Chapter 8

1. Chapter 8 Deviance and Social Control

2. The Nature of Deviance What do you think Deviance is, give an example. Is deviance always bad?

3. The Nature of Deviance Deviance- Behavior that violates significant social norms Which do you think is a deviant behavior? Continuously talking in public Drag racing on a public highway A man wearing women’s clothing Attacking another person with a weapon

4. The Nature of Deviance Every society have countless norms that govern behavior Deviant behaviors are decided by the society A behavior is considered deviant based on the situation on is in Someone is typically considered a deviant person after committing several deviant behaviors that are observed by others Also they must be stigmatized by society A stigma- is a mark of social disgrace what sets the deviant apart from the rest of society

5. The Social Functions of Deviance • Clarifying Norms • Deviant acts help clarify the boundaries of a societies norms • Unifying the Group • Helps draw the line between conforming members of society and outsiders • Diffusing Tension • Committing small acts of deviance help people who are unhappy with their lives or society release tension • Promoting Social Change • Deviance can help identify problem areas in society. When large numbers of society commit deviant acts it is often a sign that society needs to be changed. • Providing Jobs • Deviance provides a wide range of jobs in society to control and understand deviants

6. Explaining Deviance • Functionalist Perspective • Strain Theory- views deviance as the natural outgrowth of the values, norms, and structure of society • Under the strain of incompatible goals and means these individuals fall victim to anomie- is the situation that arises when the norms of society are unclear or no longer applicable • This leaves the individual confused of their role in society

7. Explaining Deviance Functionalist Perspective The sociologist Metro suggests that individuals respond to the culturally approved goals and the legitimate means on achievement in five ways Conformity- Cultural Goals (Accept) Cultural Norms (accept) Innovation- Cultural Goals ( Accept) Cultural Norms (Reject) Ritualism- Cultural Goals (Reject) Cultural Norms (Accept) Retreatism- Cultural Goals (Reject) Cultural Norms (Reject) Rebellion- Cultural Goals ( Reject and Replace) Cultural Norms (Reject and Replace)

8. Explaining Deviance • Conflict Perspective • Conflict theorist believe that competition and social inequality lead to deviance • The see social life as a struggle between those that have power and those who do not have power • Those without power commit deviant acts to obtain economic rewards or because they have low self-esteem and feeling of powerlessness • According to Quinney the ruling class label any behavior that threatens their power base as deviant to remain control • He believes that lower class does not necessarily commit more crime than the ruling class. Rather, they commit types of crimes that are more likely to be detected and punished.

9. Explaining Deviance • Interactionist Perspective • Have offered three explanations of deviances- control theory, cultural transmission, and labeling theory

10. Control Theory • Control Theory • Explains deviance as a natural occurrence • Control theorist are interested in why people conform rather than commit deviant acts • Social ties insure conformity • Those with weak ties are more likely to be deviants • Those of high self control have an easier time conforming

11. Cultural Transmission • Cultural Transmission • This theory explains deviance as a learned behavior • This is learned through interaction of those who are committing deviant acts • Thus the norms and values that are being learned are deviant • Differential association- refers to the frequency and closeness of association a person has with deviant and non-deviant individuals • All people are conformist is just depends on who you are around to conform too • Techniques of neutralization- people suspend their moral beliefs to commit deviant acts. These techniques are learned through social interaction • The way that people rational their deviant acts our in one of five ways • Denying responsibility, denying injury, denying the victim, condemning the authorities, and appealing to a higher loyalty.

12. Labeling theory • Labeling Theory • Focuses on how individuals come to be identified as deviants • All people commit deviant acts during their lives, yet everyone is not labeled a deviant • Labeling theorist say this is has two reasons • Primary deviance- is a non-conformity that goes undetected by those in the authority. Such as speeding. These people do not consider themselves deviants and neither does society • Secondary deviance- results in the individual being labeled as a deviant and accepting the label • Degrading ceremony- the process of labeling someone a deviant in some kind of public way, such as a trial. • People then judge all his or her action in light of the deviant label and then because that persons status and a self-fulfillng prophecy