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Midterm 1 Study Notes - Sociology of Deviance and Conformity
Key Concepts and Theories
Deviance Definitions
Deviance: Behaviour that contradicts or violates the societal norms, standards, and expectations that dictate acceptable conduct within a group or society. It can include a wide range of actions and characteristics.
Objective vs. Subjective Dichotomy:
Objective: Focuses on measurable and inherent qualities of deviant acts, including statistical rarity, potential harm caused, and clear violations of normative behavior (e.g., laws and mores), which can be universally recognized across various cultures.
Subjective: Examines the societal perceptions and reactions to behaviours deemed deviant, indicating that what is considered deviant can vary significantly across different societies and time periods depending on public sentiment and social context.
Types of Deviance
Statistical Rarity: Actions, behaviours, or characteristics that occur infrequently within a population, such as certain forms of mental illness or rare criminal activities.
Harm: Behaviours that can cause physical, emotional, social, or ontological harm to individuals or society, such as violence, theft, or substance abuse.
Negative Societal Reaction: Deviant labels often arise from societal responses characterized by dislike, anger, or fear towards the individual or group engaging in deviant behaviour.
Normative Violation: Involves behaviours that breach established social norms, including folkways (mild norms), mores (significant norms), and laws (formalized norms).
Theoretical Frameworks
Functionalist Theories
Assumptions: Society is composed of interdependent parts that work together to maintain stability; deviance serves functions such as reinforcing norms, promoting social change, and clarifying moral boundaries.
Anomie Theory (Émile Durkheim): Proposes that periods of rapid social change can lead to normlessness, creating confusion about societal expectations, which in turn can increase deviance.
Strain Theory (Robert Merton): Argues that deviance occurs when individuals experience a disconnection between culturally prescribed goals (e.g., wealth, success) and the legitimate means available to achieve those goals. This discrepancy leads individuals to adapt in various ways (modes of adaptation):
Conformity: Acceptance of both societal goals and means.
Innovation: Acceptance of goals but rejection of means (e.g., engaging in criminal activity).
Ritualism: Rejection of goals while still adhering to means (e.g., strict compliance to rules without seeking success).
Retreatism: Rejection of both goals and means (e.g., homelessness, addiction).
Rebellion: Substitution of new goals and means, often resulting in radical social change.
Differential Opportunity Theory (Cloward & Ohlin): Emphasizes that the availability of legitimate and illegitimate opportunities varies among communities, leading to different forms of deviance based on one’s access to these resources.
General Strain Theory (Robert Agnew): Expands on Merton’s theory, positing that various forms of strain (blocked aspirations, loss of positive stimuli, confrontations with negative stimuli) can create negative emotions, which in turn increase likelihood of deviant behaviours as individuals cope with adversity.
Learning Theories
Differential Association Theory (Edwin Sutherland): Suggests that deviance is learned behaviour that occurs through interactions within intimate social groups, where ideas regarding deviant behaviour are conveyed. Influential Factors: Frequency, duration, priority, and intensity of these interactions are critical in determining the likelihood of adopting deviant behaviours.
Techniques of Neutralization (Sykes & Matza): Rationalizing deviance involves strategies that individuals use to justify their actions, thus maintaining self-image and avoiding feelings of guilt. This includes five main techniques:
Denial of Responsibility: Asserting that their actions were due to external forces.
Denial of Injury: Claiming that no real harm was done.
Denial of Victim: Suggesting that the victim deserved what happened to them.
Condemnation of the Condemners: Shifting focus from their actions to the motives and behaviours of critics.
Appeal to Higher Loyalties: Prioritizing loyalty to a group over societal norms.
Social Control Theories
Social Bonds Theory (Hirschi): Posits that strong social bonds make individuals less likely to engage in deviant behaviour. Four Elements of Social Bonds:
Attachment: Emotional bonds to family, friends, and community.
Commitment: Investment in conventional activities (education, job).
Involvement: Participation in socially acceptable activities that occupy time and attention.
Belief: Acceptance of societal rules and norms.
Self-Control Theory (Gottfredson & Hirschi): Argues that individuals with low self-control are more likely to engage in deviant acts, often as a result of ineffective parenting practices.
Interactionist Theories
Labelling Theory: Highlights the significance of societal reaction to deviance, distinguishing between:
Primary Deviance: Initial acts of rule-breaking that go unnoticed or unlabelled by society.
Secondary Deviance: Lifestyle changes and identity shifts that arise subsequent to being labelled as deviant, often leading to further deviant behaviour (Becker).
Master Status: The dominant label that overshadows an individual’s other identities, shaping their interactions and self-identity.
Stigma (Goffman): Types of Stigma:
Physical Stigma: Obvious visible attributes, such as physical disabilities.
