Chapt.+7-+Deviance


 * **Deviance**- the recognized violation of cultural norms.
 * When Leonard and Sheldon sneak in to Penny's appartment, she is not too happy because this act of devience is look down upon in todays society because it is morally wrong, even though they all know one another.
 * **Labeling Theory**- the idea that deviance and conformity result not so much from what people do as from how others respond to those actions.
 * In the show the guys are labeled as nerdy or geeky due to the fact that they all have high scientific jobs that require a smart individual to obtain.
 * **Retribution**- an act of moral vengeance by which society makes the offender suffer as much as the suffering caused by the crime.
 * Throughout the show it is a never ending battle between Penny and the guys about her smart and their social ability, When one person in this social group pokes fun at another, they get back at them the same way or with harsher form of retribution.
 * **Deterrence**- the attempt to discourage criminality through the use of punishment.


 * ** Stigma- A powerfully negative label that greatly changes a person's self-concept and social identity. **
 * Early on in the series Penny worked at a cheese cake factory. There were times where she made a joke of herselfbecause of the position she held. Someone who works a blue collar job isn't looked upon as highly as a white collar worker. I feel this is mostly due to the fact that she is paid minimum wage and most associate money with success.
 * ** Labeling Theory- The idea that deviance and conformity result not so much from what people do as from how others respond to those actions. **
 * In one of the episodes, Sheldon sneaked into a ball pen for children while the facility was closed. The patrol officer didn't arrest him because he assumed Sheldon was mentally handicapped. Instead the man called Leonard to pick him up but because Sheldon, at that point, realized he wasn't in any real trouble, he continued to act out his deviance and refused to leave the ball pen.
 * ** Crimes against Property- Crimes that involve theft of money or property belonging to others. **
 * Leonard and Sheldon have their pants stolen by Penny's ex while attempting to pick up her TV from his house.
 * ** Plea Bargaining- A legal negotiation in which a prosecutor reduces a charge in exchange for a defendant's guilty plea. **
 * When Sheldon loses his job at the university for insulting his new boss, his mom forces him to return and apologize in order to get his job. In this case Sheldon's apology would be a 'I'm guilty' plea and because he did get his job back, the plea worked.