Extreme Deviance

Primary vs. Secondary Deviance Primary Deviance-initial act, could be secret or public, trivial or serious. Goode states most primary deviance is transitory and fairly trivial. Secondary Deviance-deviant labeling is so serious, so pervasive; individuals take on the deviant role. It is the object of study for Goode & Vail.

Primary vs. Secondary Deviance Allowed Lemert to avoid the fallacy of confusing original causes with effective causes Lemert focused on why some primary deviants underwent a symbolic reorganization at the level of their self-identity and others did not. The escalation to secondary deviance rests heavily on the subjective effects on being labeled. The labeling experience serves to recast individuals in their own eyes as well as in the eyes of others. (Paternoster & Iovanni, 1989)

Deviance Deviance is relative to a) Time Place Social Location Socially constructed-a norm/rule/reaction is a product of the social life of a group, society or any collectivity of people. It is created at a particular time and place, and it is sustained as a part of who that group or society is. If important aspects of the collectivity changes, its rules are also likely to change as well as how it deals with transgressors.

Most folks in class engaged in primary and traditional deviance Underage drinking House parties Trying pot Vandalism Shoplifting Pre-martial sex/cheating/infidelity Smoking cigarettes Cursing

Extreme Deviance-definition Extreme deviance is a rarified atmosphere of statically unusual phenomena. Extreme Deviant-is behavior, beliefs, or physical traits that are so far outside the norm, so unacceptable that they elicit extremely strong negative reactions (i.e. horror, rejection, stigmatize, abhor individuals based on their behavior/beliefs/physical traits). Extreme deviance evokes social exclusion

Why study extreme deviance? The more serious deviance (i.e. secondary deviance) that causes stigmatization and isolation is of immense sociological significance. Gives us insight into social control and our society. Dramatic examples of normative violations that are difficult to forget. Challenges our capacity to empathize with the norm violators.

Approaches to Deviance Conventional-deviance is behavior that deserves to be punished or beliefs or conditions that deserve to be corrected. Rehab rests on the notion that the individual is sick. Society must eradicate deviance. Good is good and bad is bad. Romantic-people condemned or punished by conventional society do not deserve the condemnation or punishment that they receive—the deviant as a victim. Acceptance of diversity and celebrate unconventionality. Naturalistic (Matza, 1969)-The sociological view of deviance is neither conventional or romantic. It is Naturalistic. It attempts to understand the role of non-normative acts, beliefs, and characteristics of society. THERE IS NO COMMON THREAD THAT ALL DEVIANTS SHARE. A SINGLE ORIGIN OF WHAT CONSTITUTES DEVIANCE CAN NOT BE FOUND. Deviant behavior is solely a question of social judgment. Deviance has nothing to do with “good” or “bad” in the abstract. It has everything to do with what some people consider good or bad.

Pathology vs. Appreciation (Matza) Pathological perspective-psychiatrists and psychologists consider deviance as a pathological defect or malfunction. Deviants are in need of treatment or correction. Dominant sociological view-deviance is a non-normative behavior that generates a negative reaction in others. Matza argues against the correctional perspective since systematically interferes with the capacity to empathize and thus comprehend deviance. Appreciation is difficult when the subject violates cherished and widely shared standards of conduct and morality. Without appreciation and empathy, sociology fails to understand the meaning of deviance to the subjects involved and its place in wider society. Matza warns against romanticizing deviants. Appreciation doesn’t imply endorsing any or all of the normative violations. In some cases, appreciation of extreme deviance is difficult and for some all but impossible.

Accounts of Deviance Deviant accounts enable us to enter the world of deviants. Deviant accounts are the social face that those whom many members of society wish to discredit present to themselves and to others. They are the “passport” of deviance, permitting persons to navigate in a world in which their sense of self-worth is under attack. Levi’s “Becoming a Hit Man”-the hit man uses techniques of neutralization to neutralize the stigma of murder for hire. He reframes his experience to protect his self image. He has no support groups to rely on.

Matza’s Process of Becoming a Deviant 1) Affinity-a natural biographical tendency borne of personal and social circumstance that suggest but hardly compels a direction of movement. It refers to a person’s desire to become deviant. 2) Affiliation-deviance is taught in symbolic interaction with successful deviant. Learn the techniques of being deviant (Differential Assn) 3)Signification-the deviant reconceptualizes his/her life in terms of deviance. Deviant internalize their deviant label.