DevianceDeviance

What we want to knowWhat we want to know

How is deviance defined and who defines How is deviance defined and who defines itit• Is it the person or the action?Is it the person or the action?

How is deviance distributed in society How is deviance distributed in society and how do we know?and how do we know?

What causes deviance?What causes deviance? How is deviance controlled?How is deviance controlled?

The Nature of DevianceThe Nature of Deviance

Most people internalize societal normsMost people internalize societal norms Individuals do not internalize Individuals do not internalize everyevery norm norm Remember from chapter 3…Remember from chapter 3…Sanctions- rewards and punishments use to Sanctions- rewards and punishments use to

enforce conformity…enforce conformity…Social control- techniques and strategies for Social control- techniques and strategies for

preventing deviant human behavior in any preventing deviant human behavior in any societysociety

4

Defining DevianceDefining Deviance

Deviance is the violation of norms, Deviance is the violation of norms, especially widely held normsespecially widely held norms

Crime is an action declared illegal by some Crime is an action declared illegal by some government or agencygovernment or agency

Is all deviance criminal ?Is all deviance criminal ?• Pushing children into fashion shows, Pushing children into fashion shows,

sports ?sports ?• Subcultures (gangs) and devianceSubcultures (gangs) and deviance

DevianceDeviance

What is deviance?What is deviance? What are the nature and social What are the nature and social

function of deviance?function of deviance? How do the theories that have been How do the theories that have been

proposed to explain deviance proposed to explain deviance compare?compare?

Deviant?Deviant?

--tattoos/brandingtattoos/branding-speeding-speeding-gambling-gambling-white collar crime-white collar crime-talking to yourself in public-talking to yourself in public-smoking in public places-smoking in public places-speeding-speeding-bullying-bullying-graffiti-graffiti-”hackers”-”hackers”

Defining DevianceDefining Deviance

Non Criminal DevianceNon Criminal Deviance• Music preferencesMusic preferences• Body piercingBody piercing• Marrying someone Marrying someone

Your parents disapprove ofYour parents disapprove of Your parents want you toYour parents want you to

• Being a Geek or a NerdBeing a Geek or a Nerd

Defining DefianceDefining Defiance

Not all norm violations are deviant:Not all norm violations are deviant:

a. within the same society (killing)a. within the same society (killing)b. varies from society to society (divorce)b. varies from society to society (divorce)c. time period (business on Sundays)c. time period (business on Sundays)

How does one become labeled How does one become labeled deviant?deviant?

1.1. Repeating an offenseRepeating an offense

(unless serious single act)(unless serious single act)

2.2. Behavior must be known to others- Behavior must be known to others- detecteddetected

3.3. Stigmatized by society…Stigmatized by society…

StigmaStigma…mark of disgrace used as a …mark of disgrace used as a form of social controlform of social control

I.E. uniforms, signs, marks, etcI.E. uniforms, signs, marks, etc

Deviant labelDeviant label

Negative Social ReactionNegative Social Reaction

Goffman’sGoffman’s “spoiled social identity”-no “spoiled social identity”-no longer normal or wholelonger normal or whole

Ex. Obesity, victims of AIDs , mentally Ex. Obesity, victims of AIDs , mentally ill, homelessill, homeless

Emile DurkheimEmile Durkheim

Social Functions of DevianceSocial Functions of Deviance::

-clarify norms-clarify norms

-unify the group-unify the group

-diffuse tension-diffuse tension

-promote social change-promote social change

-(provides law enforcement jobs)-(provides law enforcement jobs)

Clarifying Norms

Deviance defines boundaries of acceptable behavior

Punishment of norm violators reminds others that certain behaviors will not be tolerated

Acts as preventative measure or deterrent

Ex. Harsh prison sentences

Unifying Norms

Conforming members vs nonconforming members

Reinforces the belief in shared values Important to maintain the group

Diffusing Tension

Minor acts of deviance serve as a safety valve

Individuals can relieve tension without disrupting the basic fabric of society

Participating in demonstrations,

Promoting Social Change

Large numbers of people violating a particular norm, indicative of something society needs to change

Providing Jobs

Judges, lawyers, police officers, prison personnel, parole officers= crime

Crime reporters and criminologists.. Can you think of any other jobs

created???

How do we Explain Deviance?How do we Explain Deviance?

