Social Deviance exam TWO

Positivist theory:

deviance is an external, objective, real thing that exists in the external world

• Is why people engage in deviance

Constructionist theory:

how we label people, subjective social construction

• How does the label impact their behavior and perception

Deterrence Theory:

 the idea we should make punishment bad enough that it stops that action from occurring again in the future

Functionalist theory:

 deviance is required to punish people

• There will always be someone defined as deviance

It must be: (functionalist perspective)

1. Swift

2. Certain

3. Severe (enough)

Durkheim-

Functionalist as Social Control

Solidarity:

together, capacity of shared collective identity

Organic-

interdependence, and division of labor

Mechanical-

rudimentary and sameness (often the stronger type)

Collective conscious-

shared understanding based on shared norms and values

• Strong pockets of experience between shared identities

Role of Punishment: (in solidarity)

• Organic punishment: punishment is not as severe

• Mechanical punishment: is to reinforce collective consciousness with severe punishment

Garland Perspective

1. Reductionist view of deviance 

2. Victim/offender overlap

3. Prior victimization experiences causes them to be deviant

Conflict Theory (MARX + Spitzer):

class societies based on fundamental conflict between groups and harmony is achieved through dominance of one group over another

False consciousness:

acceptance of status quo by working class

Class consciousness:

awareness of class and rising up (could lead to communism)

Superstructure and base:

• base informs what influences superstructure 

1. Top of structure: institutions, education, family

2. Bottom of structure: economy, class (fundamental components of society)

Achieved status:

Ascribed status

• must be earned 

• is assigned inherently and beyond control (ex: racial identity or disabilities)

SPITZER

• He believed deviance is a label given for a specific reason

• Deviance processing: who gets defined as deviant, process by which one label is given

• Normalization: we no longer adhere to behavior to deviance due to how common it is, and redefining a behavior due to the social construction

Strain and Anomie theory

assume there are external and internal pressures driving people towards deviance

• deviance due to social pressure

•  conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.

modern strain theory

other things cause strain in our life:

1. Goals

2. Negative stimulus

3. Losing positivity

Strain Theory at the Institution level

1. Institutions: education, economy, religion, government

2. Anomie: disruption in our daily activities that norms don't work, an order of things

• This happens when importance grows for one institution, but when one gets valued more the other similar institutions are affected more

• -> causes a reduced ability to control individuals which results in deviance

Self Control theory:

general theory of crime, low self control becomes crime/deviance

1. Monitor

2. Recognize

3. Correct

Social Control Theory:

social bonds cause less deviance

• When there are less social bonds, they have less to lose and engage more in deviance, 

• Emphasizes sense of control

1. Attachment

2. Commitment

3. Involvement

4. Belief

Life Course/ Developmental perspective:

assumes changes through one life course influence capacity, opportunity, and inclination towards deviance

Constructionist theories of deviance:

less about the act of deviance, but what society sees this as deviance

1. Never looking at the individual of focus of study

2. Society is the focus

3. structure of society and how they respond to deviance 

4. Not social control, instead deviance prevention and making changes at the structural level to prevent deviance !!

Labelling theory: primary and secondary deviance

Primary: initial act of deviance that is addressed or not, and if addressed -> goes the punitive route and creates a label, if not addressed -> nothing really happens ig 

1. Secondary: engages in deviance due how they are perceived, most notably when they start to identify with the label society gave them from a primary deviance

Critical and conflict theory:

places deviance into a conversation of power and privilege

• Less power = more deviance

Feminist Perspective

lots of the, BUT all place deviance in the context of gender norms, expectation, and patriarchy

• Structures of power causes women to be subordinate bc men hold the most power

• Benefits male political power stricture

• Would never be the same around

• Men vs women, ideally