Moral Stigma: Associated with perceived moral failings, such as criminal history.
Group Stigma: Related to membership in a devalued social group.
Stigma Management: Strategies used by individuals to cope and navigate societal disapproval associated with deviant labels.
Conflict Theories
Conflict Theory: Based on the premise that societal rules and norms are established by those in power, serving their interests (Marx). Instrumental Marxism: Laws function as tools for maintaining control and oppression. Structural Marxism: Legal systems are structured to protect capitalist interests.
Postmodern and Feminist Theories
Postmodernism: Challenges the premise of objective knowledge regarding deviance, advocating for an understanding rooted in constructed realities and tailored experiences. Critiques traditional theories for oversimplifying the complexities of deviant behaviour.
Feminist Theories: Investigate how gender shapes the conceptions and definitions of deviance, criticizing the male-centric biases present in historical sociological analyses, and exploring how women’s experiences with deviance differ from men’s.
Exam Preparation Tips
Focus on mastering key terminology such as deviance, social control, stigma, as well as understanding the different acts of deviance contextualized within the various theories discussed.
Review classic case studies and examples relevant to topics like moral panic, status frustration, and differential opportunities for a comprehensive grasp.
Representative Exam Questions
Example Questions:
Discuss the significance of moral panic in shaping societal perceptions of deviance.
Analyze how differential opportunity influences types of deviance within different social strata.
What is the definition of deviance?
A) Behavior that adheres to societal norms
B) Behavior that contradicts societal norms
C) Cultural practices that are accepted
D) Traditions that unify a society
The objective approach to deviance focuses on:
A) Social perceptions
B) Measurement and inherent qualities of deviance
C) Societal reactions
D) Cultural interpretations
Which of the following is NOT a type of deviance?
A) Positive reinforcement
B) Statistical rarity
C) Harm
D) Normative violation
Anomie Theory was proposed by:
A) Cloward & Ohlin
B) Edwin Sutherland
C) Robert Merton
D) Émile Durkheim
Which mode of adaptation in Strain Theory refers to the rejection of both goals and means?
A) Conformity
B) Innovation
C) Rebellion
D) Retreatism
Differential Opportunity Theory emphasizes:
A) The psychological factors influencing deviance
B) The role of societal norms in defining deviance
C) The availability of legitimate and illegitimate opportunities
D) The importance of family dynamics in deviance
General Strain Theory expands on:
A) Labeling Theory
B) Social Bond Theory
C) Differential Association Theory
D) Anomie Theory
According to Differential Association Theory, deviance is learned through:
A) Genetic Factors
B) Economic Status
C) Social Interactions
D) Cultural Heritage
Techniques of Neutralization include:
A) Denial of motivation
B) Denial of responsibility
C) Acceptance of societal norms
D) Promotion of deviant behavior
Which element of Social Bonds Theory refers to emotional connections?
A) Commitment
B) Belief
C) Involvement
D) Attachment
Self-Control Theory argues that:
A) All individuals will behave deviant
B) Societal norms are irrelevant
C) High social bonds prevent deviance
D) Low self-control increases likelihood of deviance
Labelling Theory distinguishes between:
A) Primary and secondary deviance
B) Harmful and non-harmful deviance
C) Societal and cultural deviance
D) Innovation and conformity
Goffman identifies how many types of stigma?
A) Two
B) Three
C) Four
D) Five
Conflict Theory asserts that societal norms are established by:
A) The majority
B) Those in power
C) Social consensus
D) The ruling class
Postmodern theories criticize traditional views for:
A) Overcomplicating deviance
B) Ignoring individual experiences
C) Oversimplifying complexities
D) Focusing solely on social structures
Feminist theories examine how __________ shapes the definitions of deviance.
A) Age
B) Race
C) Gender
D) Economic status
What defines primary deviance in Labelling Theory?
A) Acts of rule-breaking that go unnoticed
B) Acts that are widely acknowledged
C) Criminal activities recognized by authorities
D) Established norms
Which of the following describes the attachment element in Social Bonds Theory?
A) Emotional connections to others
B) Commitment to societal goals
C) Engagement in social activities
D) Acceptance of rules
Merton's theory explores which mode of adaptation as a response when individuals accept means but reject goals?
A) Ritualism
B) Innovation
C) Rebellion
D) Retreatism
Emotional harm can be seen as a type of:
A) Legal action
B) Deviance
C) Social norm
D) Constructive feedback
[Questions truncated for brevity. Please add additional questions here as needed for a total of 60.]
Answer Key
B
B
B
C
C
B
A
B
B
D
B
A
B
B
C
C
A
A
A
B
[Answers truncated for brevity. Please add additional answers here as needed for a total of 60.]