Study Notes on Deviant Behavior: Introduction to Deviance

DEVIANT BEHAVIOR: INTRODUCTION TO DEVIANCE

PUBLISHING DETAILS

The book "Deviant Behavior" is authored by Erich Goode and is in its 11th edition, published by Routledge in 2016. The ISBNs for various formats include 9781138656024 for hardback, 9781138191907 for paperback, and 9781315643632 for the ebook. The content is cataloged under the Library of Congress with certain classifications related to deviant and criminal behavior.

CHAPTER 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO DEVIANCE

CONTEXT OF DEVIANCE

The chapter begins with an observation that society is in a time characterized by troubling behaviors that breach accepted norms, including police issues with minority communities and the unsupervised release of mentally ill individuals. Events socially defined as deviant include widespread housing crisis impacts and various illicit activities facilitated through digital means. The chapter hints that the theme of how society conceptualizes deviance will permeate the text.

DEFINITION OF DEVIANCE

The author revisits Marshall Clinard’s definition of deviance, which states that it is "deviations from social norms which encounter disapproval". Goode critiques this simplification and raises questions regarding social norms:

  • Who defines these norms?

  • How widely held are they?

  • What constitutes sufficient disapproval?
    The necessity of diverse perspectives is emphasized, highlighting the role of different groups (termed audiences) in determining what is deemed deviant.

EXAMPLE OF POLITICAL DISCOURSE

The contrast between political views during the 2016 US electoral debates exemplifies societal disagreement on core issues, illustrating how deviance is subjectively defined across different political ideologies.

SOCIAL CONTROL

Goode states that societies enforce social control mechanisms to avoid chaos. These can be formal (via law enforcement) or informal (social stigmatization). The chapter questions when and how individuals respond to deviance by frowning, punishing, or ignoring certain acts.

RESPONSES TO DEVIANCE

The author summarizes sociological definitions, stating deviance includes behaviors, beliefs, or traits that evade societal norms and evoke negative responses such as contempt or punishment. Negative reactions can vary significantly depending on the audience and context. Generally, asserts Goode, deviance is a matter of degree, influenced by the strength of reactions and the size of the audience.

POWER AND DEVIANCE

The dynamics of power play a crucial role in defining what is considered deviant. Individuals with less power often cannot openly express discontent or disapproval regarding actions by more powerful individuals or groups, thereby complicating the definition of deviance based on public and private responses.

DEVIANCE IN EVERYDAY LIFE

Most individuals have experienced behaviors or traits that others may condemn. Goode provides relatable examples, emphasizing the nearly universal experience of social judgment, showcasing that every person has potential sources of criticism.

FOUR REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVIANCE

To ascertain if an action is indeed deviant, Goode identifies four essential components:

  1. Rule or Norm: A societal expectation

  2. Norm Violation: Someone must break this rule

  3. Audience: There must be someone to witness and judge this deviation

  4. Negative Reaction: The audience must have the capacity to disapprove and react negatively
    Deviance thus exists on a spectrum varying from trivial violations to severe breaches of societal norms.

CONTEXTUALIZING DEVIANCE

The concept of situational and societal deviance is elaborated. Societal deviance is viewed as high-consensus behavior (e.g., murder, robbery) that is generally condemned, while situational deviance is context-specific, hinging on individual group norms that may vary significantly.

EXAMPLES OF DEVIANT ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS

Cognitive deviance is defined as having unpopular beliefs or attitudes, akin to behaviors. The differentiation between behavior and belief is emphasized—expressing an unpopular idea can also constitute deviance and provoke similar reactions as behavioral violations.

TRIBAL STIGMA

Goode references Goffman's work on tribal stigma as a critical dimension of deviance. It pertains to how racial, ethnic, national, and religious identifiers can serve to discredit individuals within those social categories, adding another layer to how deviance is perceived and controlled in society.

POSITIVISM VS. CONSTRUCTIONISM

The chapter addresses two paradigms in the sociology of deviance:

  • Positivism: Views deviance as a concrete reality that can be measured and explained through empirical data, focused on causation.

  • Constructionism: Views deviance as a social construct shaped by cultural interpretations and societal reactions to certain behaviors or beliefs.

These perspectives are presented as complementary, with positivism focusing on objective factors and constructionism engaged in the subjective evaluation of deviance.

HARM AND DEVIANCE

Goode discusses the existing debate regarding the connection between harm and deviance, emphasizing that deviance is not fundamentally defined by harm but rather by societal reactions, which can vary and are not necessarily aligned with the level of harm perpetrated.

SUMMARY

Within the concluding sections of this introductory chapter, Goode reiterates the complex and nuanced nature of deviance as it exists relative to societal definitions, audiences perceptions, and situational contexts, supporting the argument that deviance is a socio-culturally bound concept that requires an understanding of time, place, and audience.