Questions and Answers
What is deviance?
A term used for a certain type of social phenomenon or behavior.
Which of the following statements about deviance is true?
What is the normative definition of deviance?
Deviance is a violation of norms.
Norms are individual evaluations of conduct.
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Social norms regulate social relations and behavior in particular ______.
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What is the reactivist conception of deviance?
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Statistical definitions of deviance uphold that common behaviors are often considered deviant.
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What problem is associated with the statistical definition of deviance?
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What is a key problem with the absolutist conception of deviance?
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Study Notes
Deviance
- Refers to specific social phenomena and behaviors that deviate from societal norms.
- Context-dependent; deviant behavior in one setting may be acceptable in another (e.g., slurping noodles).
- The concept of deviance stems from sociological perspectives rather than inherent behavior.
Social Context of Deviance
- Deviance is a socially constructed label that varies across different contexts and individuals.
- Definitions of deviance differ based on personal perceptions, situational factors, and societal standards.
Societal Reactions
- Society disvalues, finds offensive, or condemns certain behaviors, yet this perspective neglects how classification of deviant acts arises.
- Deviance can encompass valued differences, complicating its definition.
Activist Definition Limitation
- Fails to acknowledge that deviance may include positively regarded traits, such as being a prodigy.
Normative Definition
- Deviance is fundamentally a violation of norms, which are societal standards governing expected behavior.
- Norms delineate what is deemed acceptable in specific circumstances, forming the basis for defining deviance.
Nature of Norms
- Norms serve as social properties guiding group evaluations and conduct expectations.
- Violations of these norms provoke societal reactions or sanctions, emphasizing their importance.
Social Norms
- Regulate behavior and social relations within specific cultures or contexts, contributing to societal order.
- Expectations are generally stable, but variations can lead to confusion if norms shift unexpectedly.
- Different settings yield different norms, indicating the subjective nature of deviance.
Reactivist Conception
- Defines deviance based on societal labels and reactions, rejecting a static definition of deviant behavior.
- Relies on social labels applied by society or control agents to identify what is considered deviant.
Limitations of Reactivist Perspective
- Critics highlight the lack of reference to universal norms; social reactions alone do not define deviance.
- Instances can exist where behavior remains deviant regardless of whether it receives negative responses (e.g., an unapprehended burglar).
Norms and Reactions
- Norms provide the framework for societal reactions, shaping perceptions of deviance.
- Questions arise regarding the criteria for societal reactions and how individuals discern what constitutes deviance.
Statistical Definition of Deviance
- Defines deviance based on the frequency of behaviors; frequent behaviors are typically not deemed deviant, while rare ones are.
- Focuses on deviations from average behavior and highlights infrequent phenomena.
Limitations of Statistical Definition
- A behavior’s rarity does not inherently make it deviant, as some deviant actions may be common.
- This definition neglects the associated values and societal norms and fails to consider the social reactions that often accompany deviance.
Absolutist Conception
- Proposes a universal standard for acceptable behavior, suggesting that certain rules are universally recognized across society.
- Assumes broad agreement on fundamental rules, categorizing certain behaviors as unequivocally wrong.
Issues with Absolutist Perspective
- In pluralistic societies, significant disagreements exist regarding which behaviors constitute violations of established rules, questioning the universality of norms.
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Description
This quiz explores the concept of deviance, focusing on its social context and how societal norms shape our perceptions of acceptable behavior. It examines various definitions and reactions to deviance, illustrating its complexity and variability across different settings. Dive into the sociological perspectives that inform our understanding of what it means to be deviant.
