Micro theory of roles Micro theory of roles (2/12)(2/12)

Complete MurrayComplete Murray

Micro-theory: roles and netsMicro-theory: roles and nets

The power of rolesThe power of roles

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Criticisms of MurrayCriticisms of Murray

Even if his argument comes to correct Even if his argument comes to correct conclusions, it is clearly flawed:conclusions, it is clearly flawed:

1.1. Technically, the data do not establish what Technically, the data do not establish what they purport to establish.they purport to establish.

2.2. Conceptually, the variables are not valid Conceptually, the variables are not valid measures of “government” and “no measures of “government” and “no government”government”

3.3. The general method ignores reciprocal and The general method ignores reciprocal and functional relations of programs and problems.functional relations of programs and problems.

Some technical Problems with Some technical Problems with Murray’s analysisMurray’s analysis

1: What range of speed is involved? The 1: What range of speed is involved? The lowered speed limit was not designed to reduce lowered speed limit was not designed to reduce fatalities, and no one thought it would do so.fatalities, and no one thought it would do so.2: What highways? The lower speed limits were 2: What highways? The lower speed limits were only on the interstates. Most fatalities are local. only on the interstates. Most fatalities are local. Murray’s data is not confined to interstates.Murray’s data is not confined to interstates.3. Better cars, better highways, and inspections 3. Better cars, better highways, and inspections (which Murray thinks lowered fatalities) are (which Murray thinks lowered fatalities) are almost certainly the result of the kinds of almost certainly the result of the kinds of policies he opposes. Pinto’s were profitable.policies he opposes. Pinto’s were profitable.

A general issue of validityA general issue of validity

The notion that speed limits are the main The notion that speed limits are the main role or function of government is role or function of government is extraordinarily narrow.extraordinarily narrow.The improvement of roads and of safety, The improvement of roads and of safety, which Murray believes drove the which Murray believes drove the progressive decline of fatalities per mile progressive decline of fatalities per mile was a function of government programs.was a function of government programs.The provision of infrastructure is a public The provision of infrastructure is a public good; even toll highways require good; even toll highways require government.government.

A more general issue of methodA more general issue of method

Murray confines his analysis to 2 variables with no Murray confines his analysis to 2 variables with no feedbacksfeedbacks– assuming that limits affect fatalities, but fatalities cannot affect assuming that limits affect fatalities, but fatalities cannot affect

limits.limits.– This is analogous to a classic fallacyThis is analogous to a classic fallacy– That fire engines do not decrease fire damage.That fire engines do not decrease fire damage.– Looking at functional feedbacks avoids the fallacy.Looking at functional feedbacks avoids the fallacy.

i.e. i.e.

To know whether the association of programs to policies To know whether the association of programs to policies should be positive or negative would be to estimate the should be positive or negative would be to estimate the size of the arrows.size of the arrows.

Social Problems

Social Policies

Social Problems

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The fire engine fallacyThe fire engine fallacy

Suppose one were to decide on whether to have Suppose one were to decide on whether to have a public fire company by seeing whether there a public fire company by seeing whether there was greater or lesser damage when there were was greater or lesser damage when there were more fire engines.more fire engines.But when there are more fire engines, there is But when there are more fire engines, there is more damage.more damage.Fire engines do not cause damage, but they Fire engines do not cause damage, but they respond to functional need: larger fires.respond to functional need: larger fires.If policies are effective, but not totally effective, If policies are effective, but not totally effective, they will be positively associated with problems.they will be positively associated with problems.

A General issue of LibertarianismA General issue of Libertarianism

Many of the proposals of Libertarians, like Murray, Many of the proposals of Libertarians, like Murray, are an attempt to go back to the kind of social are an attempt to go back to the kind of social structure of the 19structure of the 19thth c. c.

There was little government and lots of mutual aid There was little government and lots of mutual aid (e.g. bucket brigades for fires.)(e.g. bucket brigades for fires.)

One cannot go back to little house on the prairieOne cannot go back to little house on the prairie

But the Great San Francisco Fire shows the But the Great San Francisco Fire shows the dysfunctionality of relying on private fire dysfunctionality of relying on private fire companies and bucket brigades in a modern city.companies and bucket brigades in a modern city.

