that resources contributed greatly to social movements. Strong leadership and a highly integrated community of people who share an activist orientation have contributed to the rise of social movements. New social movements have become decentralized. Some studies indicate that resource mobilization theory fails to explain why individuals become a part of social movements.

Studies indicate that resources are catalysts for mobilization than events. Groups rise without resources other than a public advantage in mind, and with supporters willing to protest. However, if such beginnings are successful, they generate patron support or even state positions. In the absence of resources, dissident leaders lack the means to provide selective advantages or merely provide means of transportation for their supporters to carry out demonstrations, street rallies, blockades, and sit-ins. This explains why studies indicate that resources are mandatory in collective action to facilitate movements. The two scholars further highlight that most protests do not take place because of resources or failure to amass resources.

What are some of the strategies and tactics you might employ to alter the thinking and actions of the participants in the system?

Strategies are long-term, multifaceted, and generally incorporate a variety of tactics that activists consider appropriate to the context, objectives, and available resources. Moyer and others argue that many advocates tend to focus primarily on tactics, which render them less likely to achieve their goals than activists (Moyer, McAllister, Finley and Soifer, 2001).

This is because tactics approaches make use of regular press releases with the hope that the media will report their grievances to decision-makers, and preferred actions and policies will follow. Consequently, several strategies and factors are influencing the choice of advocacy strategies. The traditional models and strategies of advocacy came in two forms. These included self-advocacy and one to one advocacy. They were all equal in value and served specific needs.

These traditional approaches included group or collective advocacy, self-advocacy, and issue-based advocacy. There were other forms of advocacy, such as peer advocacy where all the parties share similar experiences, citizen advocacy where individuals fight for the rights of the disadvantaged citizens, non instructed advocacy where individuals think that they are free to communicate their ideas. In recent times, other forms of advocacy have emerged such as the works of lawyers, self-help groups, religious groups, and workgroups, among others. However, these groups do not fully adopt the title of advocacy.

Group advocacy as a strategy can come from case advocacy. Group advocacy can be part of a certain effort, or ongoing community activity, or a social movement. This strategy helps society to develop consciousness, collective consciousness, knowledge, and skills for self-advocacy. When advocates assess a situation in society, they may start with an individual, and end up advocating for a group. For instance, in a regime of dictatorship, the problem may start with an individual, political detainee, and end up affecting the rest of other detainees.

Community advocacy has multiple facets and acts as a bridge between the micro and macro advocacy modalities. This strategy requires community consciousness-raising and education about tactics challenging the status quo. Most community advocacies occur as a result of disheartening situations, conditions that cause disadvantages, aggravate, or harm a segment or the whole community.

According to Shirky, the strategy of internal change creates empowerment and capacity for new social constructions. However, patterns and constructions of reality in advocacy can discourage the involvement of people in advocacy. The role of social action is to raise consciousness for possible action systems (Shirky, 2008).

Some scholars note that three collective action frames facilitate social action. These are the frames advocates use to justify their social actions. The author argues that the injustice component consists of moral indignation that occurs as a part of a political process. Studies show that agencies believe that they can take action through collective social action. Social changes in society may affect people and the advocates must prevail over such effects.

Scholars in this field indicate that social actions’ main concern is to challenge people who hold power. This is because social actions promote insurgency, reform movements, reforms, and third-party traditions. They recognize that social action of today uses media events, such as Tea Bagger, internets and, social network sites, other campaigns aimed for reforms unlike in the past where inadequate resources and technology affected the works of advocates.

Activists use social action internationally with strategies of demonstrations and protests for several reasons. For instance, in Palestine activists use social action to fight for liberation whereas, in developed nations, they use social action to condemn unfriendly corporate and political globalization actions. We can recognize social action on the streets, traditional media, and social media. This strategy works best to promote changes and reforms, such as radical, incremental, and fundamental changes in society. These changes aim to distribute, redistribute community resources, and social powers. This strategy has worked well in developed nations such as the US and emerging economies like South Africa.

What, for you, would be the signs that a paradigm shift has occurred?

