Definitions of Deviance Flashcards

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.

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.