My socks are yellow, because they say your socks are supposed to match your pants, not your shoes. Now, I ask who they are. Whoever they are have an impact on many of the things we do and value. They tell us what to wear, when to wear it, how to wear it, included in this is what not to wear. They tell us how to act in given situations, even when no one is around. They tell us what to think and what not to think, and what we can and cannot do. Psychologists identify they as the superego, that part of the personality that incorporates the values of society into self. This incorporation is a conscious and unconscious aspect of our psyche, and it may be expressed in many ways, sometimes knowingly such as in our deeds and in physical aspects, as in various physical diseases and I add mental and emotional diseases. Many suggest this is a result of a sense of guilt from having thought, desired, or committed misdeeds by violating the dictates of they.
Sociologists define a similar phenomenon as the generalized other. This they concept is developed from significant others in a child’s life. Significant others, such as parents, relatives, and teachers have an impact in inculcating into a child’s mind the general values of society, which later develop into the generalized other, an abstract idea of what society defines as good or bad. This is easy to understand if one remembers when they performed a good deed, and no one was around to see them do it or know that they did it. Yet, the doers feel good about themselves; he or she pats themselves on the back good job, good job, so to speak. It is the internalization of norms, values and responses to behavior rewarded in the past. Self-congratulation is what I call it.
Both psychological and sociological approaches talk of the same thing with one emphasizing the role of the individual and the other the role of society. Each is based on the social interaction of the individual with individuals and groups. Both approaches are a basis for a theory in the study of criminality. In short, not all of us have the same values of what is right or wrong, or on the proper way of achieving goals that the general other (they) may emphasize. Conflict theorists have a great time with this approach. Conflict theorists point out that in America the major reason for crime is that there is an imbalance between the way of achieving goals and an over emphasis on the goal, i.e., to acquire wealth and power. Therefore, deviance occurs in the methods used in acquiring the goals, lying, cheating, stealing, defrauding, robbing, and killing. This does not preclude others from rejecting the goals and adjusting by developing other values. Nonetheless, I wear yellow socks with yellow pants.
Eclecticwriter 