1. Culture, Deviance, Alienation and Subculture
By: Sadie, Sevde, Samia and Elizabeth

2. Summary of everything you need to know
Basic description of
culture
deviance
alienation
subcultures
Summary of everything you need to know
By: Elizabeth

3. What is culture? ...in a sociological sense
in sociological terms, culture refers to the ways in which social groups differentiate themselves from other social groups
the differences between social groups are based on factors such as language, dress, food, social etiquette, religious values, attitudes and roles, etc.
culture is commonly accepted and learned by members of a society through socialization
culture universals are beliefs common across all cultures
use of language, division of labor, gender roles, etc.
cultural forces help shape an individual’s identity, influencing one’s self- concept and self-perception
culture helps guide individuals and groups through social interactions in life

4. What is deviance?
deviance is a violation of society’s norms and accepted standards
Émile Durkheim, came up with the term anomie (the basis for deviance), which is a state of normlessness that represents an individual’s breakdown in face of social standards and change
in other words, anomie means a lack of social order and structure
deviance can be an attractive alternative to society’s restrictive rules
in some cases, it leads to a life of crime, which is one subset of deviance

5. What is alienation?
alienation refers to a feeling of separation or isolation from a community
caused by unequal access to social rewards or privileges
social inequalities, cultural differences, and alternative lifestyles have an alienating influence on the individual, and social isolation may occur as well
the alienated individual sees him/herself as an outsider (someone who is not reflected in the political, social, or economic activities of their society)
he/she feels excluded from certain social privileges and benefits enjoyed by others , and may even reject the dominant culture and beliefs of society
he/she may feel alienated from the roles, norms and values of society
he/she may realize that the social institutions in place do not serve him/her effectively

6. What are subcultures?
a subculture is a small group of people within a larger group who share a common system of values, beliefs, attitudes, behaviours, and lifestyle that are different from those of the dominant subculture
people join a subculture when mainstream culture does not adequately satisfy or reflect their individual aspirations
subcultures may lead to deviant behaviour, but most are harmless outlets for self- expression and creativity
e.g. comic books/manga, punk, cybergoth, trekkie

7. Sociological Influences
Subtopic a): Identify the sociological influences of and on behaviour within the topic
Sociological Influences
By: Sadie

8. Cultural Influences on Behaviour
Different cultures and their beliefs/behaviours, are accepted and learned by members of these social circles
Based on the different culture you are apart of, it can influence the way an individual perceives the world around them
How they view their peers, authority figures and family members can depend on the culture one has grown up in
Not only is their perception of those around them influenced, but so is their self-perception
The culture you belong to is able to shape your social identity, or how you interact with those around you
The common traits shared by people all over the world regardless of age, gender, language etc, are known as cultural universals
These assist in being a guide for acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in social situations

9. Deviances and How They Influence Behaviour
Deviance: a violation of society’s norms and accepted standards
This can also be viewed, and considered a personality flaw in an individual
Deviance occurs when an individual does not fit the social norms and standards put upon them by society
They behave differently than their peers, and may even decide to cast aside the role put upon them
A life of deviance may occur, which can sometimes lead to becoming a criminal

10. Alienation and its Impact on Behaviour
Alienation: a feeling of separation or isolation
An unequal access to social privileges can lead to feelings of alienation
When an individual begins to feel alienated from those around them, they tend to see themselves as an outsider in their social circles
In some cases, the level of alienation may be so high that they see themselves as completely separate from their society and culture
Alienation can lead to a total withdrawal from society, and activities that many others tend to enjoy

11. Subculture’s Influences on Behaviour
Subculture: a small group of people within a larger group, that share a common system of beliefs, attitudes, values and lifestyles that are separate from the dominant culture
Participation in subcultures is more common in frustrated youth, seeking enjoyment in a culture other than the mainstream
Subculture can often be perceived as a deviance from the norm of society
Participation in subcultures can lead to a development of deviant behaviour
Examples of subculture:
Grunge
Vampire

12. Sociological Theory Application
Subtopic b): Apply sociological theory to the topic
Theories used:
Conflict Theory
Symbolic Interactionism
Sociological Theory Application
By: Samia