Several indicators show change has taken place. These may vary depending on individuals, organizations, or communities. First, when we define an issue differently in the community or larger society, this is an indication that a paradigm shift has occurred. For instance, an organization may reject a certain description that it does not like. Therefore, when there is a new description for an issue, then we may say that there is a paradigm shift.

Second, individuals’ behavior is also an indicator that there is a paradigm shift in the community. For instance, social movements may aim to educate people about the values of participating in political and social processes for their benefits. As a result, majorities who used to skip such processes may join the rest in participation. Therefore, behavior change is an indicator of a change in society.

Third, individuals may become more engaged than before in the community or a larger society when there is a paradigm shift. For instance, an advocacy group may condemn the harsh treatment of the homeless during forceful evacuation by local city authorities. The concerned people may also spread the news and contact relevant bodies to determine what they can do to help the homeless.

Fourth, we can note a paradigm shift in the behavior of organizations, institutions, and changes in laws or policies of the land. For instance, a human rights body may protest about the extra-judicial killings witnessed in the recent past. They may target the government or a particular agency responsible for promoting the lives of a nation’s citizens. When there is a paradigm shift in organizations, they are likely to create conclusive policies.

Fifth, a paradigm shift may also be present in the way individuals or societies have maintained their past gains, particularly before oppositions. For example, where natural calamities have destroyed shelter, we may decide to help such people rebuild their homes and lives so that they continue with their normal lives.

​References

Gladwell, M. (2002). The tipping point. New York: Little, Brown, and Company.

Moyer, B., McAllister, J., Finley, M.L., & Soifer, S. (2001). Doing democracy: The map model for organizing social movements. Gabriola Island, BC: New Society Publishers.

Shirky, C. (2008). Here comes everybody: The power of organizing without organizations. New York: Penguin Press.

Introduction

Technology

This refers to all aspects (machines, skills and knowledge) that are used by people to make life easier and better. This means that technology refers to material and non-material aspects that make human life to continue despite the challenges that people face in the society (Jordan, 2014).

Social change

It refers to the transformations that shape the behavior, traditions and beliefs of individuals in a given community. These changes are identified in the trends, preferences and availability and affordability of issues that make life better. Social change takes place in phases and is identified by observing the behavior of different generations.

Relationships

The relationship between technology and social change is that these aspects are interrelated and rely on each other. Technological advancement transforms the social lives of individuals (Sussman, 2014). The introduction of computers, mobile phones and the internet has made life easier. People no longer need to travel to distant places to keep in touch with their friends and relatives.

Impacts of Technology on Society

Communication

The introduction of personal computers, cellular phones and the internet simplified communication in the society (Shanley, & Asch, 2014). Today, businesses do not have to rely on traditional forms of communication to advertise their goods or services. Traditional forms of communication like letters and telegrams have become obsolete except in rare cases where organizations have to keep the hard copies of transactions. Human interactions have become easier and more frequent because people communicate easily regardless of their locations.

Saves time, money and energy

The use of modern technology makes all work easier because of its efficiency, speed and precision. People who plough using tractors can do more work than those who use their hands or hand ploughs (Sussman, 2014). A type writer does less work than a computer or printer because of the improved speed and precision of the latter. Modern technology makes work easier and reduces the need for human labor because most machines multitask.

Improvement of the quality of life

The quality of human life has improved since the introduction and use of modern technology. Health specialists use modern technology to diagnose and treat diseases. Cases that require urgent attention are addressed easily through the use of airplanes that are quick and can access most regions.

Laziness

Modern technological devices like mobile phones, the internet and computers have made people lazy and affected the quality of their relationships. Most students prefer indoor games to field activities and this means that they spend most of their free time watching television programs or playing computer games. They no longer visit their relatives or friends but instead keep in touch with them through social networks and mobile phones.

Sociological Perspectives

Equilibrium model

This model evaluates the tendency of the society to fall back to its previous phase when there is a slight disturbance of its normal practices. Social anthropologists believe that evolution of policy and conflict is necessary to bring change in the society. However, these changes may fail to produce the excepted outcomes and that is why societies struggle to go back to their previous practices. This approach cannot be used to study social change and modern technology.

