Sociological Perspective On Death Penalty
Austin Spackman
Sociology 1010
Theoretical Perspectives Paper
The Death Penalty
Throughout history, and in every culture that has ever inhabited the earth, there has always been some sort of capital punishment, or the death penalty. It may not have been an official ceremony or ritual, but it has always been present in some sort or another. Even in modern times, humans practice the death penalty. America has held 1226 executions since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. (Facts about the Death Penalty) Because capital punishment still exists, there are several different opinions of why it is beneficial to society, as well as it is bad. This paper will discuss the death penalty from the three
Sociological Perspectives: Functionalism, Conflict Theorem, and Symbolic …show more content…
One conflict that arises is that of race and social class.
Statistics show that people of color and lower social class appear on death row more than whites.
People of color have accounted for a disproportionate 43 % of total executions since 1976 and 55 % of those currently awaiting execution.
(Race and the Death Penalty)
Symbolic Interactionism
The third sociological perspective deals with how different aspects of society are symbolic of something and what those symbols might mean. A symbolic interactionist views the death penalty in many different ways. Many symbolic interactionists believe the death penalty is a way to fulfill the ancient principle of an “Eye for an Eye”. Another belief is that the death penalty brings peace to the victim’s family by helping them know that the person that wronged them has met received their justice and no one else will be hurt by them.
One conflict that arises when examining the death penalty from the viewpoint of a symbolic interactionist is the whether or not humans have the right to kill another human. Some people believe there is no crime on earth worthy of the punishment of death, especially when another human is administering
Sociology 1010
Theoretical Perspectives Paper
The Death Penalty
Throughout history, and in every culture that has ever inhabited the earth, there has always been some sort of capital punishment, or the death penalty. It may not have been an official ceremony or ritual, but it has always been present in some sort or another. Even in modern times, humans practice the death penalty. America has held 1226 executions since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. (Facts about the Death Penalty) Because capital punishment still exists, there are several different opinions of why it is beneficial to society, as well as it is bad. This paper will discuss the death penalty from the three
Sociological Perspectives: Functionalism, Conflict Theorem, and Symbolic …show more content…
One conflict that arises is that of race and social class.
Statistics show that people of color and lower social class appear on death row more than whites.
People of color have accounted for a disproportionate 43 % of total executions since 1976 and 55 % of those currently awaiting execution.
(Race and the Death Penalty)
Symbolic Interactionism
The third sociological perspective deals with how different aspects of society are symbolic of something and what those symbols might mean. A symbolic interactionist views the death penalty in many different ways. Many symbolic interactionists believe the death penalty is a way to fulfill the ancient principle of an “Eye for an Eye”. Another belief is that the death penalty brings peace to the victim’s family by helping them know that the person that wronged them has met received their justice and no one else will be hurt by them.
One conflict that arises when examining the death penalty from the viewpoint of a symbolic interactionist is the whether or not humans have the right to kill another human. Some people believe there is no crime on earth worthy of the punishment of death, especially when another human is administering