Deviant Behavior: Exam 2

Moral Panic Defintion

The intensity of feeling expressed in a population about an issue that appears to threat to societal values

“A condition, episode, person or group of persons emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values”

What are the 3 theories of Panics?

Grassroot Model

Elite-Engineered Model

Interest Group Theory

Grassroots Model Definition

Begin in the general public which is truly felt

Elites and the media pick up on the real sentiments

Elite-Engineered Model Defintion

A small powerful group produce campaigns to generate fear over something they don’t actually view as problematic

Maintains the economic, political interests of elites

Interest Group Theory Definiton

Professional associations, the media, religious groups, etc have interest they bring forward independent of the elite

Moral Entrepreneurs: Rule Creators

Individuals or organizations that are convinced there is a threatening societal evil

• Must have power, public support, generate awareness and propose a solution

• Religious groups, lawmkaing bodies, NPOs, stakeholders

Example: the leader of scientology, “the insane people”

Moral Entrepreneurs: Rule Enforcers

Act like law enforcement

• Enforce the rules; disinterest in the context of the rules

• Must win respect and justify their existence

Stigma Defintion

Deviant behaviors or characteristics that prevent full acceptance to society

Abominations of the Body: Stigma

Physical Deformities

Blemishes of the individual: Stigma

Bad traits and choices

Tribal Stigmas: Stigma

Membership to deviant groups

Discredited vs. Discreditable Identities: Discredited

Known

Example: Coming out as an LGBTQ+ member

Discredited vs Discreditable Identities: Discreditable

We don’t know it yet, but we could

Example: LGBTQ+ didn’t come out yet, “hiding in the closet”

Discredited vs Discreditable Identites

A special discrepancy between virtual and actual social identity

Techniques of Neutralization (Sykes and Matza)

Denials of responsibility

Denying injury

Denial of Victim

Condemning the Condemners

Appeal to higher loyalties

Denials of Responsibility (Techniques of Neutralization)

It is wrong but not my fault; perp is a pawn

Denying Injury (Techniques of Neutralization)

It is wrong, but no one is harmed, harm is recast

Denials of Responsibility (Techniques of Neutralization)

Example: “I was forced into it”

Denial Of Injury Example

Cheating on Exam

Denial of Victim (Techniques of Neutralization)

It was wrong, but they had it coming

Denial of Victim Example (Techniques of Neutralization)

Hate Crimes

Condemning the Condemners (Techniques of Neutralization)

Unjust systems cannot control others

Condemning the condemners example (Techniques of Neutralization)

Example: Academic dishonesty

Appeal to higher loyalties Example (Techniques of Neutralization)

Family Protection

Appeal to Higher Loyalties (Techniques of Neutralization)

More important concerns

More Techniques of Neutralization

Defense of Necessity

Metaphor of the Ledger

Denial of the necessity of law

Everything else is doing it

Defense of Necessity Definition

No choice but deviance

Metaphor of the Ledger

Deviance is balanced by good deeds

Acknowledging of treated poorly first

Denial of the Necessity of law

Rule is unfair; the law is the problem

Everything else is doing it

Claim of entitlement

Disclaimers Definition

Excuses and Justifications for future deviance or deviant perceptions

Disclaimers

Hedge

Credentializing

Sin Licenses

Cognitive Disclaimers

Appeals for Suspension of Judgment

Credentializing

I can say the n-word because i’m black

Sin Licenses

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas

Cognitive Disclaimers

“if you don’t agree with me then you are wrong”, “this is my job, you’re the problem”

Appeals for Suspension of Judgement

Hold off on judging

7 Stigma Reducing Strategies

Passing

Not blaming the dog

Debunking Media Coverage

Humor

Looks aren’t everything

Altering Physical Presentation

Preventative Measures

Not blaming the dog

Training and doggie ignorance

Debunking Media Coverage Defintion

Selective reporting, sensationalism, lack of objectivity, failure to provide context

Looks aren’t everything

Emphasizing the personality

Preventative Measures

Extensive Training

Techniques of Affirmations

Represents how individuals remain steadfast specific subcultural ideals, beliefs, and norms related to non-action

Show that a necessary step in developing a deviant career is taking on a deviant identity

Deviant Identity definition

A process; not a static or immediately transformed state

Stages of Deviant Identity Creation

1. Primary Deviance

2. Public identification of Deviance

3. “Retrospective Interpretation

4. Dynamics of Exclusion: “Being a felon”

5. Deviant Group Inclusion

6. Differential Treatment

7. Deviant Internalization

Labeling Theory

All people break rules and engage in deviant actions

• But not all people are considered deviant

Primary Deviance (Labeling Theory)

Temporary, exploratory, trivial or easily concealed; “polygenetic” “not that big of a deal”

Secondary Deviance (Labeling Theory)

A person is labeled and treated as a deviant

A person internalizes the new identity, inherits new associations, and continues deviant behavior

Push Factor Definition

Internal factors of deviance that “push” people out

Push Factor Example

Unmet expectations

Disillusionment with strategies and group membership

Inability to continue a secret lifestyle

Pull Factor Defintion

External Factors that “pull” people towards conventional life

Pull Factor Example

Competing loyalties (family, work, religion)

Positive interactions with non-deviants

Non-exclusionary reactions

Obstacles to Disidentification

Existential Obstacles

Interactional Obstacles

Cultural Obstacles

What are delablers? Obstacles to Disidentification

People who don’t associate with a label they once did

Existential Obstacles (Obstacles to Disidentification)

Identity Void: Discarding their identities leads to a lack of other identities

Interactional Obstacles (Obstacles to Disidentification)

Deserter complex: Guilt (“I don’t want to turn my back on someone who has helped me”)

Reverse Stigmatization

Cultural Obstacles (Obstacles to Disidentification)

Deviant Labels is needed in order to understand and cope with life’s difficuties

Internalization Definition

WhoI am through interactions

Loners Defintion

Must learn +acquire resources themselves

Goffman Stigma

Presentation of the self and the dramaturgy of identity

Career Contingencies Defintion

Structural things that have to happen in one’s life for one to adopt it

Status Cues Definition

Public External clues into one’s placing

Status Cues: Active

Knowingly present to oneself

Status Cues: Passive

Unintentional ways that deviant traits are present to oneself

Recognizing Defintion

Internal, cognitive process that a previous status is “inappropriate”

Self-evidentiality Definition (development of a deviant identity)

Objective condition does not mean subjective recognition

Placing Definition

Identification of an appropriate status among those available

• Example: What are some terms to identify oneself as “Asexual”