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

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 Drug dealer

Functionalist Perspective

Deviance is a natural part of society

Emile Durkheim classified several functions of deviance

How is deviance functional to

society?

Causes of Deviant BehaviorViewed through the different sociological perspectives

Functions: Clarifies moral

boundaries Conforming behavior vs.

Deviant behavior

Promotes social unity Punishment of deviants

fosters “we” feeling

Promotes social change Violations that gain

enough support become new acceptable behaviors

Deviant Behavior – Functionalist Perspective

Conformists (most common) Acceptance of goals and means of

reaching goals – even if unable to accomplish

Use socially acceptable means of reaching goals

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 Teacher who is “burned out”

Retreatists Reject goal and means of

achieving goal Turn to drugs or alcohol

Rebels Similar to retreatist Attempt to substitute new set of

goals Revolutionaries – extreme cases

• Strain theory (Robert Merton)• Difficulty identifying with norms of society• One’s goals and his/her means to accomplish such goals do

not coincide MODES OF ADAPTATION

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

Deviant Behavior – Interactionist Perspective

Deviance is influenced by interactions among individuals

Involves several theories: Control theory Transmission theory Labeling theory

Control theory: Deviance is a natural

occurrence

Focus is on why people conform Dependent on social

ties Those with strong

community attachments are less likely to commit deviant acts

Deviant Behavior – Interactionist Perspective

Control Theory Impacted by learned

behaviors and conformity at a young age What causes children

to conform?

Two control systems work against our motivations to deviate

Inner controls: Morals Conscience Religious principles Impacted by societal

bonds

Outer controls: Family Friends Police

Deviant Behavior – Interactionist Perspective

Transmission Theory Deviance is a learned behavior

Learned through association with deviant individualsDifferential association

Deals with frequency and closeness of association

Example: Gang membership

All individuals conform Difference lies in what they are conforming to

Deviant Behavior – Interactionist Perspective

Labeling Theory Focuses on how

people come to be identified as deviantDeviance is relative

Depends on how society views actions/behaviors

Social labels “drunk” “pot-head” “whore”

All people commit deviant acts during their lives

Two types:Primary deviance

Goes mostly undetected

Temporary, trivial

Secondary devianceMultiple occurrencesIndividual is labeled a

deviant

Rejecting LabelsHow People Neutralize Deviance

Most people resist labels that others try to pin to them. Example: People who

vandalize property but consider themselves conforming members of society

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”

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

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 Re-socialize offender to create conforming citizen

Deterrence Create fear so that others won’t break the law

Incapacitation Remove offenders from circulation