The Real World
An Introduction to Sociology
Fourth Edition
Kerry Ferris and Jill Stein
Chapter 6:
Deviance
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.
2
Deviance: What Is It?
(cont’d.)
• What is deviant
in one culture
may not be
deviant in
another
culture!
3
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.
4
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.
5
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.
6
Theories of Deviance
(cont’d.)
• Merton’s
typology of
deviance
(structural
strain theory
table)
13
Theories of Deviance
(cont’d.)
Merton’s typology: Conformists
Conformists accept
the goals of the
society and the
means of achieving
those goals.
8
Theories of Deviance
(cont’d.)
Merton’s typology: Innovators
Innovators accept the
goals of the society,
but they look for new,
or innovative, ways of
achieving those
goals.
9
Theories of Deviance
(cont’d.)
Merton’s typology: Ritualists
Ritualists aren’t
interested in the goals
of the society but they
do accept the means
of achieving those
goals.
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Theories of Deviance
(cont’d.)
Merton’s typology: Retreatists
Retreatists don’t
accept the goals of
the society or the
means of achieving
those goals.
11
Theories of Deviance
(cont’d.)
Merton’s typology: Rebels
Rebels don’t accept the
goals of the society or
the means of achieving
those goals, so they
create their own goals
using new means.
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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
13
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
14
Theories of Deviance
(cont’d.)
• Labeling theory
• Becker suggests that
“labeling” can lead to a selffulfilling prophecy—a
prediction that causes itself to
come true.
15
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
16
Deviant Identities
(cont’d.)
• Passing
• Sometimes stigmatized
individuals will try to pass as
if they are part of the
mainstream.
17
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.
18
Deviance and Crime
(cont’d.)
• Crime is the
violation of a
norm that
has been
codified into
law.
19
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
20
Deviance and Crime
(cont’d.)
• Crime and punishments can
change over time!
21
Control and Punishment
• Deterrence: prevent crime by
threatening harsh penalties
• Retribution: retaliate or take
revenge for a crime that’s been
committed
22
Control and
Punishment (cont’d.)
• Incapacitation: remove
criminals from society by
imprisoning them
• Rehabilitation: reform criminals
so that they may reenter
society
23
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.
24
Chapter 6:
Participation Questions
Do you have any tattoos?
a. yes
b. no
25
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?
a. yes
b. no
26
Chapter 6:
Participation Questions
Have you ever been bullied
(teased, harassed, threatened, or
humiliated) in a face-to-face
situation?
a. yes
b. no
27
Chapter 6:
Participation Questions
Have you ever been cyberbullied
(teased, harassed, threatened or
humiliated online, via text
message or through email)?
a. yes
b. no
28
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.)
a. yes
b. no
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This concludes the Lecture
PowerPoint presentation for
Chapter 6
© 2014 W. W. Norton Co., Inc.
The Real World
AN INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
4th Edition
Kerry Ferris
and
Jill Stein
30