94086 - Sociology of Deviance and Change

Learning outcomes

The course aims to offer an overview on the main theories and research in the field of deviance and criminal phenomena; on literature and empirical studies concerning total institutions, the social construction of deviance and stigma. Students are expected to acquire general skills on actors and determinants of social change in the contemporary societies; to understand the links between different dimensions of change and to recognize the dynamics of exclusion and discrimination behind them; to competently identify phenomena of deviance and social change; to collect and analyze data and evaluate intervention programs in these fields.

Course contents

Sociology of deviance (24 hours)

The module:

- illustrates the main theories of deviance;
- focuses on some deviant phenomena and crimes;
- shows statistics and methods used to measure and classify criminal phenomena
- provides elements of knowledge on forms of prevention of deviant and criminal acts.

The in-depth part of the module focuses on the topic of total institutions: their historical evolution, functions, internal organisation, living conditions and rights of prisoners/inmates/users, social representations, alternatives to the institutionalisation.



Sociology of Change (24 hours)

The module deals with the changes that have taken place in contemporary Western society with particular reference to the working condition. Alongside a description of the main theories on social change, modernisation and the transition to post-industrial and post-Fordist society, the following aspects are explored in depth:

- the impact of technological transformations (automation, smart working, platform economy, etc.)

- the climate crisis and new production/consumption models

- the professions of "care" facing the changes in welfare system

Readings/Bibliography

Sociology of deviance:

1. Prina, F., Devianza e criminalità. Concetti, metodi di ricerca, cause, politiche, Carocci, 2019.

2. Power point presentations, papers, articles available, since December 2022, on the website https://virtuale.unibo.it/ (mandatory for attending and non attending students)

 

Sociology of social change

1. One of the following books (or other in English, to be agreed with the teacher):

• Aloisi, De Stefano, Il tuo capo è un algoritmo. Contro il lavoro disumano, 2020.
• Balzano, Contro lo smart working, 2021.
• Hickel, Siamo ancora in tempo! Come una nuova economia può salvare il pianeta, 2021.
• Jaffe, Il lavoro non ti ama, 2022.
• Luongo, Morniroli, Rossi-Doria, Rammendare. Il lavoro sociale come leva per lo sviluppo, 2022.
• MacKinnon, Il giorno in cui il mondo smette di comprare, 2021.
• Safran, Possiamo salvare il mondo prima di cena, 2019.

 

2. Power point presentations, papers, articles available, since December 2022, on the website https://virtuale.unibo.it/ (mandatory for attending and non attending students)

Teaching methods

Face-to-face (online) lessons based of presentations of slides and multimedial texts

Assessment methods

Written examination (1 hour; test with open ended questions). During the lessons, students may be asked to produce written texts on topics explained and discussed in class (participation in these activities is not mandatory and will contribute to the final evaluation)

Teaching tools

Slides in Power Point; texts; audiovisual documents

Office hours

See the website of Dario Tuorto