Exploring Deviance

Deviance and Social Norms

• Deviance is relative to the place and time of the act.
• Social norms differ throughout society and between cultures.
• As society's understanding of social norms changes over time, the collective perception of deviance also changes.

Functionalism

• Emile Durkheim is considered the first true sociological functionalist.
• Talcott Parsons' early work was influenced by Max Weber.
• According to functionalism, deviance has four uses in a society:
  • Affirming norms
  • Promoting social unity
  • Encouraging innovation
  • Providing a safety valve for pent-up emotions

Social Conflict Theory

• Karl Marx is considered the father of social conflict theory.
• According to Travis Hirschi, individuals are less likely to choose crime if they have strong social bonds.

Social Control and Symbolic Interactionism

• According to Jack P. Gibbs, any attempt to get an individual to do or refrain from doing something can be considered social control.
• According to symbolic interactionism, individuals construct meaning via the communication process.

Labeling Theory

• Labeling theory is based on the idea that deviance is a result of the labels given to individuals by society.
• According to labeling theory, deviance is not inherent in the act itself, but rather in the reaction of others to the act.
• Deviance is best explained by the interaction between the individual and society.
• Howard Becker's labeling theory states that deviance is a result of the labeling process, not the act itself.
• The consequences of labeling on an individual or group can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy, where the individual adapts to the label and becomes more deviant.
• This process is known as deviance amplification, where the labeling and stigma can escalate a small deviation into something more serious and long-lasting.