People transform their technologies to fit in the new ways of life (Shanley, & Asch, 2014). They do not go back to traditional practices because they are slow, ineffective and unreliable. Talcott Parsons believed that a society can determine its equilibrium and accept changes that do not affect this balance. However, it will reject all issues that interfere with the equilibrium of key elements that dictate its activities. Changes in technology affect the social lives of individuals and it is difficult to maintain the former without affecting the equilibrium of the society.

Digital divide

This refers to the gap between the old and new generations. The new generation has access to computers and other modern technological devices while the old one does not have. Digital divide is described based on the level of development in a region. Most people, especially those living in the rural areas in developing nations do not have access to modern technology (Jordan, 2014). Digital divide determines the society’s pace of social change. Societies that have young people are likely to change compared to those with old ones. Urban centers are more likely to experience social change because of using modern technology in almost all aspects of life.

Cultural lag

Sociologists believe that societies take longer to evolve and catch up with technological innovations. They believe that societies experience social conflicts and problems because people do not adjust their lifestyles to match with the innovations of the day (Sussman, 2014). Parents may disagree with children who want to spend their time indoors playing computer games. Teenagers think that it is fashionable to have an expensive stylish mobile phone and tablet.

Recent Emerging Form of Technology (Cell phones)

Benefits

Cell phones are the latest technological devises that have revolutionized how people communicate and do other activities. They use these devices to make calls and send messages. These aspects make life easier because people do not need to travel to see their friends or relatives. These devises are used to share pictures, songs and videos and this adds excitement in life (Shanley, & Asch, 2014). Some mobile phone service providers have introduced money transfer services that do not involve visiting banks and enduring the inconveniences associated with banking halls. Medical practitioners use these devices to make follow ups and ensure diseases are managed properly.

Consequences

Mobile phones contribute the highest percentage of electronic dumping and this threatens the health of the environment (Jordan, 2014). Cyber crimes are promoted through mobile phones and cases of kidnapping involve these devices. Moreover, children misuse mobile phones by sharing adult contents and wasting study time playing games, listening to music or watching videos.

Conclusion

Social change and technology are inseparable because each of these elements affects the behavior of the other. The society adjusts to avoid modern technology from having significant impacts on the culture and practices of the people. Digital divide and cultural lag are common issues that determine the success of using a technology to improve human life. Modern technological devices have advantages and disadvantages; therefore, people should be careful not to risk their lives when embracing modern technology.

References

Jordan, B. (2014). Technology and social interaction: Notes on the achievement of authoritative knowledge in complex settings. Talent Development & Excellence, 6(1), 95-132.

Shanley, M. L., & Asch, A. (2014). Involuntary childlessness, reproductive technology, and social justice: the medical mask on social illness. Signs, 40(1).

Sussman, G. (2014). Digital India: Understanding Information, Communication and Social Change. Journal of South Asian Studies, 37(2), 362-364.

The Concept of “Double-Consciousness “

Du Bois’s book became a sensation of the time and is still a work that shows the view and feelings of black people in America from historical and sociological sides. The concept of “double-consciousness” reflects the state of African Americans who are forced to identify themselves through the eyes of white people. This concept still exists and is relevant in 2020, and it also expands, since all people who do not fit into the “standards” with their appearance, gender, orientation, or race can experience this state.

The main feature of the book is that it represents a sociological and psychological view of the life of black people in the United States. One of the basic concepts is the “double-consciousness” that every African American has experienced. In the chapter “Of Our Spiritual Strivings,” the author explains the meaning of this state by saying that black people are forced to consider themselves through the prism of white and black society at the same time. For this reason, two sides coexist at once in such a person: “…An American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings.”¹Such a vision of black people can harm them as their “white” part forms the image of an African American with all the stereotypes that have formed over the centuries.

However, the author insists that these stereotypes should be erased in the minds of white, and especially black people. The most truthful reflection of the history and feelings of former slaves is their songs². Over the centuries, they convey the truth about the suffering and fate of black Americans and do not allow them to forget about their pride and the real meaning of their lives.

The concept of “double-consciousness” still resonates in society, and in those people who feel unaccepted, estranged, not belonging to any community. Moreover, although Du Bois proposed this concept as applied to black Americans, today, it has a broader meaning. According to researches, this trend is expanding, and more people may experience “double-consciousness.”³ These people include representatives of LGBTQ +, who must continuously note how they look in the eyes of society and fight stereotypes.

