Explaining Deviance

1. Explaining Deviance • Three sociological perspectives explain deviance: • Functionalist Perspective: views deviance as a natural part of society • Conflict Perspective: explains deviance in terms of power and inequality Interactionist Perspective: looks at how interaction among individuals influences deviance

2. Functionalist Perspective • Strain Theory, developed by Robert Merton • Views deviance as the natural outgrowth of the values , norms, and structure of society • High value on economic success, but not everyone has the access to the legitimate means to achieve economic success; still expected to meet this goal and judged by society when they do not • Anomie: situation that arises when the norms of society are unclear or no longer applicable • Leaves individuals without sufficient guidelines for behavior, causing confusion

3. Functionalists Perspective • Conformity- does not cause deviant behavior; failure or success, efforts always involve legitimate means Four modes of adaptation that lead to deviance: • Innovation- accept cultural goals, but not the means • Ritualism- impossible to achieve cultural goals • Retreatist- reject goals and acceptable means of attaining them; make no effort to share the goals • Rebellion- substitute a new set of goals and means for the currently approved set

4. Conflict Perspective • Believe that competition and social inequality lead to deviance • Those who possess power-the ruling classes-and those who do not-the lower classes • People in power commit deviant acts to maintain power • People without power commit deviant acts for two reason: • Turn to deviance to obtain economic rewards • Because they have low self-esteem and feelings of powerlessness

5. Conflict Perspective • Richard Quinney: ruling classes label any behavior that threatens their power base as deviant • Lower classes have limited opportunities in life, they often forced to commit acts defined as deviant • Ruling classes: establish ideologies-belief systems- that explain deviance as a problem found primarily among the lower classes • Law enforcement efforts are most often directed toward the types of crimes committed by the lower classes- higher rates of arrest and conviction • Do not commit more crime than other people, most likely commit crimes that are likely to be detected and punished

6. Interactionist Perspective • Three major explanations of deviance- • Control Theory: deviance is a natural occurrence; why people conform rather than the causes of deviance; stronger the social bond, less deviance committed • Travis Hirschi- develop strong social bonds four ways: • Form attachments • Strong belief in the moral codes of society • Show commitment to traditional societal values and goals • Fully involved in nondeviant activities

7. Interactionist Perspective • Cultural Transmission Theory: • Deviance as a learned behavior- through interaction • Differential Association: the frequency and closeness of associations a person has with deviant and nondeviant individuals • Techniques of neutralization: suspend their moral beliefs to commit deviant acts • Labeling Theory: all people commit deviant acts in their lifetimes, not everyone is labeled a deviant • Primary Deviance: nonconformity that goes undetected by authority • Secondary Deviance: individual labeled as a deviant and accepting the label as true • Degradation ceremony: such as Trial, where the individual is denounced