Key Concepts of Deviance

DEVIANCE

Definition of Deviance

• Concept: Recognized violation of cultural norms.
  • Includes behaviors and beliefs that violate social expectations and attract negative sanctions.
• Types of Deviance:
  • Social Deviance: Violation of mores, folkways, and taboos.
  • Criminal Deviance: Acts that break laws.
  • Example: Jaywalking vs. face tattoos (not always overlapping).

Approaches to Defining Deviance

• Statistical Approach: Anything statistically unusual or has low probability.
• Legalistic Approach: Any violation of the law.
• Normative Approach: Actions evoking disapproval from others.

Perspectives on Deviance

• Absolutist Perspective: Beliefs exist as inherently deviant across all contexts.
• Relativist Perspective: Deviance depends on social context (subjective and socially constructed).
  • Social Construction: Norms evolve through interaction and shared understanding.
• Conflict/Critical Perspective: Examines how power influences definitions of deviance, often marginalizing vulnerable groups.

Processes Informing Deviance

1. Interaction: Definitions vary across cultures and times, often evolving through social processes.
   • Stigmatization: Physical traits or conditions devalued by society.
   • Criminalization: Conditions collectively defined as criminal.
   • Medicalization: Traits defined in terms of illness (e.g., hyperactivity).
2. Symbolic Interactionism: Social rules and meanings change with circumstances, leading to redefinitions of deviance.
3. Normalization of Deviance: Even deviant behaviors can become viewed as ordinary over time.

Deviance Across Cultures: Punishment

• Cultural variations in what is deemed deviant or criminal and how it's punished.
  • Example: U.S. historically used corporal punishment; other cultures use shunning or banishment.

Theories of Deviance: Functionalism

• Overall View: Deviance serves functions in society (Emile Durkheim).
  • Functions of Deviance:
  • Affirms cultural values/norms.
  • Clarifies moral boundaries.
  • Promotes social unity.
  • Encourages social change.

Functionalism: Structural Strain Theory

• Developed by Robert Merton.
• States that deviance arises from blocked opportunities leading to societal stress.
  • Goals vs. Means:
  • Merton's Typology:
    • Conformity: Accepts goals and means.
    • Innovation: Accepts goals, rejects means.
    • Ritualism: Rejects goals, accepts means.
    • Retreatism: Rejects both.
    • Rebellion: New goals and means.

Functionalism: Social Control Theory

• Developed by Travis Hirschi.
• Argues that weakened social bonds increase the likelihood of deviance.
  • Types of Social Control:
  1. Attachment to family and peers.
  2. Commitment to societal norms.
  3. Involvement in conventional activities.
  4. Belief in conventional values.

Theories of Deviance: Symbolic Interactionism

• Core Idea: Interpersonal relationships and interactions shape the understanding and meanings of deviance.

Differential Association Theory

• Developed by Edwin Sutherland.
• Suggests learning deviance occurs through interactions with deviant peers.

Labeling Theory

• Developed by Howard Becker.
• Deviance is influenced by external labels affecting self-concept and responses of others.
  • Concepts:
  • Retrospective Labeling: Interpreting past actions in light of current behavior.
  • Projective Labeling: Applying current deviant identity to future behavior.
  • Stigma: Negative social label affecting identity and interactions (Ervin Goffman).
  • Passing: Attempts to conform to non-stigmatized norms.

Primary vs. Secondary Deviance

• Primary Deviance: Initial act leading to deviant label.
• Secondary Deviance: Further deviant acts prompted by the label.

Medicalization of Deviance

• Deviance is recast as medical issues.
  • Examples: Hyperactive children, gambling addictions.
• Five Stages of Medicalization:
  1. Definition as deviant.
  2. Medical explanations developed.
  3. Advocacy from organized interests for medical labeling.
  4. Appeals for governmental legitimacy.
  5. Institutionalization of medical classification.

Stereotype Threat and Promise

• Stereotype Threat: Fear of confirming negative stereotypes harms performance.
• Stereotype Promise: Positive stereotypes lead to improved performance outcomes.

Theories of Deviance: Conflict Theory

• Deviance emerges from societal conflict and serves to maintain power dynamics.
• Defines how the powerful define deviance, marginalizing threat.

Power and Deviance

• Power shapes definitions of deviance; access allows evasion of punishments.
  • Example: White-collar crime often escapes harsh labeling.

The Study of Crime

• Crime: Violation of codified law.
• Criminal Justice System: Encompasses law enforcement, courts, and prisons.
  • Categories of Crime:
  • Violent Crimes: Murder, rape.
  • Property Crimes: Burglary, arson.
  • Public Order Crimes: Prostitution, drug offenses.
  • Hate Crimes: Target victims based on demographics (enhanced punishments).

The Criminal Justice System

• Justifications for Punishment:
  • Deterrence: Preventing future crimes via harsh penalties.
  • Retribution: Revenge for offenses committed.
  • Incapacitation: Removing criminals from society through imprisonment.
  • Rehabilitation: Reforming individuals for reintegration into society.

Reconsidering Deviance

• Not all rule violations are negative; some become positive deviance (e.g., standing against unjust laws).