The House I Live In War on Drug - Assignment Example

Film Paper Film Name is “The House I Live in" War on Drug Introduction and Thesis statement Deviance and conformity theories of sociology are essential aspects that depict how social beings frequently conform or deviate from the expected norms due to social advancements and status as evident in the film in “the House I Live”. Notably, conformity is the continual practice of good behaviors as expected in the society (Simon, 3). It entails playing along and measuring up to the ideals that should be upheld by everyone. On the other hand, deviance is a practice and action that does not conform to the expectations in most instances. To date, there is insufficient of information and understanding that conformity and deviance have both negative and positive social effects. People are deficient of the information that the two aspects have both good and bad sides, and none can be preferred to the other. This is evident going by the revelations depicted in “the House I Live” film. The film depicts how playing along other people’s decisions in the pretext of remaining relevant proved detrimental towards the fight against drug usage (Simon, 12). Therefore, the study is relevant in enlightening various individuals that the two aspects have negative and positive sides. Critical discussion based on the social theories In the film “the House I Live,” both conformity and deviant theories are depicted through its theme, actions, and characters. The film gives the drug syndicate story in US that has affected many lives health-wise. The film that is about drugs shows how narcotics is being smuggled in the nation, the tricks used, how it is sold, the strategy adopted, the people involved and the intelligence behind the trade (Bershen, 68). It also gives a glimpse on how people’s behavior can change from being conformists to deviants over time. In most societies, many people deem the trade of drugs illegal and against the social norms in most societies due to the far-reaching effects, drugs present to the people. The trade is done based on deviance in most instances and those perceived to be socially insensitive are the ones trading in it as portrayed in the film by the inmate (Bershen, 1). The inmate noted that the trade is associated with deviance social behavior as it involves a violation of noble human values and shared social norms that lead to unforgiving lifestyle. The theories There are several theories of deviance and conformity that shapes individual’s behaviors and decisions. The theories provide a reliable basis upon which individuals behaviors are understood based on the societal norms or beliefs. The theories include conflict theory, labeling theory, structural functionalism theory, learning and Marxian split labor market theories (Simon, 2012). The theories that facilitate the understanding of behaviors of individuals in various circumstances define the character traits of the participants in “the House I Live” film that depicts about the war on drugs in US. In particular, labeling theory is a deviance theory that is defined as the forceful adoption of an identity despite its associated damaging effects. The theory holds that most individuals become deviant due to forceful identity imposed on them. Such people act towards gaining acceptance and helping in achieving the goals of the group; they are associated. Such behavior is depicted in the film especially when Ron and various police officers decided to adopt the imposed behavior aimed at fighting drug use. The individuals deviated from the pursuit of the eradication of drug usage after adopting a behavior of resisting the idea (Rios, 25). An identity was forced upon Ron and some police officers to deviate from fighting the use of drugs in the nation. Their behavior cannot be considered a good deviance since it fosters a negative social norm that s against the will of the community. Another social theory that is essential in shaping of individual behavior is the conflict theory. The theory holds that deviant behaviors are a product of the social group influences based on social, political and material inequalities. It holds that inequalities make some individuals to conform to wrong decisions in life (Adler & Adler, 79). The behavior is all about enjoying taking part in the activities of the group while ignoring the consequences. The behavior is portrayed clearly in “the House I Live” film that captures how the war against the use and selling of drugs has been fought in the US. The film depicts how groups, circumstances, status and material differences made police officers, senators, and renowned drug dealers to deviate from the core mandate of eradicating drug usage in the nation. Structural functionalism is another deviance theory that determines behavioral change in human beings. The theory helps individuals in distinguishing between acceptable and unacceptable norms or standards of behavior. It equips individuals with pertinent incentives that include active and constructive systems of behavior that shape values and norms in societies. In the film, there are individuals such as the US District Judge called Mark who separated the acceptable and unacceptable standards of behavior that they adopted. The judge offered strict judgment to the offenses relating to drugs within the law and expected standards (Rios, 49). On the other hand, learning theory is vital in shaping behavior and character in different societies. The theory argues that individual’s behavior can be shaped through learning and that systematic awareness on various issues facilitates accurate decision-making (Adler & Adler, 2012). According to the theory, an individual can adopt a behavior that he learnt from the group members by either conforming or deviating. This is based on certain differences relating to social status, economic and culture. In the film, Hillary porter including Bennet and Hallows give best examples of those whose behaviors were shaped through learning. They were acquainted with the ideals of the group members and the main reasons why the campaign against the use of drugs was staged. The learning process enabled them to make independent decisions based on the knowledge of the acceptable societal norms (Bershen, 1). For instance, Hillary porter and Bennet adopted a pro-behavior towards the eradication of drugs. They conformed to the idea of the group that was good since the mission was to fight drug usage that is against the societal norms. However, Hallows deviated from adopting a favorable behavior as expected. He joined the group of individuals with the opposite school of thought. He played along with the people who wanted to continue using the drugs after being corrupted or induced. From the film, explicit examples that show the insensitive nature to social norms and beliefs of the US people cherish by the group of individuals who fueled the use of drugs. The elites such a Lawrence Miller who deemed the fight against drug usage as an oppressive tactic employed on the minority groups criticized the war against the use of drugs Bershen, 1). Being an addict, he disagreed completely with the idea and cited the need for its termination to Jerecki. Likewise, various politicians and drug dealers are depicted in the movie seeking to introduce innocent young people into the business of drugs. They are captured making material offers to the potential people including law enforcers. Another instance of deviance from noble ideals in the movie is depicted by the actions of various police officers. They were captured soliciting and accepting bribes from drug dealers without fear. Their actions were against the norms of the society despite having conformed to the demands or decisions of others or group members. The examples justifies the assertion by Bershen (1), that “people may conform for the right or bad ideals in life as well as deviate in pursuing socially wrong or right things”. For instance, a person can conform to honesty and integrity standards that remain absolute good conformance while one can deviate to pursue an ideal of stealing and corruption. Such extremes explain the reason conformity and deviance have both negative and positive effects (Adler & Adler, 36). It is not certain that conformity leads to social relevance in terms of being within the set norms and standards as shown in the film where even the police who are supposed to protect the integrity of the nation succumbed to negative behavior. Likewise, it is never certain that deviance is all about doing things that are against the norms of the society. You can be part of a group with ill motives, but you defy the activities as evident in the film when Marshal decided to speak the truth about drug trading. The inmate and the District judge refused to play along his friends in condoning drug menace. You can also be in a perceived good group of people, but you yield to pressure of doing certain things that may be illegitimate as evident by the police officers who kept on taking bribes. Conclusion Therefore, there is a great need for individuals to know that conformity and deviance elements influence behavior based on the environment, circumstances, prevailing situations, groups of interaction, and decisions one adopts. They contribute in behavioral change, line of thought and action plans of individuals. The social theories have good and bad sides that must be established when evaluating individual’s actions. References Adler, A & Adler P. (2012). Constructions of Deviance: Social Power, Context, and Interaction, 7/e. Wadsworth: Cengage Learning. Bershen, W. (2014). War without End: 'The House I Live In' Deconstructs America's Failed Drug Policies. Retrieved from, Rios, V. (2012). Punished: Policing the Lives of Black and Latino Boys. New York: NYU Press, 2011). Simon, D. (2012). Elite Deviance, 10th ed. New York: Pearson Read More