Examples of Deviance
Talking to yourself in public
Drag racing on public streets
Using illegal drugs
Cross-dressing
Attacking another person
Deviant Based on Appearance?
Can someone be labeled as deviant simply based on their appearance?
Research shows that Americans stigmatize people who are highly obese
Why?
Reasons Why
The study indicates Americans see obese people as being impulsive and lacking will-power
Stigmatization
For obese people, the costs are not just emotional but also financial
Obese people are less likely than other Americans to get approved for credit or be promoted at work
Activity
Join a group (Ideally 3-4 people) and discuss other groups that might be unjustly stigmatized
Be sure to state the reasons why these groups are seen as deviant by some people
Each group’s list should contain at least 4 perceived deviant groups in our society
The Nature of Deviance
Deviance behavior that violates significant social norms
What is considered deviant varies by society can get a divorce in the U.S. but illegal in Philippines
Varies within a society as well
Labeling Someone a Deviant
Involves two acts
Individual must first be detected committing a deviant act
Individual must be stigmatized by society
What is a Stigma?
Stigma mark of social disgrace that sets the deviant apart from the rest of society
Prisoners are forced to wear special clothing
Social Functions of Deviance
1. Clarifying Norms 2. Unifying the Group 3. Diffusing Tension 4. Promoting Social Change 5. Providing Jobs
Clarifying Norms
Defines the boundaries of acceptable behavior
Punishment serves as a warning to others that certain behaviors will not be tolerated
Example? prison sentences discourage crime
Diffusing Tension
When people are unhappy with their lives or social conditions, they may want to strike out at society
Allows individuals to relieve tension
Participating in demonstrations allows people to voice concerns without breaking law
Promoting Social Change
Identifies problem areas
When large numbers of people violate a norm, it is an indication that something in society needs to be changed
Providing Jobs
Provides jobs for people
Judges, lawyers, police officers, prison guards, and parole officers
Criminologists social scientists who study criminal behavior
Explaining Deviance
Sociologists attempt to explain deviance through three different perspectives: Functionalist perspective
Conflict perspective
Interactionist perspective
Functionalist Perspective
Robert Merton
Strain Theory
Views deviance as the natural outgrowth of the values, norms, and structure of society
Anomie
Merton believed that people fall victim to anomie
when norms are unclear or no longer applicable
Conformity
accept both culturally approved goals and the means for achieving these goals; always through legitimate means
Efforts always involve legitimate means
Innovation
Accept cultural goals of society but do not accept the means for achieving these goals
Want money, but get it through other means…drug dealers
Ritualists
find it impossible to achieve cultural goals by acceptable means
Totally abandon goals while continuing expected rules of behavior
Example…worker may pass up a promotion rather than face possible failure
Retreatism
reject both cultural goals and the socially accepted means of obtaining them
Make no effort, drop out of society…drug addicts, beggars, hermits
Conflict Perspective
Competition and social inequality lead to deviance
Struggle between those with power and those without
Ruling Class vs. Lower Class
Ruling classes label any behavior that threatens their power base as deviant
Lower classes have only limited opportunities in life and are forced to commit acts of deviance
Lower Class
Higher rates of arrest and conviction
Don’t commit more crime than the higher class, just crimes that are more detected and punishable
Interactionist Perspective
Control theory deviance is a natural occurrence
More interested in why they conform as opposed to why they are deviant
Why Conform?
Conform due to social ties
the more integrated into society the less likely you will commit acts of deviance
Self control people with strong self control conform
Other Explanations
Cultural transmission theory deviance is a learned behavior
Differential association frequency and closeness of associations a person has with deviant and nondeviant individuals
How Are You Labeled a Deviant?
Labeling theory how individuals come to be defined as deviant
Primary, secondary, and degradation
Primary Deviance
Nonconformity that goes undetected by those in authority
Don’t consider themselves to be deviant and neither does society
Going over speed limit
Secondary Deviance
results in the individual being labeled as deviant and accepting the label
The individual acknowledges they are deviant