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DEVIANCE IN SOCIETY

DEVIANCE IN SOCIETY. Nature of Deviance. Deviance: any violation of the norms of society There are always individuals who break rules of their society or group What’s considered deviant? Vary based on the situation Robber shoots someone – Deviant Police officer shoots robber – Acceptable

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DEVIANCE IN SOCIETY

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  1. DEVIANCE IN SOCIETY

  2. Nature of Deviance • Deviance: any violation of the norms of society • There are always individuals who break rules of their society or group • What’s considered deviant? • Vary based on the situation • Robber shoots someone – Deviant • Police officer shoots robber – Acceptable • Also varies from society to society • Being considered a deviant: • Dedication to deviant act • Stigmatized by society • Things that define or discredit someone • Being labeled as a: • Sex offender • Prison inmates

  3. Causes of Deviant BehaviorViewed through the different sociological perspectives Functionalist Perspective • Deviance is a natural part of society • Emile Durkheim classified several functions of deviance How is deviance functional to society? • Functions: • Clarifies moral boundaries • Conforming behavior vs. Deviant behavior • Promotes social unity • Punishment of deviants fosters “we” feeling • Diffuses tension • Can act out without disrupting fabric of society • Promotes social change • Violations that gain enough support become new acceptable behaviors

  4. Deviant Behavior – Functionalist Perspective • Strain theory (Robert Merton) • Difficulty identifying with norms of society • One’s goals and his/her means to accomplish such goals do not coincide • Conformists (most common) • Acceptance of goals and means of reaching goals – even if unable to accomplish • Innovators • Seeking alternative means of reaching goal • Violating acceptable norms • Ex. – embezzlers, robbers, con artists, drug dealers • Ritualists • Abandoning goal while upholding norms • Going through the motions • Retreatists • Reject goal and means of achieving goal • Going against society • Rebels • Similar to retreatist • Attempt to substitute new set of goals MODES OF ADAPTATION

  5. Deviant Behavior - Conflict Perspective • Deviance is explained through power and inequality • Competition and social inequality lead to deviance • “Haves” vs. “Have Nots” • Capitalist class vs. Working class • Those in power • Commit deviant acts to stay in power • Consider acts of others that might challenge power as deviant • People without power • Turn to deviant behaviors • Often out of necessity

  6. Deviant Behavior – Interactionist Perspective • Deviance is influenced by interactions among individuals • Involves several theories: • Control theory • Transmission theory • Labeling theory • Control theory: • Deviance is natural occurrence • Focus is on why people conform • Dependent on social ties • Those with strong community attachments are less likely to commit deviant acts • Impacted by learned behaviors and conformity at a young age • What causes children to conform?

  7. Deviant Behavior – Interactionist Perspective • Transmission Theory • Deviance is a learned behavior • Learned through association with deviant individuals • Differential association • Deals with frequency and closeness of association • All individuals conform • Difference lies in what they are conforming to • Techniques of neutralization: • Suspension of moral beliefs to commit deviant act • Five techniques: • Denying responsibility • “It was an accident” • Denying injury • “Who did it hurt?” • Denying the victim • “He got what he deserved” • Condemning authorities • “The police are corrupt” • Appealing to higher loyalties • “I did it to protect my family”

  8. Deviant Behavior – Interactionist Perspective • Labeling Theory • Focuses on how people come to be identified as deviant • Deviance is relative • Depends on how society views actions/behaviors • All people commit deviant acts during their lives • Two types: • Primary deviance • Goes mostly undetected • Temporary, trivial • Secondary deviance • Multiple occurrences • Individual is labeled a deviant

  9. Social ControlConsists of the forces and processes that encourage conformity • 3 Factors: • Internalization – process of building conformity to norms and values from our groups into our self-concept • Informal social control – self-restraint exercised because of fear of what others might think • Formal social control – administrative sanctions such as fines and imprisonment • Recidivism – relapse into a previous mode of behavior • Being rearrested

  10. Rationalizing PunishmentFour Primary Reasons for Imprisonment • Retribution • To right a wrong by making offender suffer or pay back what was taken • Attempt to restore balance • Rehabilitation • Resocialize offender to create conforming citizen • Deterrence • Create fear so that others won’t break the law • Incapacitation • Remove offenders from circulation

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