Racial prejudice and support by whites for police use of force : A research note

The use of force by police in a democratic society continues to be controversial. Despite the theoretical and practical importance of police use of force, little is known about the sources of public attitudes toward it. Recent research suggests that whites\u27 approval of police use of force may derive partly from racial prejudice against African Americans. In this paper we test this possibility with data from the 1990 General Social Survey and find that negative stereotypes of African Americans contribute to whites\u27 support for police use of excessive force. We also address the theoretical and pragmatic significance of our findings

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences_Publication of Texbook Featuring Material Related to the Pandemic

Email thread featuring messages from Steven Barkan, Professor and chairperson, Sociology Department, University of Maine to Timothy M. Cole Associate Dean for Academics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Associate Professor of Political Science University of Maine and Jonathon Jue-Wong, Administrative Coordinator, The Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost, regarding the second edition of Professor Barkan\u27s textbook, Social Problems: Continuity and Change, that features material related to the COVID-19 pandemic

Significant benefits of AIP testing and clinical screening in familial isolated and young-onset pituitary tumors

Context Germline mutations in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) gene are responsible for a subset of familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) cases and sporadic pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs). Objective To compare prospectively diagnosed AIP mutation-positive (AIPmut) PitNET patients with clinically presenting patients and to compare the clinical characteristics of AIPmut and AIPneg PitNET patients. Design 12-year prospective, observational study. Participants & Setting We studied probands and family members of FIPA kindreds and sporadic patients with disease onset ≤18 years or macroadenomas with onset ≤30 years (n = 1477). This was a collaborative study conducted at referral centers for pituitary diseases. Interventions & Outcome AIP testing and clinical screening for pituitary disease. Comparison of characteristics of prospectively diagnosed (n = 22) vs clinically presenting AIPmut PitNET patients (n = 145), and AIPmut (n = 167) vs AIPneg PitNET patients (n = 1310). Results Prospectively diagnosed AIPmut PitNET patients had smaller lesions with less suprasellar extension or cavernous sinus invasion and required fewer treatments with fewer operations and no radiotherapy compared with clinically presenting cases; there were fewer cases with active disease and hypopituitarism at last follow-up. When comparing AIPmut and AIPneg cases, AIPmut patients were more often males, younger, more often had GH excess, pituitary apoplexy, suprasellar extension, and more patients required multimodal therapy, including radiotherapy. AIPmut patients (n = 136) with GH excess were taller than AIPneg counterparts (n = 650). Conclusions Prospectively diagnosed AIPmut patients show better outcomes than clinically presenting cases, demonstrating the benefits of genetic and clinical screening. AIP-related pituitary disease has a wide spectrum ranging from aggressively growing lesions to stable or indolent disease course

Criminology: A Sociological Understanding

https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/fac_monographs/1069/thumbnail.jp

Discovering Sociology: Using MicroCase ExplorIt

This best selling software-based workbook lets students explore dozens of sociological topics and issues, using data from the United States and around the world. With the workbook and accompanying ExplorIt software and data sets, students won\u27t just read about what other sociologists have done, they will discover sociology for themselves.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/fac_monographs/1162/thumbnail.jp

Criminology: A Sociological Understanding

This book provides a sociological perspective on crime and criminal justice by treating social structure and social inequality as central themes in the study of crime—and major factors in society\u27s treatment of criminals. It gives explicit attention to key sociological concepts such as poverty, gender, race, and ethnicity, and demonstrates their influence on crime. Recent coverage of major topics and current controversial issues includes computer crimes; harm reduction in society\u27s effort to deal with illegal drug use; workplace violence; police scandals; violence against civilians; gun control; capital punishment; drug legalization; husband battering; civil disobedience; workplace violence; and racial prejudice and policing. For individuals trying to make informed judgements about why crime occurs and how society can best address this problem.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/fac_monographs/1161/thumbnail.jp

Social Problems: Continuity and Change

Social Problems: Continuity and Change, Version 2.0 is suitable for undergraduate courses called Social Problems or similar titles such as Issues in American Society or Problems in Society taught in sociology departments in either two- or four-year colleges and universities. Social Problems: Continuity and Change, Version 2.0 explores the nature and extent of social problems in America while examining realistic options for positively addressing these challenges. Version 2.0 reflects the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it brings into greater focus many long-term and persistent challenges present in American society.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/fac_monographs/1303/thumbnail.jp

Sociology, Understanding and Changing the Social World

Many sociology instructors and students are first drawn to sociology because they want to learn a body of knowledge that could help them make a difference in the world at large. Steve Barkan’s Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World is designed for this audience. It presents a sociological understanding of society but also a sociological perspective on how to change society, while maintaining the structure and contents of the best mainstream texts. Several pedagogical features of the book convey the sociological perspective and change theme: Almost every chapter begins with a Social Issues in the News story from recent media coverage that recounts an event related to the chapter’s topic and proceeds with thought-provoking discussion about the social issue related to the event. Additional discussion elsewhere in the chapter helps students understand the basis for this issue and related issues. This dual treatment of the news story will help students appreciate the relevance of sociology for newsworthy events and issues.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/fac_monographs/1001/thumbnail.jp