People with disabilities, mental illnesses, or unusual appearance, also often hear questions that Du Bois characterized by the succinct expression, “How does it feel to be a problem?” ⁴The concept of “double-consciousness” is also relevant for black people for whom it was invented. Afro-Americans are arrested and accused of crimes more often, which is a result of stereotypes. ⁵ Although today, legal rules and norms guarantee equality and rights for all people, unlike the beginning of the twentieth century, behind all the laws are people who still cannot accept all someone different from them.

In conclusion, the concept of “double-consciousness” created by Du Bois is relevant to indicate the state of people who are different from most of society. This concept today covers not only black people, the stereotypes of which have been formed over the centuries but also all representatives of the LGBTQ + community, people with physical and mental limitations, and non-standard appearance. However, not all people who are different from the society in which they live should experience this state, since it is not a natural but a stereotyped and stigmatized feeling. Thus, although laws protect US citizens from prejudice, this wrong attitude is a part of a historically shaped vision of society that needs to be erased and changed.

Endnotes

1. Du Bois,”The Souls of Black Folk”, ed. David W. Blight and Robert Gooding-Williams (Boston: Bedford Books, 1997), 38.
2. Du Bois, 187.
3. Rios, Victor, Nikita Carney, and Jasmine Kelekay, “Ethnographies of Race, Crime, and Justice: Toward a Sociological Double-Consciousness,” Annual Review of Sociology 43, no.1 (2017): 508.
4. Du Bois, 37.
5. See note 3 above.

Bibliography

Du Bois, William Edward Burghardt.The Souls of Black Folk. Edited by David W. Blight and Robert Gooding-Williams. Boston: Bedford Books, 1997.

Rios, Victor, Nikita Carney, and Jasmine Kelekay. “Ethnographies of Race, Crime, and Justice: Toward a Sociological Double-Consciousness.” Annual Review of Sociology 43, no.1 (2017): 493-513.

Black Lives Matter (BLM) refers to a global activism lobby group that has brought the inequalities against members of the African American community in the United States to global attention. It was founded in 2013 following the shooting of an African American teenage boy by a white man who was acquitted of the crime (Lebron 16). George Zimmerman had been accused of shooting Trayvon Martin in an incident that various lobby groups in the country classified as a case of racial profiling. Over the years, the movement has focused a lot on telling the truths about the brutal killings of people from the African American community by the police, as well as racial profiling and favoritism in the country’s criminal justice system.

Through social media, the movement has received global acclaim for how people have demonstrated their passion to see an American society that is free of racial discrimination and other forms of inequalities. One of the biggest milestones that the movement has made in its quest to change the preconception that white Americans have about African Americans is their involvement in the 2016 presidential elections in the country (Lebron 23). It was a good opportunity for the people involved to challenge the country’s leadership over one of the most controversial elements that characterize the American culture. Although the movement does not have a clearly defined hierarchy, it has a national network that plays the crucial role of ensuring that all areas are covered adequately.

Discussion

The Black Lives Matter movement has raised a lot of controversy in the United States since it was founded. Research has shown that the perception of the movement across the country varies a lot depending on the racial background of respondents. People that are not convinced about the objective of the movement, created phrases such as “All Lives Matter” and “Blue Lives Matter” to counter their efforts. However, critics argue that the creators of the new phrases, which advocate for the need to appreciate the lives of police offices killed in the line of duty, do not understand the message passed across by the Black Lives Matter movement (Lebron 32). Apart from social media, the movement has used direct actions such as street protests and rallies where they chant various slogans such as “ No justice, No Peace”, “ White Silence is Violence”, and “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” to pass their message across. The mainstream media has also been a big influencer in the movement through short films such as “Bars4Justice”, as well as music by various affiliated artists.

Black Lives Matter Movement vs. Earlier Civil Rights Movements

The Black Lives Matter movement is both similar and different to earlier civil rights factions in several ways. The main areas of comparison are the origins of the movements, the nature of protests, and motivating factors. One of the major similarities is the fact that both movements are a call to action against racial discrimination. They are guided by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said that the lives of the African American community in the United States would begin to end the day they agree to remain silent about the things that mattered. The founders sought a response to the threat of inequality brought about by racial discrimination (Painter 242).