Functionalist PerspectiveFunctionalist Perspective: natural : natural part of societypart of society

Conflict PerspectiveConflict Perspective: power and : power and inequalityinequality

Interactionist PerspectiveInteractionist Perspective: interaction : interaction among individuals influence devianceamong individuals influence deviance

The Functionalist PerspectiveThe Functionalist Perspective

Parts of a social system work Parts of a social system work together to maintain a balance stable together to maintain a balance stable social system-all parts of a society social system-all parts of a society serve a functional purposeserve a functional purpose

People agree on what is best for People agree on what is best for society and work together society and work together

Examples: family, education, schoolExamples: family, education, school

Functionalist PerspectiveFunctionalist Perspective

• FunctionsFunctions are actions that have are actions that have positive consequencespositive consequences

• DysfunctionsDysfunctions are actions that have are actions that have negative consequences i.e. crimenegative consequences i.e. crime

• ManifestManifest functions are intended functions are intended• LatentLatent functions are unintended functions are unintended

What are the latent and manifest What are the latent and manifest functions of internet, fast-food, super functions of internet, fast-food, super stores i.e. Wal-Martstores i.e. Wal-Mart

Problems with Functionalist Problems with Functionalist ApproachApproach

• The influence has declined in The influence has declined in recent decades.recent decades.

• It ignores inequalities of social It ignores inequalities of social class, race, and genderclass, race, and gender

FunctionalistFunctionalist

Merton’s “strain theory”Merton’s “strain theory” Natural outgrowth of values, norms, Natural outgrowth of values, norms,

structure of society structure of society Anomie- when norms of society are Anomie- when norms of society are

unclear or no longer applicableunclear or no longer applicable The 5 Modes of adaptionThe 5 Modes of adaption

Modes of AdaptionModes of Adaption

Conformity-accept cultural goals/accept Conformity-accept cultural goals/accept culture norms (legitimate)culture norms (legitimate)

Innovation-accept cultural goals/reject Innovation-accept cultural goals/reject cultural norms (drug dealers)cultural norms (drug dealers)

Ritualism-reject cultural goals/accept Ritualism-reject cultural goals/accept cultural norms cultural norms

Retreatism-reject cultural goals/reject Retreatism-reject cultural goals/reject culture norms (drug addicts, beggars)culture norms (drug addicts, beggars)

Rebellion-reject/replace cultural goals Rebellion-reject/replace cultural goals (revolutionaries)(revolutionaries)

Conflict TheoryConflict Theory

The The social-conflict paradigmsocial-conflict paradigm is a is a framework for building theory that framework for building theory that sees society as an arena of inequality sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change. that generates conflict and change.

Most sociologists who favor Most sociologists who favor thethe conflict paradigm attempt not only to conflict paradigm attempt not only to understand society but also to understand society but also to reduce social inequalityreduce social inequality

Weakness of ConflictWeakness of Conflict

It ignores social unity based on It ignores social unity based on mutual interdependence and shared mutual interdependence and shared values.values.

Conflict PerspectiveConflict Perspective

Quinney states that …”the ruling Quinney states that …”the ruling classes label any behavior that classes label any behavior that threatens their power base as threatens their power base as deviant.”deviant.”

Competition and social inequality Competition and social inequality lead to deviancelead to deviance

People w/out power commit deviant People w/out power commit deviant acts to obtain acts to obtain economic rewardseconomic rewards, , low low self esteem, powerlessnessself esteem, powerlessness

Symbolic Interactionism-Symbolic Interactionism-WeaknessesWeaknesses

Ignores the influence of Ignores the influence of larger social structures. larger social structures.

By emphasizing what is By emphasizing what is unique, it risks unique, it risks overlooking the effects overlooking the effects of culture, class, of culture, class, gender, and racegender, and race..

InteractionistInteractionist

Control Theory:Control Theory: Deviance is a natural occurrenceDeviance is a natural occurrence Social ties determine comformitySocial ties determine comformity individualsindividuals

InteractionistInteractionist

Cultural TransmissionCultural Transmission Deviance is learned through Deviance is learned through

interaction with others engaging in interaction with others engaging in deviant actsdeviant acts

All individuals conformAll individuals conform

InteractionistInteractionist

Labeling TheoryLabeling Theory All people commit deviant actsAll people commit deviant acts Not all are labeled as deviantsNot all are labeled as deviants Label becomes self fulfilling prophecyLabel becomes self fulfilling prophecy