Questions and Answers
What is Anthony Giddens' definition of deviance?
Non-conformity to a given norm accepted by many in a community or society.
Which of the following are definitions of deviance developed by Clinard and Meier?
What does the absolutist definition of deviance imply?
An act negatively sanctioned across all societies.
The concept of deviance is constant across all cultures.
Signup and view all the answers
What is the reactivist definition of deviance according to Howard Becker?
Signup and view all the answers
What does normative deviance contradict?
Signup and view all the answers
What distinction does Ken Plummer make regarding deviance?
Signup and view all the answers
What is cross-cultural deviance?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Definitions of Deviance
- Anthony Giddens defines deviance as non-conformity to norms accepted by a significant portion of a community or society.
- Clinard and Meier identified four definitions of deviance: statistical, absolutist, reactivist, and normative.
Statistical Definition
- Deviance is defined statistically as behavior that is uncommon; rarity alone does not imply wrongdoing.
Absolutist Definition
- This definition categorizes acts as deviant if they are negatively sanctioned in all societies.
- Incest is an example of absolute deviance, universally addressed by cultural taboos.
Relative Definition
- Deviance is not fixed; it varies according to cultural contexts, historical periods, subcultures, and social groups.
Reactivist Definition
- Howard Becker's reactivist perspective emphasizes that an act is not inherently deviant; the reaction from others defines its deviance.
- The perception of deviance relies on who commits the act, who witnesses it, and how society responds.
Normative Definition
- Normative deviance refers to behaviors contradicting social norms, which can be formal (laws) or informal (context-dependent).
- Examples include queue-jumping being treated as deviant behavior in different social settings, like public parks versus pubs.
Ken Plummer's Distinction
- Ken Plummer distinguishes between societal and situational deviance.
Societal vs. Situational Deviance
- Societal deviance reflects a broad consensus on wrongness.
- Situational deviance is context-dependent, where behavior may be deemed acceptable in specific situations, such as Paula Radcliffe urinating in public during a marathon.
Audience Reaction
- Deviance is contingent upon audience reaction; if an act goes unnoticed, it escapes the label of deviant behavior.
- The strength of societal norms influences how behavior and individuals are classified as deviant.
Cross-Cultural Deviance
- Cross-cultural examples illustrate differing perceptions of deviance, such as the acceptance of eating animals like cats and dogs in some cultures, contrasted with societal aversion in others.
- Cultural rules about commonly consumed foods, like pork and beef, further highlight varying definitions of deviance.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore the various definitions of deviance as outlined by prominent sociologists such as Anthony Giddens, Clinard, and Meier. This quiz will help you understand concepts like statistical, absolutist, reactivist, and normative definitions of deviance in a societal context.
