Desiree Stevens

Ms. Almy
Sociology MWF: 11:30
11 March 2015
The Hunger Games
The theoretical perspective that is best represented in this move is conflict theory. I believe that it
is well represented in this specific movie, because they are fighting to get to the top. They are all
competing for the scarce desirables in life, and they all want what they are not being provided
with. The individuals fight till death, and it seems that all of them turn against one another at one
point in time. At times they work together as districts, but the majority of the time they are
concerned about keeping themselves alive only. The Hunger Games is the true definition of the
survival of the fittest. If one cannot compete, they will not survive.
-Macrosociology (1) is represented in this movie by all of the different districts surrounding the
Capitol. Macrosociology focuses on groups without regard to interaction of the people within.
The twelve districts all have different amounts of scarce desirables; District one is the wealthiest,
and District twelve is the most poor.
-Microsociology (1) is also represented within each District themselves; they are warped
together as one whole, but there are different individuals within each district. Microsociology is
the study of people as they interact in daily life. There are different jobs performed within each
district by each individual, not everyone performs the same tasks. They are somewhat of the
same working class, but there are different jobs within.
-Mechanical Solidarity (1) is very prevalent in this movie, because all of the districts are
working towards the same end goal, and they are forced to conform to the Capitol or they will

not survive. Mechanical solidarity is social unity that comes from a consensus of values and
beliefs, strong socials pressures for conformity, and dependence on tradition and family. The boy
and girl chosen from each district is determined to come out on top, because only one will make
it out alive.
- The formal sanctions (3) in this movie were what they gamers were provided with by the
Capitol in order to keep them actively participating in the game. Formal sanctions are sanctions
that may only be given by officially designated persons. Only the Capitol authority could provide
materials to the gamers, they were not capable of doing it themselves.
- Informal sanctions (3) are presented through each of the gamers trying to kill one another to
get to the top of the chain and beat the game. Informal sanctions are sanctions that can be applied
by most members of a group. They are all capable of hurting one another to get what they
want/need, there is no sense of authority on who can and cant get killed within the districts
-The ideal culture (3) of this movie would have to be the wealthy and prosperous District one.
Ideal culture is cultural guidelines publicly embraced by members of a society. All the Districts
want the amount of scarce desirables that District one has. They are usually guaranteed to win
the game, because they are the best of the best.
-Roletaking (4) is well represented by the lovers Katniss and Peeta. Roletaking is the process
that allows us to take the viewpoint of another individual and then respond to ourselves from that
imagined viewpoint. They represent love in a horrid situation, which encourages the outsiders to
look at the games as something positive rather than negative.
-The different Districts provide a good example of a reference group (4). A reference group is
used to evaluate oneself and from which to acquire attitudes, values, beliefs, and norms. Each

district has a different way of living, thinking, and acting. Theres variation anywhere from
extremely prosperous to extremely poor.
- Social classes (4) are represented by the jobs, wealth, and scarce desirables within each of the
districts. Social class refers to a segment of a population whose members have a relatively
similar share of attitudes, values, norms, and identifiable lifestyle. The individuals are segregated
into groups similar to upper, middle, and lower classes of society.
- The sacrifices of the game are a good example of an ascribed status (5). An ascribed status is
neither earned nor chosen; it is assigned to us. If an individual is involuntarily picked as a
participant in the game, they have no choice but to do it unless someone volunteers to take their
place.
-Katniss plays the role (5) of a sacrifice to the hunger games, rather than her sister. She is
ordered to represent her district in the game. Roles are culturally defined rights and obligations
attached to a status; they indicate the behavior expected of an individual. She holds the status of
a sacrifice; therefore, her role is to play in the game and win it.
-Katniss was faced with role conflict (5) by being the lover of Peeta and a participant in the
game itself. Role conflict is the performance of a role in a status clashes with another. This
presents an issue for Katniss because at the end of the game both she and Peeta had to choose
who would be the last one standing, and they couldnt because they truly were in love with one
another.
- There is a primary relationship (6) built between Peeta and Katniss, because they fall in love
with each other over time. A primary relationship is where two individual are actually close to
one another, know each other well, and seek one anothers company because they enjoy being
together, and have a we feeling. Katniss and Peeta care for one another and make individual

sacrifices to keep each other safe during the game. They make one another happy, and they are
just simply in love.
-Secondary groups (6) are represented by the boy and girl paired together within each district or
the districts as a wholetheyre there to get the job done and goal achieved. A secondary group
is a group that is impersonal and task oriented and involves only a segment of the lives and
personalities of the members. The members of the districts didnt choose to be with who they got
grouped with, they just had to work together to survive.
-Groupthink (6) is very prevalent under circumstances in this movie, such as when it is time to
compete they all base their strategies off one anothers actions. Groupthink is a situation in
which pressures toward uniformity discourage members of a group from expressing their
reservations about group decisions. When a decision was made by the leader of the district, not
many went against conformity because they didnt want to be the one to die for speaking their
opinion.
-Labeling theory (7) is present in this movie due to the different behaviors within the districts,
because I feel that District one gets away with more stuff than District twelve does with the
Capitol. The labeling theory attempts to fill the gap that deviance exists when some members of
a group or society labels others as deviant. I feel that the Capitol is far harsher on the lower class
District than on the upper class District, because they are not favorable of the society.
-The deviants (7) of The Hunger Games would be District thirteen that rebels against the
Capitol. A deviant is a person who violates 1 or more of societys most highly valued norms.
That district went against the highest authority, which resulted in them being banished and
treated horrifically.

-District one represents positive deviance (7), because of how high in rank they are in the
Capitols eyes. Positive deviance encompasses behavior that over conforms to social
expectations. They are always expected to win the games because of how high in society they
rank around the Capitol.
- Bourgeoisie (8) would be the Capitol. Bourgeoisie are the members of society who own the
means of producing wealth. The Capitol is the wealthiest of the wealthy, and they call all of the
shots for the working Districts.
- Proletariats (8) would be the two chosen to fight to win in the hunger games. They are the
members of society who labor for the bourgeoisie and consistent wages. They are ruled by the
bourgeoisie and controlled by them. They are assigned a task, and they are expected to complete
it.
- A perfect example absolute poverty (8) would be district twelve. Absolute poverty is the
absence of enough money to secure lifes necessities. District twelve is considered the coal
miners, which have the very minimum of scarce desirables. They are an extremely poor district.