The Behavior of Pure Sociology: Past and Present

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

In 1976, Donald Black's The Behavior of Law introduced pure sociology, a framework that explains social behavior with its location, direction, and distance in social space. Over the next five decades, Black and his followers applied this approach to criminological topics such as homicide, genocide, terrorism, and weapon lethality. This panel explores recent developments in pure sociology, both theoretical and empirical. First, Dr. Roberta Senechal de la Roche applies pure sociology to create a static theory of vengeance by and against spirits, examining when the dead punish the living and vice versa. Second, Dr. Bradley Campbell uses Black’s concept of social time to investigate the etiology of extreme praise and heroic virtue. Third, Drs. Scott Phillips and Mark Cooney test Black’s theory of conflict to explain variation in the severity of lynchings, arguing that greater disruptions in social space lead to more brutal killings. Lastly, Dr. Phillips examines whether the dimensions of social status identified in Black’s paradigm should be treated as causal predictors or measurement indicators. In short, this panel highlights recent advances in pure sociology, building on Black’s foundational insights.

Sub Unit

• Area VII. Non-Criminal Justice Responses to Crime & Delinquency / 61. Community Responses

Individual Presentations

• The Behavior of the Dead: Vengeance - Roberta Senechal de la Roche, Washington and Lee University

• Heroic Virtue and Social Time - Bradley K. Campbell, California State University, Los Angeles

• Atrocity Lynchings: A Test of the Theory of Moral Time - Scott Phillips, University of Denver; Mark Cooney, University of Georgia

• Dimensions of Social Status: Causal Predictors or Measurement Indicators? - Scott Phillips, University of Denver

Chair

• Daniel Boches, Holy Family University