A notable difference between the Black Lives Matter and the civil rights movements is their origin. In the case of civil rights movements, their origins were evident cases of racism. The death of Emmett Till that sparked the movement was racially motivated. Rosa Parks was fighting against a law that allowed for the segregation of blacks and people from minority groups (Hine 178). On the other hand, the criminal justice system did not find any evidence pointing at racism as the motivation behind the death that led to the formation of the Black Lives Matter movement. Currently, the United States does not have any racist law that can be accused of encouraging racial segregation. The disparities that African Americans faced during the civil rights movements were evident (Painter 251). On the other hand, the ones faced by members of the community in the contemporary world are not being highlighted.

Another notable difference between the civil rights movements and the Black Lives Matter movement is the nature of the protests. The initial protests carried out during the civil rights movements were peaceful. They aimed at ensuring that members of the African American community enjoyed their freedom and equal job opportunities together with the whites (Hine 180). On the contrary, protests done by the members of the Black Lives Matter movement are full of violence characterized by damaging private property and throwing stones at bystanders. The civil rights movements witnessed very few cases of violence. The Black Lives Matter movement has had several cases of violence involving protestors and law enforcement officers. According to the view of experts on the liberation struggle in the United States, the Black Lives Matter movement is dealing with lesser struggles compared to their predecessors.

Work Cited

Hine, Darlene, C., et al. “Liberation: African Americans and the Civil War.” African Americans: A Concise History. Prentice Hall, 2004, pp. 171-187.

Lebron, Christopher. The Making of Black Lives Matter: A Brief History of an Idea. Oxford University Press, 2017.

Painter, Nell. “Cold War Civil Rights, 1948-1960.” Creating Black Americans: African American History and its Meanings, 1619 to the Present. Oxford University Press, 2006, pp. 239-264.

People can exchange different types of information at various levels of understanding. Communication as the process of interaction is not limited to verbal or written messages and implies a wide range of possibilities for transmitting necessary data. Regarding intimate relationships, the level of communication has special features since there is an interrelation between those people who are well acquainted with each other and can afford not to use stereotyped patterns of behavior.

This proximity allows adjusting not only verbal forms of interaction, involving speech as the method of transmitting information and the means of influence, but also non-verbal techniques (facial expressions, gestures, and other mechanisms). The peculiarity of a non-verbal language is that its manifestation is due to the impulses of people’s subconscious ideas, and an inability to fake these impulses contributes to trusting this language. Therefore, in the context of intimate relationships, this form of interaction is no less valuable than verbal contacts. This work is aimed at identifying the features of verbal and non-verbal forms of communication, the importance of both types of interaction, and their manifestations in various situations.

Features of Verbal Communication

Verbal communication is the most studied type of human communication since it is the universal way of transmitting thoughts. According to Miller (2017), the speech side of the interaction has a complex structure and acts in various stylistic variations, which allows conveying certain ideas as accurately as possible. Despite the context of the situation or the nature of a problem, the verbal method of transmitting information makes it possible to present all the facts in the interpretation that seems appropriate to a person. Words as the units of interaction among close people can be effective tools due to the variety of forms of emotional expressions.

As Grebelsky-Lichtman (2016) notes, “interpersonal communication contexts exist in which verbal communication dominates” (p. 640). In particular, the discussion of everyday and routine events is hard to imagine without speech as one of the main tools of interaction. Intimate relationships in which people actively support this form of information exchange, as a rule, differ in trust and stability since any questions and issues can be discussed openly.

Types of Verbal Communication

An outwardly directed speech is one of the types of verbal communication, which, in turn, is divided into written and oral. Internally directed speech means preparing for a particular conversation or writing. Also, Remland (2016) considers dactyl interaction the form of verbal communication. It includes a manual alphabet, which is a substitute for oral speech and is used for the interaction of deaf or blind people and those who are familiar with fingerprinting. Despite the non-verbal background of such a contact, the absence of any other possible form of communication among people with disabilities leads to the inclusion of such interaction in the category of verbal.

