Sociology 8Deviance—Behavior that violates a norm

Who decides what is deviant?Answer: each society decides based on morals etc

As a threat—unpredictable Society needs norms Why? Stigma--

Deviance

POSITIVE NEGATIVEOver-conformity to norms Rejection of normsIdealize norms Ignore norms

Unaware of normsEx: anorexia, Singapore & cleanliness

Ex: crime

TYPES OF DEVIANCE

• $ for police; social workers etc

• Erodes trustCosts of

Deviance

• Clarifies norms• Promotes social change; • Creates unity

Benefits of

Deviance

Costs & Benefits of DevianceFunctionalism--Durkheim

INTERNAL EXTERNAL-inside of individual -group -learn thru socialization -learn thru rewards &

punishments-internalize norms—”what to do”-desire to be “good” people-integrity; fear of punishment

-positive & negatives“Shaming”

Social Control- 2 types

Example—shopliftingWhich type of control is more effective?

Deviance depends on the bonds between society & individual◦ Social bonds:

1-attachment 2-commitment 3-involvement 4-belief **Bonds control individual behavior THE MORE BONDS YOU HAVE---THE MORE INTERNAL

SOCIAL CONTROL YOU HAVE

Hirschi Study 2001

Anomie—the strain people feel when they are blocked in their attempt to achieve societies goals

Strain Theory by Merton◦ Gap between goal and means of attaining the

goal◦ Forces people to be deviant

FUNCTIONALIST VIEW OF DEVIANCE

1-conformity

2-innovation

3-ritualism

4-retreatism

5-rebellion**key criticism—just being “frustrated” doesn’t CAUSE

deviance

5 Possible steps to DevianceMerton

Cloward & Ohlin Social classes have different styles of

crimes Illegitimate opportunities—

◦ Opportunities for crimes—part of social life Urban poor

◦ Hustles—drug dealing, robbery, gambling, prostitution

Illegitimate Opportunity Theory

Prison time Death penalty Reasons:

◦ Lack $◦ Crimes against whites punished more◦ Victim discounting—

Don’t care about crime if it is done to someone of a lower status

Unequal treatment of minorities

High status people do crimes usually as they do their jobs◦ Insider trading◦ Tax evasion◦ Embezzlement

Huge $ to economy Usually treated better

◦ Less jail time◦ “country club” prisons—ex-Governor Blagojevich

White collar Crime

1-Differential Association Who you associate with makes you more deviant

◦ Learned behavior-

◦ Age of exposure to deviance makes a difference

◦ “friends determine your behavior”

Symbolic Interaction Theories

2-Labeling “scarlet letter-A=adulteress” Self-fulfilling prophecy

Label people as deviant—then they will do deviant things

◦ Ex: Teen pregnancy Who gets labeled???

SAINTS & ROUGHNECKS

2nd SI theory

Sykes & Matza—people resist labels◦ Denial—of victim, injury, responsibility,◦ Appeal to loyalty◦ Condemnation--

Some groups like the label of “deviant”◦ Ex: motorcycle gangs, street gangs

Labeling continued . . .

Primary Secondary Occasional breaking of norms Life & identity centered around

norm breaking

Juvenile record, but no adult record

Master status

Ex: teens or college age Drink when not 21

Ex-gang members; career criminals

Types of Deviance

Deviance 1-threatens status quo (or norm)

2-challenge beliefs

3-who makes rules???

Who decides on what is deviance?

Conflict Theory

Agree/Disagree: The death penalty is cruel and unusual

punishment and should be abolished in the US. Explain your view.

Journal