Micro- and macro-Micro- and macro-structuresstructures

•Micro-structure is often defined as the analysis of face-to face interactions

•and thus the immediate social constraints on individual choices.

•The two main approaches are in terms of roles and in terms of networks.

•Both roles and networks require an analysis of social structures to be understood.

•E.g. cashing a check or a jury trial

Two main approaches to micro-Two main approaches to micro-structurestructure

Roles: Look at social structure as a set of Roles: Look at social structure as a set of “jobs” with “functional requirements” and “jobs” with “functional requirements” and normative expectations.normative expectations.– Benny’s gang, KOS, can also be analyzed Benny’s gang, KOS, can also be analyzed

as a set of normatively governed roles.as a set of normatively governed roles.

Network: Look at social structure as a Network: Look at social structure as a set of connections of different kinds set of connections of different kinds between namable individuals.between namable individuals.– Networks are key to how blood feud’s start Networks are key to how blood feud’s start

and to how blood feuds can stop.and to how blood feuds can stop.

Roles: expectations and Roles: expectations and functions as self-maintainingfunctions as self-maintaining

If the particular person in a role dies or fails to If the particular person in a role dies or fails to fulfill the role, then they will be replaced.fulfill the role, then they will be replaced.

The role is independent of the person.The role is independent of the person.

Eg. A ‘job’Eg. A ‘job’

But the person living in poverty may be a social But the person living in poverty may be a social slot as well, slot as well, – either because the no. of persons > the no. of jobs either because the no. of persons > the no. of jobs – or because more than ½ of hungry families have a full or because more than ½ of hungry families have a full

time worker.time worker.

The role structure: StudentThe role structure: Student

Other examples: a job, a jury trial, KOS, a church.

Networks as self-reinforcingNetworks as self-reinforcing

Often the people you hang around withOften the people you hang around with

Bring you into contact with thoseBring you into contact with those

Who reinforce the ideas and behaviorsWho reinforce the ideas and behaviors

That lead to your hanging with them.That lead to your hanging with them.– ““Birds of a feather, flock together.”Birds of a feather, flock together.”– But if you flock with those birds, you will develop But if you flock with those birds, you will develop

those feathers.those feathers.– E.g. Alcoholics Anonymous: to maintain sobriety, you E.g. Alcoholics Anonymous: to maintain sobriety, you

have to change people, places and things.have to change people, places and things.

The network of Sociology professorThe network of Sociology professor

Any network is as unique as a fingerprintAny network is as unique as a fingerprint

Micro-structures of RolesMicro-structures of RolesA social structure can be analyzed as a set of A social structure can be analyzed as a set of statuses each of which has a pattern of statuses each of which has a pattern of appropriate behavior (appropriate behavior (rolerole). *115-9.). *115-9.– ““Appropriate”means that some kind of sanctioning Appropriate”means that some kind of sanctioning

control will be exerted for inappropriate behavior .control will be exerted for inappropriate behavior .– Roles are in sets, so that the other roles in a given Roles are in sets, so that the other roles in a given

set often exert pressures to behave appropriately.set often exert pressures to behave appropriately.– The society as a role structure was the basis of a The society as a role structure was the basis of a

functional, normative conception of the social functional, normative conception of the social system.system.

– The roles and statuses exist independently of the The roles and statuses exist independently of the person occupying them, as a “job” in a company person occupying them, as a “job” in a company may exist even if it is vacant.may exist even if it is vacant.

Example: a jury trial and the Example: a jury trial and the development of the lawdevelopment of the law

Someone called to jury duty may occupy the Someone called to jury duty may occupy the status of “juror” at the same time they occupy status of “juror” at the same time they occupy many other statuses (male, student)many other statuses (male, student)

Role strain occurs when the expectations of Role strain occurs when the expectations of different members of a set are inconsistent.different members of a set are inconsistent.

Role conflict occurs when the statuses Role conflict occurs when the statuses occupied by an individual push him/her in occupied by an individual push him/her in different directions.different directions.