Feedback affects the accuracy of people’s understanding, perceiving information, and the meaning of speakers’ statements. It is established only if a communicator and a recipient exchange data. The task of a recipient is to make a communicator understand how he or she perceives the meaning of the information with the help of specific statements. It follows that a dialogue speech is the consistent change of the roles of communicative interaction during conversations, and in its process, the meaning of speech statements is revealed. A monologue speech, on the contrary, can last long enough without interrupting the replicas of other conversations. It requires preparation from speakers and serves as giving signals to others.

Also, as Remland (2016) argues, verbal communication is divided into business and interpersonal interaction. The first type is performed among several individuals, and its result is the emergence of psychological contact and certain relationships. Verbal business communication is the complex multilateral process of developing interaction among people in their professional sphere. Since the purpose of this work is to analyze intimate relationships and peculiarities of information exchange in these conditions, a business form will not be discussed further.

Main Peculiarities of Verbal Communication

Verbal interaction as an indispensable condition of communication involves the acquisition of language. Due to its potential, it is much richer than all types of non-verbal contacts, although it cannot replace it entirely. According to Grebelsky-Lichtman (2016), close people may resort to different stylistic variations, but the most typical form is a spoken language.

The successful or unsuccessful implementation of a communicative act is facilitated by all speech components or other characteristics. From a wide range of various tools of speech interaction, a person selects such mechanisms that seem the most appropriate for the formulation and expression of personal thoughts in a particular situation. Reblin et al. (2018) call this phenomenon a socially significant choice. Such a process is endless in its diversity and implies constant experience exchange.

The effectiveness and efficiency of verbal interaction are largely due to the level of communicators’ oratory skills and personal qualitative characteristics. As Remland (2016) argues, today, the competent knowledge of speech is considered the most important component of an individual’s professional realization. Moreover, with the help of speech, not only the movement of messages but also the interaction of people is performed.

Intimate relationships suggest the influence of interlocutors on each other, their orientation, and moods. In other words, a certain behavior transformation is successfully achieved. Although speech is a universal tool for communicative interaction, it acquires meaning only when it is included in an activity. Verbal contact should be complemented by the use of non-speech sign systems for the effectiveness of interaction. The communicative process will be incomplete if particular non-verbal means are ignored.

Features of Non-Verbal Communication

People’s non-verbal communication is the feature of transmitting all types of information or the possibility of influencing the environment without using speech mechanisms. Miller (2017) considers this form of interaction and notes that regardless of the style of communication, using the characteristic features of such a contact is typical for almost any situation. The main tools used in non-verbal communication are gestures, facial expressions, head turns, and other movements that can help explain certain emotions and states.

Over the years, people have exchanged similar signs of interaction, and today, some gestures may be perceived equally by the representatives of different ethnic groups. For instance, nodding, as a rule, indicates agreement, and waving a hand means a farewell or a greeting. These and many other actions reflect the peculiarities of non-verbal communication that do not imply any linguistic elements but also bears the function of interpersonal contact. Accordingly, not pronounced information but the manner of its presentation is fundamental in the communication of humanity.

Peculiarities of Non-Verbal Communication

Close people can learn much about each other by the way they speak, the gestures that they use, their facial expressions, and other factors that are not expressed through speech but convey a certain behavior. Elder (2018) studies the characteristics of such contacts and their influence on intimate relationships and argues that today, one of the most common forms is the use of mobile technology when voice messages are not needed.

According to the author, the modern means of remote communication are the reflection of the evolution of non-verbal communication (Elder, 2018). For example, emojis in social networks is cited as a way of conveying people’s moods and messages.

In order to convey specific feelings, close people do not always need to use speech because regular interaction involves getting used to each other and, as a result, recognizing any gestures and mimic changes. Grebelsky-Lichtman (2016) notes that today, this type of interaction is more common and important in the context of interpersonal communication. Despite the value of a language as the means of conveying information, specific behavioral traits can say more about a person than his or her vocabulary.

