Playing The Odds On Society - 975 Words

Playing the Odds on Society The act of gambling is considered deviant by societal standards today. In order to attain the label and stigmatization as a gambling addict, many steps or so called â€Å"rights of passage† must be completed. The following thoughts, notions, and theories are solely based off two interviews I have conducted. These interviews each focus on a subject who has been identified to express a psychological dependence on gambling. Furthermore, I will develop a view into the moral career as well as the identity of an addicted gambler. At first, the gambling addict is neither viewed as nor personally considers him or herself to have a dependence on gambling. But, as the mental illness progresses, recognition of the disease is carried out by individuals in close relation with the addict. This process ties to the labeling theory by showing how one can only be classified as deviant due to the recognition of others instead of through him or herself. Therefore, as the gambler continues to play the odds and lose money, those who are in close proximity to the addict’s life are the first to recognize the illness and stigmatize the individual. The job of the addict is to remain as discreet as possible in order for his or her stigma to remain hidden from public view. But once recognition of the addict’s deviance occurs, a powerful stigma is born leading the majority of people in close relation to develop shameful views on the freshly labeled man or woman. In order to beShow MoreRelatedThe Lack Of Authenticity : The Cost Of Conformity1497 Words   |  6 PagesThe Lack of Authenticity: The Cost of Conformity In the Merriam Webster Dictionary, conformity is defined as â€Å"behavior that is the same as the behavior of most other people in a society, group, etc.† People have been conforming to fit in with the group, to not be seen as the odd one out. Following road signs is a method in which people conform. 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Then there is â€Å"odd† devianceRead MoreGambling Should be Legalized.1571 Words   |  7 Pageslife in Arkansas (Legalized Gambling 3). Although this article in referring to Arkansas, the points are very relative to our state of Pennsylvania. If gambling were legalized, there would be more jobs. Jobs are very important especially now in our society. Hundreds of people do not have jobs. Jobs will be open for new casino card dealers for example. More transportation will be need for people to get to the casinos, and since there will be more people coming we will need transportation to other areasRead MoreIs Deviance A Social Norm?973 Words   |  4 Pagesyet easier to grasp the concept that I was going against social norms. The Symbolic-Interaction Approach explains how people define deviance in everyday situations. It helped explain why asking people to play a game can be considered deviant in our society. The main reason involved the Labeling Theory, the idea that deviance and conformity result not so much from what people do as for how others respond to those actions. (pg 181) For example, wearing sweat pants to Walmart might not be consideredRead MoreThe Ethics of Football1287 Words   |  6 PagesThe Ethics of Elite F ootball As the most popular sport in the United States, football is firmly ingrained in our American society. Despite football’s vast popularity, football is currently an overall detriment to our society. Serious fundamental changes need to be implemented to the structure of football in order for it to be morally improved in the future. With more research appearing each day, it is clear the neurological health of players needs to be taken more in to account. UnderprivilegedRead MoreGeorge Herbert Mead and Erving Goffman945 Words   |  4 Pagesimpacted the way we see sociology today. Their works, when closely examined, actually share some extreme similarities. Both of these men seemed very interested in the perception of self in the eyes of others as well as yourself. â€Å"Mind, Self, and Society† is an article written by Mead which was placed in the book entitled â€Å"Social Theory: The Classic Tradition to Post-Modernism† which was edited by Farganis with the copyri ght of McGraw-Hill in 2004. This primarily deals with the development of one’sRead MoreEssay on Harmful Effects of Legalized Gambling1644 Words   |  7 PagesHarmful Effects of Legalized Gambling Gambling is prominent in todays society. This can be seen especially through politics. Everywhere voters are electing people to office who are pro gambling. William Thompson of the University of Nevada (1994) describes politicians by stating, Its part of the American landscape, theyll trade morality for dollars (1). In North and South Carolina, for example, the last governor election showed that the people were for legal gambling by voting in governorsRead MoreNegative Speech On Football1195 Words   |  5 Pagesfamilies. In rare instances some players have even taken their own lives in conjunction with having CTE. CTE is a disease that cannot be detected until after ones death. That makes CTE terribly challenging to understand. Children have no business playing such a violent sport at ages where their bodies and minds aren’t fully developed, â€Å"A growing number of scientists argue that because the human brain develops rapidly at young ages, especially between 10 and 12, children should not play tackle football