Anger Management: Breaking A Social Norm

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The 2003 comedy Anger Management relates to the field of sociology in many ways. Sociology is the science or study of the origin, development, organization, and functioning of human society (Sociology). Sociology is a very diverse topic that can differ from religion and gender to crime and race. This field of study connects all of the small topics of sociology to study how human society works and changes. Anger Management is a movie with many examples of sociology, with the major one being culture with aspects of norms, laws, social control, and many others. “Let me explain something to you, Dave. There are two kinds of angry people in this world: explosive and implosive. Explosive is the kind of individual you see screaming at the cashier …show more content…
For instance, Dave Busnik was breaking a social norm with his anger issues. A norm is “a rule or guideline regarding what kinds of behavior are acceptable and appropriate within a culture” (Ferris, Stein). It is a norm to suppress and not expose your anger in public. His yelling also relates to a folkway, “a loosely enforced law involving common customs, practices, or procedures that ensure smooth social interaction and acceptance” (Ferris, Stein). Being indignant in public is rude and upsetting to many people who just want to go through their day. In fact, in the film, when they are on the airplane and Dave is ill-tempered, the people are reacting with annoyed and shocked …show more content…
The structural functionalism perspective believes that “values and norms are widely shared and agreed upon; they contribute to social stability by reinforcing common bonds and constraining individual behavior,” (Ferris, Stein). In Anger Management, Dave Busnik is punished for his anger problem because he was breaking a norm and law. The punishment of jail or therapy could be considered a constraint on his behavior. Busnik broke a norm that many agree upon, and when it is broken, it can alter the social