Miller (2017) remarks that intimate relationships at the closest stage of interaction may suggest the complete absence of the need for dialogues. Moreover, the aspect of individuality also plays a significant role. In case a person has the characteristic features of behavior, for instance, gestures or facial expressions, it may say more about him or her than particular words. According to Remland (2016), it is more difficult to hide unconscious emotions expressed in a non-verbal form than to lie or cheat. Therefore, the features of such communication make it no less valuable in the context of intimate relationships.

Typical Manifestations of Non-Verbal Communication in Intimate Relationships

Non-verbal communication can become a common point of view and influence the process and result of communication with an interlocutor. Social sciences pay much attention to the study of this behavioral aspect since specific information can be extracted from the analysis of certain emotions. Brown and Winter (2019) provide a detailed description of facial expressions as the most relevant means of communication among people since this manifestation of behavioral motives, for the most part, acts on a subconscious level.

The success and proximity of relationships can be judged by mimic manifestations. The emotions and feelings experienced by a person at the moment of communication are reflected on his face, to this or that degree. It happens by relaxing or contracting the muscles of the face, which are often called facial structures. The distinctive feature of these expressions is their complexity and plasticity.

In addition to facial expressions, many other ways of non-verbal communication exist. Human gestures make it possible to not only track a particular reaction but also to receive a specific message. Also, despite the fact that speech refers to verbal interaction, the characteristics of voice, for instance, its timbre or pitch, can say much about a person and his or her mood. Dewaele (2018) notes “the strategic use of silence” as the way of transmitting anger utilized by one of his research participants (p. 50). These and other techniques for the implementation of non-verbal communication are used actively in intimate relationships when interlocutors know each other’s habits and the typical manifestations of certain emotions.

Using Both Means of Communication

The features of non-verbal communication and verbal interaction consist of using various tools for accepting and analyzing incoming data in the course of interpersonal contacts. For the perception of information transmitted by words, people use intelligence and logic, and they often resort to intuition to understand the specifics of non-verbal communication. According to Remland (2016), at every stage of interaction, obstacles arise, which hinder its effectiveness.

In the course of interaction, the illusory nature of mutual understanding between partners in intimate relationships often arises. Such an illusion is due to the fact that individuals use the same words in order to designate completely different things.

Also, data loss and corruption may occur at all stages of communication. The level of such losses is determined by various factors. Among these aspects, Elder (2018) cites the general imperfection of the human language system and the impossibility of accurately and completely transforming thoughts into verbal structures. Grebelsky-Lichtman (2016) mentions personal attitudes and aspirations (what is perceived as real), the literacy of the interlocutors, their vocabulary, and some other criteria that affect misunderstanding and the wrong interpretation. In order to avoid these problems, it is important to listen to each other and to strive for the adequate recognition of both the verbal and non-verbal components of interpersonal interaction in intimate relationships.

Conclusion

The unique features of verbal and non-verbal communication and the special ways of their use in interpersonal interaction largely determine the nature of intimate relationships. Each of the two categories is distinguished by the peculiarities that manifest themselves in the process of people’s contacts and serve as the means of transmitting information and reflecting emotions. The combination of both types makes it possible to maintain a qualitatively high level of communication and create a favorable environment for people.

References

Brown, L., & Winter, B. (2019). Multimodal indexicality in Korean: “Doing deference” and “performing intimacy” through nonverbal behavior. Journal of Politeness Research, 15(1), 25-54. Web.

Dewaele, J. M. (2018). Pragmatic challenges in the communication of emotions in intercultural couples. Intercultural Pragmatics, 15(1), 29-55. Web.

Elder, A. M. (2018). What words can’t say: Emoji and other non-verbal elements of technologically-mediated communication. Journal of Information, Communication, and Ethics in Society, 16(1), 2-15. Web.

Grebelsky-Lichtman, T. (2016). Verbal versus nonverbal primacy: Children’s response to parental incongruent communication. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 34(5), 636-661. Web.

Miller, R. S. (2017). Intimate relationships (8th ed.). Ney York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.

Reblin, M., Heyman, R. E., Ellington, L., Baucom, B. R., Georgiou, P. G., & Vadaparampil, S. T. (2018). Everyday couples’ communication research: Overcoming methodological barriers with technology. Patient Education and Counseling, 101(3), 551-556. Web.

Remland, M. S. (2016). Nonverbal communication in everyday life (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.