Summarizing Lemert and Best’s Theories on Sociopathic Behavior and Deviance

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

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Step-by-Step Guide for Structuring and Writing Your Paper

1. Understand the Task

• You have two main parts in your assignment. The first part requires you to summarize Lemert’s treatment of psychological/psychiatric and sociological approaches to sociopathic behavior (pages 176-177).
• The second part requires you to summarize Best’s three principles of deviance definition (pages 181-182).

2. Read the Assigned Pages

• Begin by reading the relevant pages in your text carefully—pp. 176-177 for Lemert and pp. 181-182 for Best. Focus on the key points, terms, and any arguments the authors present about sociopathic behavior and deviance.

3. Summarize Lemert’s Treatment of Sociopathic Behavior (pp. 176-177)

• Psychological/Psychiatric Approach: Identify and note how Lemert discusses the psychological and psychiatric views on sociopathic behavior. These approaches often focus on individual pathology, mental disorders, and inherent traits.
• Sociological Approach: Next, summarize how Lemert contrasts this with the sociological view, which emphasizes the role of social structures, environment, and interactions in shaping behavior.
• Comparing the Two: Highlight how Lemert explains the differences and connections between the two approaches.

4. Summarize Best’s Three Principles of Deviance Definition (pp. 181-182)

• Principle 1: Identify the first principle that Best discusses regarding the definition of deviance. Summarize its main idea and how Best uses it to define or explain deviance.
• Principle 2: Follow the same process for the second principle. Summarize its key ideas and how it differs from or builds upon the first.
• Principle 3: Do the same for the third principle, making sure to note any changes or critiques Best offers about deviance.
• Criticism of the Principles: Discuss why these principles are considered inadequate today, as Best argues. What changes or challenges have made them less useful?

5. Organize Your Paper

• Introduction: Briefly introduce the two tasks—summarizing Lemert’s treatment of sociopathic behavior and Best’s principles of deviance. Provide context about the importance of these topics in understanding sociological theories.
• Body: Divide your paper into two main sections:
  1. Lemert’s Treatment of Sociopathic Behavior: Include a clear, concise summary of the psychological/psychiatric and sociological perspectives, comparing and contrasting them.
  2. Best’s Three Principles of Deviance: Summarize each principle with an explanation of why they have been debated or criticized.
• Conclusion: Wrap up your paper by reflecting on the importance of understanding these theories, and possibly suggest how they continue to influence modern sociological thought.

6. Writing Tips

• Use clear and concise language, making sure each idea is well-supported with explanations or examples from the text.
• Stay focused on summarizing the authors’ main arguments without adding too much personal opinion. The goal is to reflect the content accurately.
• Keep the flow of the paper logical—use transitional sentences between sections to ensure it’s easy to follow.

7. Edit and Revise

• After drafting your paper, read it carefully to ensure it makes sense and flows well. Make sure you’ve covered both parts of the assignment.
• Check for spelling and grammatical errors, and make sure you’ve cited all your references correctly.