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Deviance. 8.1. Essential Questions. What are the nature and social functions of deviance? How do the theories that have been proposed to explain deviance compare?. Deviance Stigma Criminologists Strain Theory Anomie Control Theory Cultural Transmission Theory. Labeling Theory
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Deviance 8.1
Essential Questions • What are the nature and social functions of deviance? • How do the theories that have been proposed to explain deviance compare?
Deviance Stigma Criminologists Strain Theory Anomie Control Theory Cultural Transmission Theory Labeling Theory Primary Deviance Secondary Deviance Degradation Ceremony Key Terms
Deviance • Behavior that violates significant social norms. • Continuously talking to oneself in public • Drag racing on a street or highway • Using illegal drugs • A man wearing women’s clothing • Attacking another person with a weapon
Nature of Deviance • Every society has countless norms which govern behavior. • Because there are so many norms, violations are inevitable and unavoidable. • NOT all norm violations are considered deviant.
What is considered deviant can vary from society to society. • Divorce is legal in the US • Divorce is illegal in the Phillipines • Typically repeating an offense can label you as deviant. • Two components required to label you as deviant. • You must be committing a deviant act • You must be stigmatized by society.
Stigma • The mark of social disgrace that sets the deviant apart from the rest of society. • Stigmas have been used as a form of social control throughout history. • Example: Ancient Greeks would burn symbols into the bodies of criminals to warn others. • Example: Prison inmates wear uniformed clothing and are assigned a number. (Visual Stigma)
When sociologists talk about stigmas they are usually referring to the negative social reactions that result from being labeled deviant. • That person is no longer seen as being normal or whole by society.
The Social Functions of Deviance • Emile Durkheim observed that deviance has some uses in social life. • Deviance helps to clarify norms, unify the group, diffuse tension, and promote social change. • Deviance also helps to create jobs, such as law enforcement.
The Social Functions of Deviance:Clarifying Norms • Deviance serves to define the boundaries of acceptable behavior. • When rules are broken we are reminded of the norms that guide social life. • Punishment serves as a reminder that certain behaviors will not be tolerated by society.
The Social Functions of Deviance:Unifying the Group • Deviance also serves to draw the line between conforming members of society and “outsiders”, or the non-conforming members. • Reinforces the sense of community and the belief in shared values.
The Social Functions of Deviance:Diffusing Tension • When people are unhappy with their lives or social conditions, they may want to strike out against society. • Minor acts of deviance serve as a safety valve. • These acts relieve tension without disrupting the basic fabric of society.
The Social Functions of Deviance:Promoting Social Change • Deviance can help prompt social change by identifying problem areas. • When large numbers of people violate a particular norm it is often an indication that something in society needs to be changed.
The Social Functions of Deviance:Providing Jobs • Deviance provides jobs for many people. • Lawyers, Judges, Police Officers, Prison Personnel, Parole Officers, Criminologists, etc…
Functionalist Perspective • The major functionalist explanation, strain theory was developed by sociologist Robert K. Merton. • Strain Theory – views deviance as the natural outgrowth of the values, norms, and structure of society. • [Individuals may be prevented from finding a job b/c of social conditions or b/c of lack of education. They are expected, however, to meet the goal of finding a job-society judges them according to how well they do so]
Merton’s Structural Strain Theory • Four Deviant Responses [Mode of Adaptation] • Innovation • Ritualism • Retreatism • Rebellion
Anomie • Under the strain of incompatible goals and means, these individuals fall victim to anomie. • Anomie – the situation that arises when the norms of society are unclear and no longer applicable.
Conflict Perspective • Competition and social inequality lead to deviance. • There are those with power (Ruling Class) and those without (Lower Classes) • Ruling Class commits acts of deviance to maintain their power. • Lower Class commits acts of deviance to gain economic means or b/c of feelings of powerlessness.
Interactionist Perspective • Interactionists offer three major explanations of deviance: • Control Theory • Cultural Transmission Theory • Labeling Theory • Remember Interactionists are more interested in the individual and the thoughts and feelings of that individual.
Control Theory • Control Theorists are more interested in why the person conforms rather than the causes of deviance. • Looks at the social ties that are integrated into a community. • Strong Communities have less acts of deviance. • Weaker Communities have more acts of deviance.
Cultural Transmission Theory • This theory explains that deviance is a learned behavior through socialization. • The interaction of deviant individuals and others is more likely to cause deviant behavior. • The norms being taught are deviant.
Labeling Theory • Instead of focusing on why people perform deviant acts, labeling theory focuses on how individuals come to be identified as deviant. • Deviance is labeled in two ways • Primary Deviance • Nonconformity – goes undetected in society. Not Deviant. • Secondary Deviance • Results in the individual being labeled as Deviant…and accepting the label as true.
Degradation Ceremony • The process of labeling an individual as deviant. • Public Setting – The individual is denounced, found guilty, and given the new identity of deviant. • People begin to judge practically all of his or her actions in light of the deviant label. • Deviant becomes the persons master status.
