Blog #6 Privatization of Prisons

     The argument for or against prison privatization surrounds the issue of money. In a response to a hardened economy and rising incarceration rates, there has been a great deal of growth in the privatization of prisons. Privatization is changing something from state to private ownership or control. Meaning they are not funded by the government. The prison is going to be run like a business.
     Pros of privatization of prisons: the government is in millions of dollars in debt and they will gave money if they are not funding them. The government spends on average 20 million dollars by funding the prison system.If a state can transfer inmates to a private prison, there will be room within the state prisons for more inmates or the proper amount of space for the inmates that are already there.
    Cons of privatization of prisons: no requirement in the jail system. There won't be any set rules for the inmates, guards, etc. to follow, which will ultimately cause disagreement throughout the prison. When not run by government, the jail system heads can possibly underpay the officers. Because they are being paid poorly, the officers might not be doing a good job.
   I support the privatization of prisons because private prisons could create more jobs within local communities, strengthening the local economy. Also, I think it will greatly benefit the government of the US. America's financial state is very bad because of the millions or dollars we are in debt. Giving the job of funding the prisons to someone else would help the economy. The concept of privatization is indeed a very bright idea that has so many advantages though the issue needs to be put under more scrutiny.

Blog #5

In studying socialization we have discussed the importance of acquiring culture, language and thought.  There are a variety of factors that influence our own behavior as well as a number that demonstrate how we impact others.  While watching "Radio" we see a number of relationships and social interactions that occur as a result of our influences from agents of socialization such as family, peer group and school.

In the beginning of this movie, the main character's, Radio, life is affected by lack of socialization. At first, Radio would just walk around all day and not interact with people besides his family. When Coach Jones and other people started talking to him he did not know how to respond, did not how to make eye contact when speaking to a person. Radio's life was greatly affected by the lack of socialization also because the boys on the football team continuously picked on him. For example, when the boys tied him in the shed after practice one night.

In the middle of this movie, Radio slowly begins to start socializing with Coach Jones, his family, and the people of Hanna. This emergence of socialization greatly benefited him by making him happy and boosting his confidence. Radio started to help coach the football team, did the morning announcements, help control the school environment by reminding students to not run in the hallways. He was delighted every time someone would speak to him; he became a whole different person and character. Radio's life drastically changed in the end of the movie "Radio". His character changed as a product of socialization. He did not feel like an outcast anyone but felt accepted by everyone at Hann High School. His personality and character changed so much that he was able to graduate high school; however he will return back to the 11th grade because of how much he enjoyed being a student and being loved by the school.  

 Overall, I really enjoyed watching the movie "Radio". It taught me to never take anything for granted and always appreciate what I have. 

Blog #4 Socialization of Gender

Men and women socialize very differently. Men are usually more introverted and quiet, while girls are more energetic, loud, and talkative. Every single human interaction is influenced in some way by gender. The differences between the genders is narrower than in times past, but there will always be a difference. Men and women subtly, and not so subtly sometimes, experience the world differently. Our senses are different, our emotions are different and our life experiences (paths of womanhood and manhood) are different. And finally the societal expectations for each is different. Since it is impossible to sum it all up one can simply state that "men and women are equal, but different".
5 examples of how men and women socialize differently:

1) Field Observation: I observed the way students talked and socialized in the cafeteria during lunch. Boys talked in a rude manner and were more open about taking risks. For example, throwing something into the trash can from their seat as apposed to girls who walk towards the can to throw something out. The girls talked much more often than the boys. When the boys stopped talking for a moment it was not awkward, but when the girls stopped talking the situation became awkward for them.

2) Through my observations, I saw that boys are much more open to speaking to other people who are not in their immediate group of friends. The girls during lunch time for example only talked to their immediate friends who were sitting with them at a table and not to anyone outside of their 'group'. The boys talked to everyone. Through this, I saw that boys are much more open to building new bonds and are better are communicating with others.

3) Males are much better at thinking about one thing at a time rather than many. This is not to say that females are any less adept at problem solving, but rather that the male mind is more suited to single-pointed thinking, while the female mind is associated with multi-tasking and with making connections between different fields. In many situations, a particular problem between two people will most likely be resolved by a male, while a more general situation within a community will be addressed by a girl.

4) By observing the way males and females interact with each other in the hallways; I saw that the girls were much more affectionate to each other. When a girl seemed sad, their female friend would walk up to them to comfort her, while a boy would just leave their friend alone; thinking that is the best way to approach the situation.

5) Also by observing students during lunch, I saw that girls used/checked their phones more often than the boys did. Every couple of minutes a female would check her phone and send a text, whereas the males checked their phone once or twice during the 48 minute time period. I feel like girls are more dependent on cell phones and texting to get their message across or too shy to say it in person.

Blog #3- Sociological Research and You!

1) After listening to each group's presentation of their sociological research, I think Jennifer’s, Michelle’s and Anthony’s research is the most interesting, effective, measureable, and significant. I think this because their topic is can be debatable. Many people have different opinions about when to tell someone that they are adopted, when Santa/Tooth Fairy is fake. I thought that the way their measured their information was correct also because of the way they had an open ended survey. That way they can get better more varied and detailed answers. I think the most difficult one to measure or understand was Marcia and Karina’s. I though the idea was very interesting and clever however I think it is very hard to find out the truth behind the concept of fear from just answering a few questions on a survey.

