Explaining Deviance

DEVIANCE…What is it?

• Deviance is behavior that violates significant social norms.

• To be considered deviant by society:1. A person’s deviant behavior has to be known to

other people.2. Individual must be stigmatized• Stigma – mark of social disgrace that sets

deviant apart from rest of society

Emile Durkheim…

• Observed that deviance can be useful for society• Deviance has several functions:

1. Clarifying Norms2. Unify the group3. Diffuse Tension4. Promote social change5. Provide jobs

Functions of Deviance Pg. 177-79

Draw a scene for each function that demonstrates how committing a deviant act performs a certain function. Include a caption explaining the function.1. Clarifying Norms2. Unify the group3. Diffuse Tension4. Promote social change5. Provide jobs

1. Clarifying Norms – deviance serves to define boundaries of acceptable behavior.– When rules are broken, people are

reminded of norms that guide social life2. Unify the group – draws line between conforming

members of society and “outsiders”– “us against them” attitude reinforces

sense of community & belief in shared values

3. Diffuse Tension – when people are unhappy with their lives, they may want to strike out at society– Small deviant acts allow individuals to

relieve tension without harming society.

4. Promote social change – deviance can help prompt social change by identifying problem areas. – When a lot of people violate a certain

norm, it usually means that something in society needs to change

5. Provide jobs – provides legitimate jobs for wide range of people. – Judges, lawyers, police, prison guards,

parole officers…all are jobs related to one aspect of deviance (crime)

Justify your deviance!• Think of a deviant act that you could have

hypothetically committed. • Imagine you have just been caught by a

parent/guardian or teacher/administrator and you are told to “explain yourself.”

• Write out your justification for committing this deviant act. Incorporate at least 2 of Durkheim’s functions of deviance in your explanation.

Separate Sheet of Paper!

Work Independently!

Theoretical Perspectives on Deviance

Functionalism Conflict InteractionismEXPLAIN how this perspective views deviance

•Explanation of deviance •Explanation/view of deviance

•3 deviant acts LIST 3 deviant acts with the perspective’s justification of that act

•3 deviants acts

•Main theory or theories

•Main theory or theories IDENTIFY the main theory or theories

DEFINE Key Terms/Vocabulary

•Vocabulary •Vocabulary

FOLDABLE – to be turned in TODAY

Pgs. 180-185

Perspectives on deviance• Functionalism: deviance is a natural part of society. It’s

a result of society’s structure, values, and norms.• Conflict: Competition & social inequality lead to

deviance. – Ruling class vs. lower classes– Both groups commit deviant acts– http://prezi.com/ubhhrado3yeg/identity-ideas-matter-contest-of-prezi-and-ted-designed-and-creat

ed-by-hedwyg-van-groenendaal-of-prezi-university-wwwpreziuniversitycom/

• Interactionism: focuses on how interaction with others influences an individual’s likelihood of being deviant or conforming.

Strain Theory• Developed by Robert Merton• “Deviance is the natural outgrowth of the values, norms,

and structure of society.” WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?• Everyone responds to the stresses (strains) of society’s

expectations in different ways.– Out of 5 responses, four are deviant.

• Anomie: situation where societal norms are unclear or no longer applicable

• Example: We value economic success, but not everyone has legitimate means to achieve that goal. Such an individual experiences anomie. Tries to achieve economic success through deviance (crime, cheating)

Merton’s Strain Theory

Strain Theory Comic Strip• Illustrate an example of each mode of adaptation (5 total),

in which you accurately portray someone’s response to society’s expectations. Include a caption or dialogue that provides an explanation.

Conformity:Juan feels pressured to be successful. It’s what his family expects. So, he decides to complete high school and go to college.(ACCEPTS cultural goals and norms)

Innovation:Bill Gates wanted to be successful professionally, but he didn’t take the normal route. Instead, he dropped out of college and dedicated himself to inventing and building his company. (ACCEPT cultural goals but REJECTS norms)

Conflict TheoryCompetition and social inequality lead to deviance•People with power commit deviant acts to maintain their position.•Those without power commit deviant acts to:

1. Obtain economic rewards.2. Because they feel powerless.

•Lower classes commit acts defined as deviant due to limited opportunities•Ruling classes label threatening behavior as deviant•Deviance perceived to be lower class problem; targeted by law enforcement and prosecuted more often.

Deviance Gallery WalkAt each station:1.Use Strain Theory to analyze the situation. Which response (mode of adaptation) does the individual exhibit? Why/How do you know?2.Use Conflict Theory to explain why the individual or individuals are committing a deviant act.

Write in complete sentences. Turn in on a separate sheet of paper.

interactionismLabeling Theory–focuses on how individuals come to be identified as deviant. Everyone commits deviant acts, but not everyone is labeled as deviant. There’s 2 types of deviance:•Primary Deviance–nonconformity that goes undetected by those in authority. Society & individuals don’t consider themselves to be deviant•Secondary Deviance –individual is labeled as deviant & accepts the label as true.–With a degradation ceremony: individual denounced

in a public setting and given new identity as deviant

Labelling theory explained

Action

No witness

No label

Action witnessed

Person labelled

Person rejected

Person rejects society

Labeling an individual as deviant may lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy:

“In the beginning, a false definition of the situation evoking a new behavior which makes the original false conception come 'true'.” (Merton)

-a false definition, when believed to be true, may influence people so that their reactions fulfill the once false prophecy

Spiral of Deviance• You’ve been given a series of events that, if organized

properly, demonstrate labeling theory in action.– There are potentially several correct combinations

• Use construction paper (and other materials) to create a timeline, diagram, comic book, and put the events in the proper order.

• Replace the generic behavior with a specific behavior that is eventually labeled as deviant.

-Ex: “Teens meet up at parks after school” instead of “People act in a certain way.”

• Illustrate the series of events. Spice it up!

interactionismCultural Transmission Theory – deviance is a learned behavior (as is non-deviant behavior). Learned through interaction with others. •Interaction with people engaged in deviant acts means that deviant norms/values are transmitted and individuals are socialized into deviant behavior.•Everyone is a conformist. (Conform to those around you)•Differential association: frequency and closeness of associations a person has with deviant/nondeviant individuals influences one’s conformity/deviance•Techniques of Neutralization: suspend moral beliefs to commit deviant acts