Question One

a) According to Bauman, sociology is distinct from common sense in that sociology provides a systematic study
of the social world around us that is grounded in empirical evidence, while common sense relies on taken-
for-granted assumptions and everyday experiences (Bauman, 2013). Sociology aims to go beyond individual
experiences and understand the larger social structures and processes that shape them. Bauman argues that
while common sense may be useful in everyday life, it is limited in its ability to provide a comprehensive
understanding of complex social issues.
a) According to Bauman, sociology off ers a systemati c study of the social environment
around us that is backed by scienti fi c data, in contrast to common sense, which is
based on assumpti ons and experiences from daily life (Bauman, 2013). Sociology aims
to understand the more signifi cant societal structures and forces at play in additi on to
concentrati ng on personal experiences. According to Bauman, common sense may be
useful in day-to-day situati ons but is insuffi cient for understanding complex social
issues.
b) One social phenomenon that highlights the usefulness of Bauman's distinction between sociology and
common sense is the media. While common sense may suggest that the media simply reflects reality, sociological
analysis shows that the media is a powerful force in shaping public opinion and constructing social reality
(Giddens & Sutton, 2017). For example, media representations of crime and deviance can influence public
perceptions of crime and shape policy decisions. Sociological analysis allows us to examine the larger social
structures and processes that shape media representations and understand their impact on society.
b) One social phenomenon that demonstrates Bauman's distinction between sociology and common
sense is the media. Contrary to what one may assume from common sense, sociological analysis
shows that the media is a powerful tool for shaping social reality and swaying public opinion
(Giddens & Sutton, 2017). Media depictions of crime and deviance, for instance, can have an impact
on how the public views crime and how laws are created. Sociological study helps us understand the
effects of media portrayals on society by looking at the more significant social structures and
processes that influence them.
Question Three
a) According to Sewell's 'Theory of Structure', structure and agency are interconnected and both play a role
in shaping criminal behavior. Structure refers to the social, economic, and political institutions and
systems that shape individual opportunities and constraints, while agency refers to an individual's ability
to act and make choices (Sewell, 1992). Sewell argues that individuals have agency within the structural
constraints they face, and that structure can both enable and constrain individual action. Therefore,
criminal behavior is shaped by both the structural factors that create opportunities for criminal activity
and the individual choices made within those opportunities.

a) Agency and structure are interwoven, according to Sewell's "Theory of Structure,"

and both have an impact on criminal behaviour. Structure refers to the social,
economic, and politi cal organisati ons and procedures that set individual opportuniti es
and boundaries, whereas agency refers to a person's power to act and make decisions
(Sewell, 1992). Humans have agency within the confi nes of the structural constraints
they are exposed to, and structure can both support and limit individual acti vity,
according to Sewell. As a result, criminal behaviour is infl uenced by both the structural
factors that create chances for illegal acti vity and the individual choices that people
make within those opportuniti es.
b) In 'In Search of Respect', Bourgois examines the experiences of Primo, a Puerto Rican drug dealer living in
East Harlem. Primo's experiences illustrate the complex interplay between structure and agency in shaping
criminal behavior. On the one hand, Primo's involvement in drug dealing can be seen as a response to the limited
opportunities and structural constraints he faced as a member of a marginalized community. On the other hand,
Primo also exercised agency in his decision to become involved in drug dealing and his strategic choices within
that world. For example, Primo chose to deal crack instead of heroin because it was more profitable, and he
strategically avoided violence to maintain his reputation and business. Therefore, Primo's experiences illustrate
the importance of understanding both structure and agency in shaping criminal behavior.
b) In "In Search of Respect," Bourgois examines the life of Primo, an East Harlem-
based heroin dealer from Puerto Rico. Primo's experiences demonstrate the complex
interacti ons between structure and agency that result in criminal behaviour. On the
one hand, Primo's involvement in the heroin trade might be seen as a response to the
insti tuti onal barriers and restricted opportuniti es he faced as a member of a
marginalised group. Primo, on the other hand, exercised agency in his choice to
engage in drug distributi on as well as his operati onal choices throughout. Primo, for
instance, chose to sell crack rather than heroin since it was more lucrati ve in order to
protect his reputati on and business. Primo purposefully avoided violence. Primo's
experiences show how important. The value of understanding how both structure and
agency impact criminal acti vity is illustrated through Primo's experiences.
References: Bauman, Z. (2013). On writing sociology. John Wiley & Sons. Giddens, A., & Sutton, P. W. (2017).
Essential concepts in sociology. John Wiley & Sons. Sewell, W. H. (1992). A theory of structure: Duality, agency,
and transformation. American Journal of Sociology, 98(1), 1-29.