Chapter 6: Deviance

1. Chapter 6: Deviance

2. Deviance: What Is It? • Deviance is a behavior, trait, or belief that departs from a norm and generates a negative reaction in a particular group. • Defining something as deviant requires us to examine the group norms and how the group reacts to the behavior.

3. Deviance: What Is It? (cont’d.) • What is deviant in one culture may not be deviant in another culture! 3

4. Theories of Deviance • Functionalism • Deviance serves a function in our society. • According to Émile Durkheim, deviance serves a positive social function by clarifying moral boundaries and promoting social cohesion.

5. Theories of Deviance (cont’d.) • Conflict theory • Deviance is a result of social conflict. • In order for the powerful to maintain their power, they marginalize and criminalize the people who threaten their power. Inequality is reproduced in the way deviance is defined.

6. Theories of Deviance (cont’d.) • Structural strain theory • Developed by Robert Merton • It states that there are goals in our society that people want to achieve, but they cannot always reach these goals. This creates stress (or strain) because people are aware of the goals but do not have the means to achieve them.

7. Merton’s typology of deviance (structural strain theory table) Theories of Deviance (cont’d.) 13

8. Theories of Deviance (cont’d.) Conformists accept the goals of the society and the means of achieving those goals. Merton’s typology: Conformists

9. Theories of Deviance (cont’d.) Innovators accept the goals of the society, but they look for new, or innovative, ways of achieving those goals. Merton’s typology: Innovators

10. Theories of Deviance (cont’d.) Ritualistsaren’t interested in the goals of the society but they do accept the means of achieving those goals. Merton’s typology: Ritualists

11. Theories of Deviance (cont’d.) Retreatistsdon’taccept the goals of the society or the means of achieving those goals. Merton’s typology: Retreatists

12. Theories of Deviance (cont’d.) Rebelsdon’t accept the goals of the society or the means of achieving those goals, so they create their own goals using new means. Merton’s typology: Rebels

13. Theories of Deviance (cont’d.) • Differential association • A symbolic interactionist perspective developed by Edwin Sutherland • States that we learn deviance from interacting with deviant peers

14. Theories of Deviance (cont’d.) • Labeling theory • A symbolic interactionist perspective developed by Howard Becker • States that deviance is caused by external judgments (labels) that change a person’s self-concept and the way others respond to him or her

15. Theories of Deviance (cont’d.) • Labeling theory • Becker suggests that “labeling” can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy—a prediction that causes itself to come true.

16. Deviant Identities • Stigma • Term coined by Ervin Goffman • Describes any physical or social attribute that devalues a person or group’s identity, and which may exclude those who are devalued from normal social interaction

17. Deviant Identities (cont’d.) • Passing • Sometimes stigmatized individuals will try to pass as if they are part of the mainstream.

18. Deviance and Crime • Crime • If a behavior is considered deviant, it means that it violates the values and norms of a group, not that it is inherently wrong. • However, research on deviance also includes crime.

19. Deviance and Crime (cont’d.) Crime is the violation of a norm that has been codified into law.

20. Deviance and Crime (cont’d.) • In the United States, serious crimes are punished by imprisonment. • In other cultures, types of punishments can include: • Shunning • Banishment • Corporal punishment

21. Deviance and Crime (cont’d.) Crime and punishments can change over time!

22. Control and Punishment Deterrence: prevent crime by threatening harsh penalties Retribution: retaliate or take revenge for a crime that’s been committed

23. Control and Punishment (cont’d.) Incapacitation: remove criminals from society by imprisoning them Rehabilitation: reform criminals so that they may reenter society

24. Can Deviance Be Positive? Positive deviance is defined as an act that is outside of the norm, but may actually be heroic rather than negative.

25. Chapter 6: Participation Questions • Do you have any tattoos? • yes • no

26. Chapter 6: Participation Questions • Did your parents ever forbid you from seeing a particular friend because they thought he or she was a “bad influence” on you? • yes • no

27. Chapter 6: Participation Questions • Have you ever been bullied (teased, harassed, threatened, or humiliated) in a face-to-face situation? • yes • no

28. Chapter 6: Participation Questions • Have you ever been cyberbullied (teased, harassed, threatened or humiliated online, via text message or through email)? • yes • no

29. Chapter 6: Participation Questions • Is it OK to break a law or rule if you feel like you’re doing the right thing? (For instance, you speed through a red light because you are rushing a sick friend to the hospital.) • yes • no

30. This concludes the Lecture PowerPoint presentation for Chapter 6