1. DEVIANCE IN SOCIETY

2. Nature of Deviance Being considered a deviant:
Deviance: any violation of the norms of society
There are always individuals who break rules of their society or group
What’s considered deviant?
Vary based on the situation
Robber shoots someone – Deviant
Police officer shoots robber – Acceptable
Also varies from society to society
Being considered a deviant:
Dedication to deviant act
Stigmatized by society
Things that define or discredit someone
Being labeled as a:
Sex offender
Prison inmates
Drug dealer

3. How is deviance functional to society?
Causes of Deviant Behavior Viewed through the different sociological perspectives
Functions:
Clarifies moral boundaries
Conforming behavior vs. Deviant behavior
Promotes social unity
Punishment of deviants fosters “we” feeling
Promotes social change
Violations that gain enough support become new acceptable behaviors
Functionalist Perspective
Deviance is a natural part of society
Emile Durkheim classified several functions of deviance
How is deviance functional to society?

4. Deviant Behavior – Functionalist Perspective
Strain theory (Robert Merton)
Difficulty identifying with norms of society
One’s goals and his/her means to accomplish such goals do not coincide
MODES OF ADAPTATION
Ritualists
Abandoning goal while upholding norms
Going through the motions
Teacher who is “burned out”
Retreatists
Reject goal and means of achieving goal
Turn to drugs or alcohol
Rebels
Similar to retreatist
Attempt to substitute new set of goals
Revolutionaries – extreme cases
Conformists (most common)
Acceptance of goals and means of reaching goals – even if unable to accomplish
Use socially acceptable means of reaching goals
Innovators
Seeking alternative means of reaching goal
Violating acceptable norms
Ex. – embezzlers, robbers, con artists, drug dealers

5. Deviant Behavior - Conflict Perspective
Deviance is explained through power and inequality
Competition and social inequality lead to deviance
“Haves” vs. “Have Nots”
Capitalist class vs. Working class
Those in power
Commit deviant acts to stay in power
Consider acts of others that might challenge power as deviant
People without power
Turn to deviant behaviors
Often out of necessity

6. Deviant Behavior – Interactionist Perspective
Control theory:
Deviance is a natural occurrence
Focus is on why people conform
Dependent on social ties
Those with strong community attachments are less likely to commit deviant acts
Deviance is influenced by interactions among individuals
Involves several theories:
Control theory
Transmission theory
Labeling theory

7. Deviant Behavior – Interactionist Perspective
Control Theory
Impacted by learned behaviors and conformity at a young age
What causes children to conform?
Two control systems work against our motivations to deviate
Inner controls:
Morals
Conscience
Religious principles
Impacted by societal bonds
Outer controls:
Family
Friends
Police

8. Deviant Behavior – Interactionist Perspective
Transmission Theory
Deviance is a learned behavior
Learned through association with deviant individuals
Differential association
Deals with frequency and closeness of association
Example: Gang membership
All individuals conform
Difference lies in what they are conforming to

9. Deviant Behavior – Interactionist Perspective
Labeling Theory
Focuses on how people come to be identified as deviant
Deviance is relative
Depends on how society views actions/behaviors
Social labels
“drunk”
“pot-head”
“whore”
All people commit deviant acts during their lives
Two types:
Primary deviance
Goes mostly undetected
Temporary, trivial
Secondary deviance
Multiple occurrences
Individual is labeled a deviant

10. Rejecting Labels How People Neutralize Deviance
Most people resist labels that others try to pin to them.
Example: People who vandalize property but consider themselves conforming members of society
Techniques of neutralization:
Suspension of moral beliefs to commit deviant act
Five techniques:
Denying responsibility
“It was an accident”
Denying injury
“Who did it hurt?”
Denying the victim
“He got what he deserved”
Condemning authorities
“The police are corrupt”
Appealing to higher loyalties
“I did it to protect my family”

11. Social Control Consists of the forces and processes that encourage conformity
3 Factors:
Internalization – process of building conformity to norms and values from our groups into our self-concept
Informal social control – self-restraint exercised because of fear of what others might think
Formal social control – administrative sanctions such as fines and imprisonment
Recidivism – relapse into a previous mode of behavior
Being rearrested

12. Rationalizing Punishment Four Primary Reasons for Imprisonment
Retribution
To right a wrong by making offender suffer or pay back what was taken
Attempt to restore balance
Rehabilitation
Re-socialize offender to create conforming citizen
Deterrence
Create fear so that others won’t break the law
Incapacitation
Remove offenders from circulation