Functionalists analyze social structure as a Functionalists analyze social structure as a normatively integrated set of roles,normatively integrated set of roles,

Governed by norms and values. Governed by norms and values.

Debated normsDebated normsOften there is considerable debate about Often there is considerable debate about what are the real “norms” that operate.what are the real “norms” that operate.A jury trial operates under norms of equality A jury trial operates under norms of equality before the law, that is blind to class or race.before the law, that is blind to class or race.Colin Ferguson and Bernard Goetz both Colin Ferguson and Bernard Goetz both shot a number of people and both used the shot a number of people and both used the defense of a fear-and-rage. Ferguson was defense of a fear-and-rage. Ferguson was found guilty, and Goetz acquitted. Why?found guilty, and Goetz acquitted. Why?What are the roles and strains operating on What are the roles and strains operating on the development of race relations in the the development of race relations in the US?US?

Roles: institutional racismRoles: institutional racism

If you worked at Auschwitz, would you incinerate If you worked at Auschwitz, would you incinerate Jews? Probably, and if not you would be replaced.Jews? Probably, and if not you would be replaced.Was there anyplace in Nazi Germany that you Was there anyplace in Nazi Germany that you would work that was not part of the system of would work that was not part of the system of incinerating Jews? No. Germany was incinerating Jews? No. Germany was institutionally racist in 1935.institutionally racist in 1935.The concept of institutional racism is that often the The concept of institutional racism is that often the ordinary operation of businesses, farms, schools, ordinary operation of businesses, farms, schools, courts, etc. can lead to discriminatory, racist courts, etc. can lead to discriminatory, racist behavior that is motivated by ordinary profit, self-behavior that is motivated by ordinary profit, self-interest, etc.interest, etc.

The Power of roles:The Power of roles:

Stanley Stanley Milgram’sMilgram’s** ** Obedience test:Obedience test:Will ordinary Americans, today, administer Will ordinary Americans, today, administer apparently lethal shock to an innocent apparently lethal shock to an innocent person because they are told to do so?person because they are told to do so?Germans were “just following orders?”Germans were “just following orders?”How powerful is this?How powerful is this?Milgram’s presumption was that Germans Milgram’s presumption was that Germans would and Americans would not.would and Americans would not.His finding was that Americans would.His finding was that Americans would.

The Players The Players

The experimentor: Milgram himself, in a The experimentor: Milgram himself, in a white lab-coatwhite lab-coatThe “learner:” ostensibly one of the The “learner:” ostensibly one of the subjects, chosen at random; actually a subjects, chosen at random; actually a trained actor.trained actor.The “teacher:” the true subject: a The “teacher:” the true subject: a college student or person from the college student or person from the community who is taking part in “an community who is taking part in “an experiment on learning”experiment on learning”

The procedureThe procedure

The “learner” (who has said he has a heart The “learner” (who has said he has a heart condition) is strapped into an electric chair in condition) is strapped into an electric chair in another room, connected by sound.another room, connected by sound.

The “teacher is instructed to continue increasing The “teacher is instructed to continue increasing levels of shock past levels of shock past ““Danger” “Extremely high Danger” “Extremely high shock”shock” and and ““500 Volts”.500 Volts”.

Prompts: only “The experiment requires that you Prompts: only “The experiment requires that you continue.” “You must continue.”continue.” “You must continue.”

The findings:The findings:

After the “learner” not only is screaming, After the “learner” not only is screaming, but falls dead silent, most “teachers” are but falls dead silent, most “teachers” are very uncomfortable.very uncomfortable.Would you continue administering shock? Would you continue administering shock? Or would you refuse?Or would you refuse?Most subjects continued, even under Most subjects continued, even under variations designed to increase resistance.variations designed to increase resistance.

A key issue for the relation of A key issue for the relation of norms to nets:norms to nets:

When there are several subjects reacting When there are several subjects reacting to a single authority, the dynamic becomes to a single authority, the dynamic becomes very complex.very complex.The actions and ideas of the other The actions and ideas of the other subjects can enormously increase or they subjects can enormously increase or they can undermine the authority of the can undermine the authority of the experimentor.experimentor.Actual authority is often an unstable Actual authority is often an unstable dynamicdynamic