2) I am a very outgoing person; however many people think I am shy. I do not like to say much upon meeting someone for the first time but then when I get to know them I begin to open up more. I am also a very happy and positive person who looks on the bright side of things for 99.9% of the time. My personality defines or affects me because I am friends with people who are like me and have a similar personality. One of my weakness and strengths at the same time is that I do not quit until I get a job done. I am a perfectionist and sometimes I will be up till 2 doing everything to make it the best.  My weakness is that I am very impatient. Another strength is that I am very motivated and determined. I consider myself a very impatient, quiet and shy depending on the situation, talkative, calm, introverted person. My family and friends greatly influence my personality.

3) "With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts." Eleanor Roosevelt.

This quote influences and motivates me because if I had a bad day then the next day (the new day) I will give myself a chance to do be strong again and think about motivational and influential things.

Blog #3

1) In my opinion I think that the theory of Functionalist best applies to my way of thinking about human behavior and our society. This teaches us a lesson, maintain order, and jobs; all these are prevalent in today’s society. Symbolic interactionst: labeling theory (prototypical criminal), people from certain places more likely to commit crime. I think this is true because of the blue, pink, yellow example. When someone has a blue room people assume they are a boy, if they have a pink room then girl, however yellow is for both. In the hallway at school the other day I heard a few boys talking about a crime that occurred. I also heard them talk about how they think people from certain places or ethnicities are more likely to commit crime.

2) I feel that people will obey authority under any circumstances if it is indeed legal authority rather than people's consciences override their ability to follows authoritative demands. I think so because the physical presence of an authority figure increases compliance. We can see this in school; in most cases, when the vice principal or principal tell a student to do something (like go to detention) they do it without question.

3) After watching Jane Elliott's "Eye of the Storm" I do not think an experiment like that would not be successful today. In todays society people would not take this kind of experiment seriously, which will not give correct results. A type of experiment we might be able to conduct in order to teach and or raise awareness about prejudice and bias, bullying and intimidation is to education students of all ages in school with a program. Also you can connect wireless microphones and videotaped the students as they played in the schoolyard, and then they can watch and learn from their mistakes. 

Blog #1 - The Nature vs Nurture Debate

Nature vs. Nurture

-Eye color: Nature. A persons eye color is determined by their genes. 2 cells join to make a gamete. These cells determine what you will look like.


-Height: Nature. Genetics determine a persons height. For example, if both the parents of a person are tall, than the offspring will also be tall.

-Intelligence: Both nature and nurture. If a student wants to receive a high grade on a test, he or she will study very hard until they grasp all the information to answer all the questions on the test. Therefore it is nurture because the student is studying hard and their environment is allowing them to do so. However it is also nature because again of genetics. If a persons parents are really bright and smart, then there is a high chance that their children will also be intelligent.

-Weight: Both nature and nurture. Obesity and being overweight can be passed down from parent to offspring. If a child's mom is obese than there is a high chance that when that child grows, he or she will also be obese. It is nurture also because if a person goes out to eat at fast food chains every night and is not physically active then their weight will be affected.

-Risk taking: Both nature and nurture. Example: Bob loves excitement and is a risk taker. His father and grandfather are also risk taker.  Nurture: external influences such as friends who "make" a person take risks.

-Profession: Nurture. Chossing a profession is 95% of the time what that person is interested in and wants to do for the rest of their life. But 5% of the time, nurture pressures them into picking a certain profession. For example becoming a doctor.

-Athletic Ability: Both nature and nurture. If a persons parents are Olympic champions then they will also have the good sports trait in their genes. However, it is also nurture because if the child is surrounded by sports and practices all the time, he or she will start to be athletic.

-Smoking: Both nature and nurture. If someones parents smoke, the person can say that it is okay to smoke because their parents do it and start to smoke. Nurture: The people you hang out with. If a person hangs out with people who smoke, then they are likely to begin smoking as well.

-Music Ability: Both nature and nurture. If someones parents are musicians or composers then there is a high chance that they will too be musically talented. Also, nurture because if a person is surrounded by music, then he or she will begin to be musically good too.

-Violent Behavior: Both nature and nurture. Hanging out with friends that are violent leads to a person acting violently as well. At home, if a person is surrounded by violent behavior; after a while, they will be acting violently.

-Heart Disease: Both nature and nurture. Heart disease is hereditary, which means that if your family has it then there is a chance you too might get it. Nurture because by eating unhealthy foods, not exercising and leading an unhealthy life can cause heart disease and other illnesses.

-Mental Illness: Nature because mental illness has some of the highest genetic loading of any common illness.

-Humor:Nurture. Humor all depends on how an individual grows up and what he or she thinks is funny.  


-Interest in Math & Science OR Arts & Humanities: Nurture. I tutor 2 girls everyday after school. Their parents are both surgeons. Medical field is all science and math. Both the girls hate math and science. Therefore, interest in a certain subject is not nature but is nurture.

-Skilled ability to perform in Math/Science OR Art/Humanities: Nurture. Nurture: My above example about the girls I tutor. Their parents are really smart and intelligent. Being surgeons, they are espeically smart in math and science. Their children on the other hand struggle with those subjects.

1) Discuss whether you think nature or nurture is a bigger factor in influencing one's personality and behavior and why?       

      I think nurture influences one's personality and behavior because nurture affects our brains and smarts. For example, children who eat foods that contain lead or any other harmful substances develop irreversible damage to their brains, and this affects their intelligence over time. Also, during the day people are usually surrounded more by society than anything else; school, sports, extracurricular activites.  

2) What factors weigh so heavily on this debate and how do you think we could possibly learn more from it?

      A factor might be where someone is living (location). Nurture factors that trigger an individual to commit crime are influences by social and environment factors. Nature factors that trigger an individual to commit crime are influences by biological and family facotrs. We can learn more about modern day society this way, and see how society has changed over time.