13. Alienation: Conflict Theory
the conflict between the different social classes
Karl Marx: alienation is the inability of humans to be reflected in the means of production that guide the economy
when workers are given some control over the modes of production and see themselves reflected in these modes, they feel like they are a part of the system and see their efforts as contributing more than just labour
however, workers feel alienated from the products they make when they are not given any control
Marx argued that private property and capitalism alienate workers from what they create because of several issues
workers do detailed work without seeing the final, whole product
they do boring, repeated tasks without creativity

14. Chinese immigrants were enlisted to build the Canadian railway, a dangerous job for which they were paid very low wages. Not only were their cultures different than the others around them, but their social class was lower than the rich.

15. Subcultures: Deviance
Deviant behaviour is an observable pattern that deviates from the norm.
American sociologist Howard Becker used a theoretical approach known as labelling.
An individual is more likely to develop a deviant behaviour if they participate in a subculture.
Behaviour of a group are deviant only when society labels them as deviant.
If a subculture is given time and exposure it can become so popular that it is absorbed by mainstream culture and adopted by many who opposed it.
Vampire subculture has been around for centuries.
In our society, do you think this is still a subculture?
Or is it absorbed by the mainstream?

16. Sociological Studies By: Elizabeth
Subtopic c): Present sociological studies and evidence done on the topic
Studies:
Robert Merton and Deviance
Richard Nisbett: The Geography of Thought
Sociological Studies
By: Elizabeth

17. Robert Merton and Deviance
American sociologist Robert Merton studied the extent to which deviance is a product of the social structure in which an individual lives
each society has a particular set of goals and the means by which to achieve these goals, but some individuals are unable to achieve them
these individuals may resort to deviant behaviour to achieve the goals
for those who are incapable of achieving success, the likelihood of deviant behaviour may be substantially higher
may explain why criminal behaviour is more likely in societies that value success and wealth
Merton said that deviance can therefore be described as the behaviours of individuals who knowingly violate the norms, cultural beliefs and moral standards of their society

18. Q: How does one willingly cast aside the expected roles of society in favour of behaviour that can be seen as destructive and counterproductive to living in harmony with with other members of society?
A: Robert Merton came up with the strain theory of behaviour. It states that when individuals are unable to achieve the goals of their society (perhaps because of financial or social class barriers), they resort to deviant behaviour to achieve those goals.

19. Richard Nisbett: The Geography of Thought
Richard Nisbett, an American researcher who studies culture and its effects on individual perception of the world, conducted a study where participants from East Asia and America were shown this image and asked to describe what they saw.
What do you see when you look at this picture?

20. Richard Nisbett: The Geography of Thought
he found that East Asians and Americans had qualitatively different responses to the exact same situation
American participants usually referred to a large fish in the foreground
Japanese participants usually referred to the background elements such as the seaweed
Japanese participants made 70% more statements about background elements than Americans
Japanese participants also made 100% more statements about the relationships in between the animate and inanimate objects
e.g. “a big fish swam past some seaweed”
Nisbett’s conclusion: To Asians, the world is complex, understandable in terms of the whole rather than parts. To Americans, the world is a simpler place, made up of objects that can be understood without reference to context

21. Subtopic d): Draw specific sociological conclusions with regard to the topic
By: Sevde

22. In Conclusion
Culture, deviance, alienation and subculture are all vital parts to a functioning society because like organs, in a human body, all the specific parts are required to function accordingly for the entire body function, which is essentially the functional theory. Furthermore, the conflict theory can be connected to culture, deviance, alienation and subculture. Deviance is directly correlated to the conflict theory, they are both the result of the same thing, the struggle for power, acceptance and etc. However, not to be confused, not everyone that’s on the short end of the stick of conflict theory succumbs to deviant behavior. Unequal access to social rewards or privileges can lead to alienation, unequal access to social rewards or privileges is a form of conflict theory. Another one, subcultures are created due to unsatisfactory met or reflected aspirations, which would fall under conflict theory as well.
In conclusion, culture, deviance, alienation and subculture are all essential pieces to our society, and all of them play a large role in your own lives, whether you realize it or not.