Chapter 7 Section 2
Deviance
Deviance
• Sanctions cannot bring about total social control
• Behavior that violates significant social norms is
called deviance
• Because society has so many norms, occasional
violations are unavoidable
• What behavior is seen as deviance varies from
culture to culture
• Often, a person is labeled a deviant for repeated,
continuous violations of social norms
Deviance
• Stigma is a mark of social disgrace that sets the
deviant apart from the rest of society
• Public humiliation has been used a form of social
control and stigma since ancient times
• Does public humiliation work? Is it still around
today?
Social Functions of Deviance**
• A society without deviance is an impossibility
• Deviance provides some positive functions within
a society
• Deviance helps to:
• clarify norms,
• unify the group,
• diffuse tension,
• promote social change,
• provide jobs (police officers, corrections, etc.)
Explaining Deviance
• Functionalist Perspective
• Deviance is a natural part of society
• Strain Theory by Robert K. Merton views
deviance as a natural outgrowth of norms,
values, and structure of society. Society places a
high value on certain goals or accomplishments.
Not everyone has access to achieving these
goals. Under the strain of incompatible goals
and means, individuals fall victim to anomie- the
situation that arises when the norms of society
are unclear or no longer applicable.
Explaining Deviance
• Functionalist Perspective
• Merton suggests that people facing anomie resort to 5
modes of adaptation** as means of achieving those goals
• Not all of these modes of adaptation are equally deviant
• Conformists are not deviant at all
• Ritualists are not seen as a threat to the well-being of society
• Retreatists are seen as “unproductive” and often rely on support
from others (i.e. a “drain” on society)
• Innovators and Rebels are often perceived as a “threat” to society
• Conformity: culturally accepted goals and means of
achievement, levels of effort involve “legitimate means”
• Innovation: accept the goals but not the means of achieving
them. They innovate or create new ways to achieve the goal
(violating social norms) [ex. Burglars, drug dealers]
• Ritualism: They abandon goals while maintaining expected
rules of behavior. The ritual of upholding the norms becomes
an end to itself [ex. A bureaucrat passes up a promotion rather
than face failure]
• Retreatism: Reject both social goals and means of
achievement. Retreatists make no effort to appear to share
society’s norms and goals. Instead they simply drop out of
society [ex. Beggars, drug addicts]
• Rebellion: Rebels want to substitute a new set of goals and the
acceptable means to achieve them. To achieve alternate goals,
they may use violent or nonviolent methods [ex. Leaders of a
revolutionary movement]
Explaining Deviance
• Conflict Perspective
• Conflict theorists believe that competition and
social inequality lead to deviance
• People with power commit deviant acts to
maintain their position.
• People without power commit deviant acts to
achieve economic rewards or improve their low
self-esteem and end the powerless feeling of their
situation
Explaining Deviance
• Interactionist Perspective
• Control Theory: Deviance is a natural occurrence. Those
with strong ties to society are more likely to conform.
People with weak ties to society are more like to be
deviant.
• Ties to the community occur in 4 ways:
•
•
•
•
Attachments to others
Strong belief in society’s moral codes
Show commitment to traditional values and goals
Fully involved in non-deviant activities, leaving no time for
deviant behavior
Explaining Deviance
• Cultural Transmission: deviance is learned and
passed on in much the same way as non-deviant
behavior, through interaction with others. A person
is socialized into deviant behavior instead of
conforming to social norms
• Differential association: refers to the frequency and
closeness of associations a person has with deviant
and non-deviant individuals (primary groups)
Explaining Deviance
• Labeling Theory: focuses on how people come to
be identified as deviant. All people commit deviant
acts, not everyone is labeled a deviant
• Two types of Deviance:
• Primary Deviance is the occasional violation of a norm.
People who commit primary deviance do not see
themselves as deviants neither does society.
• Secondary Deviance is deviance as a lifestyle and results
in the individual being labeled as deviant and believing the
label.
• The label is often a self-fulfilling prophecy. Treating people
as deviants may encourage them to commit deviant acts.
Homework
• Pg. 167 #1-6