SOC 308 Course Outline Fall 2021
Topics, Readings, & Assessments
8/25 Introduction
Review Syllabus and Course Outline
8/26-8/31 Defining and Measuring Violence
Required reading by Aug 31, 11:59pm
1. Alvarez and Bachman Ch 1: Defining and Measuring Violence
Review PPT and Listen to Audio Lecture by Aug 31, 11:59pm
9/1-9/14
(two weeks)
Explaining Violent Behavior
Required reading by Sept 07, 11:59pm
1. Alvarez and Bachman Ch 2: Why Do We Do It?
2. Burgess and Akers (1966): A differential association-reinforcement theory
3. Agnew (1992): Foundation for general strain theory of crime and delinquency
4. Laub and Sampson: Turning Points
5. Moffitt (1993): Adolescent-limited and life-course persistent anti-social behavior
Recommended Reading:
Kubrin and Wo (2016): Social disorganization theory’s greatest challenge
Bouffard and Piquero (2010): Defiance theory and life course explanations of persistent offending
Review PPT and Listen to Audio Lecture by Sept 07, 11:59pm
Quiz 1 (Ch 1 & 2) Due Sept 07, 11:59pm
Watch Videos by Sept 14, 11:59pm
Video: Jim Fallon, Brain of a Psychopath
Video: Philip Zimbardo Ted Talk
Video: Skinner’s Operant Conditioning
Video: Child of Rage
Discussion Board #1 (3%) Due Sep 14, 11:59pm
9/15-10/05
(three weeks)
Assault and Murder
Required reading by Sept 28, 11:59pm
1. Alvarez and Bachman Ch. 3: Assault and Murder: A Continuum of Violence
2. Alvarez and Bachman Ch. 4: Serial, Assault, and Spree Murder
3. Handout on Gun Legislation
4. Coates and Pearson-Merkowitzz (2017): Policy spillover and gun migration
5. Peterson (2016): Media constructions of murder
6. Fox and DeLateur (2014): Mass Shootings in America
7. Fox and Allen (2014): Examining the instrumental-expressive continuum in homicides
8. Lee and Choi (2014): Serial murder
Recommended Reading
Banks, Hadenfeldt, Janoch, Manning, Ramos, and Wolf (2017): Gun violence and substance abuse
Cukier and Eagen (2018): Gun Violence
Review PPT and Listen to Audio Lecture by Sept 28, 11:59pm
Watch Film and Videos by Oct 05, 11:59pm
Film: Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (you must download film to watch it)
Video: Last Week Tonight’s NRA Segment
Video: Chiraq 00:00-14:26