Chapter 2: The Diversity of Deviance PDF

Chapter 2: The Diversity of Deviance  Introduction When you think about deviance, what do you typically think about? Take a moment to quickly think of five types of deviant behavior. What immediately comes to mind? Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social...

Chapter 2: The Diversity of Deviance  Introduction When you think about deviance, what do you typically think about? Take a moment to quickly think of five types of deviant behavior. What immediately comes to mind? Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 2  Introduction Some examples of deviant behavior reflect criminal behavior are drug dealing, assault, robbery, or homicide. These are quite common responses, especially given the way the media cover crime and deviance. Deviance is not always criminal in nature; Deviance is not always reflect an act or a behavior. There is a much broader array of what constitutes deviance in our society. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 3  Deviance and its Varied Forms Sociologists who have studied deviance have researched and written about a range of topics, including – the disabled the mentally ill, – the voluntarily childless, – the homeless, – Jewish resisters during the Holocaust, – topless dancers, – bisexuals, – anorexics and bulimics, – self-injurers, – gay male Christian couples. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 4  Deviance and its Varied Forms Survey by J. L. Simmons (1965): J.L. Simmons' research, surveyed 180 individuals, asking them to “list those things or types of persons whom you regard as deviant”. The survey identified over 250 acts and individuals as deviant, ranging from expected categories like prostitutes and murderers to less obvious ones such as liars, Democrats, atheists, career women, and professors, illustrating the broad and varied perceptions of deviance. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 5  If a similar survey were conducted today, Which responses from this list might still occur with some frequency? Which might be less frequent? Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 6  Strict Conformity as Deviance A student film ( www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B-Ox0ZmVIU), illustrates a potential problem with strict conformity. In the five-minute video, college students filmed an experiment where they managed to have cars in every lane of the freeway driving exactly the speed limit. This created a wall of traffic and frustrated drivers in the cars behind them, leading to visible road rage. Do you think strict conformity can also be a form of deviance? Why or why not? Can you think of other circumstances in which strict conformity might be considered deviant? Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 7  Physical Deviance and Appearance: Ideals of Beauty, Self-Harm, and Body Modification Visible form of deviance. Types of physical deviance. Physical deviance as a marker. What is acceptable or desirable. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 8  Physical Deviance and Appearance: Ideals of Beauty, Self-Harm, and Body Modification Visible form of deviance: Physical deviance is perhaps the most visible form of deviance, and it can call up stereotypes, stigma, and discrimination. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 9  Physical Deviance and Appearance: Ideals of Beauty, Self-Harm, and Body Modification Two Types of Physical Deviance: 1. Violations of aesthetic norms, which refer to deviations from societal expectations about appearance, such as height, weight, or the presence/absence of physical disfigurements. 2. Physical incapacity, which includes individuals with physical disabilities. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 10  Physical Deviance and Appearance: Ideals of Beauty, Self-Harm, and Body Modification Physical deviance as a marker: Means that society uses a person's physical characteristics to judge them, Passersby might observe individuals with visible physical disabilities and may make assumptions about their other traits based on their appearance. When speaking to someone who is hard of hearing, others may unconsciously slow their speech, use simpler words, and speak louder, assuming the person struggles with understanding, not just hearing. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 11  Physical Deviance and Appearance: Ideals of Beauty, Self-Harm, and Body Modification What is acceptable or desirable: Our ideas of what is acceptable or desirable in terms of physical appearance vary widely, depending on the context. For example, you can observe this by visiting a local museum or browsing through an art book featuring paintings and photographs of women who were considered exceptionally beautiful during their era. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 12  Physical Deviance and Appearance: Ideals of Beauty, Self-Harm, and Body Modification Setting an unattainable standard. Snapchat dysmorphia. Self-injury: another form of physical deviance. Body modification: another form of physical deviance. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 13  Physical Deviance and Appearance: Ideals of Beauty, Self-Harm, and Body Modification Setting Unrealistic Standards: With the aid of professional hair and makeup, precise lighting, camera angles, and photo-editing tools, editors further slim down models' already slender figures. By establishing an ideal physical appearance that is virtually unattainable, this can contribute to deviant behaviors, such as harmful eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia, or the pursuit of unnecessary plastic surgeries. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 14  Physical Deviance and Appearance: Ideals of Beauty, Self-Harm, and Body Modification Snapchat dysmorphia: A condition in which people want to alter their physical appearance so that they look like their own filtered and altered selfies. Plastic surgeons have reported a significant increase in patients seeking procedures to improve their appearance for selfies. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 15  Physical Deviance and Appearance: Ideals of Beauty, Self-Harm, and Body Modification Self-Injury, another form of physical deviance. It includes behaviors like cutting, burning, branding, scratching, picking at skin, reopening wounds, biting, hair- pulling, and bone-breaking. Self-injury, though often harmful, is seen by many as an attempt at self-help. It offers temporary relief from anxiety, emotional pain, and mental distress, providing a sense of control and grounding by converting emotional pain into physical pain. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 16  Physical Deviance and Appearance: Ideals of Beauty, Self-Harm, and Body Modification Most people who engage in self-injury do not seek help from mental health professionals, and many of their injuries do not need medical treatment. As a result, the majority of self-injurers remain unnoticed in society. Self-injury is increasingly being "demedicalized," moving away from being seen as a mental illness and instead being classified as deviant behavior, reflecting the voluntary choices of those who engage in it Many described self-injury as a "quick fix" for managing difficult emotions, helping them stay productive in daily life. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 17  Physical Deviance and Appearance: Ideals of Beauty, Self-Harm, and Body Modification Body modification: “It includes piercings, scarification, extreme tattooing, and reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.” The reasons for body modification differ, but over 3,500 people have joined the Church of Body Modification, seeing their physical changes as a way to spiritually enhance the connection between body, mind, and soul. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 18  Physical Deviance and Appearance: Ideals of Beauty, Self-Harm, and Body Modification The Church of Body Modification is an organization that accepts new members only if they can clearly articulate their spirituality and explain how it relates to body modification on the membership application. https://churchofbodmod.com/mission-statement/ Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 19 The Most Tattooed Man in the World What would you think if you were walking down the street and passed a man covered entirely in leopard spots? It would probably make you look twice and would qualify as a deviant appearance in most of the world. What would you think if you were at the grocery store and ran into Tom Leppard, who has tattooed leopard spots over 99% of his body? https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/oct/28/scotland Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 20  Relationships and Deviance Sexually unconventional behavior. Rules by subcultures. Example: the Ashley Madison Agency. Polygamy: discredited form of relationship Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 21  Relationships and Deviance Sexually unconventional behavior. The field of sexual deviance may include exotic dancers, strippers, sex tourism, anonymous sex in public restrooms, bisexuality, online sexual predators, prostitutes, premarital chastity, and many others. As with virtually every kind of deviance, sexual deviance is largely determined by the community, culture, and context. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 22  Relationships and Deviance Rules by subcultures: Societal norms influence our views on acceptable sexual behavior, but these boundaries are often challenged by emerging trends, businesses, and various subcultures that create their own rules. Ashley Madison Official Page Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 23  Relationships and Deviance The Ashley Madison Agency markets itself as a top discreet dating service for married individuals seeking affairs. Users can purchase an "Affair Guarantee" package, which offers a refund if they don't find a suitable partner within three months. This focus on anonymity underscores the ongoing stigma around extramarital relationships, with users preferring to remain anonymous. However, the site's need for privacy was severely challenged in August 2015, when a hack exposed the personal details of around 37 million users. Some were blackmailed with threats of revealing their involvement to friends, family, and social networks. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 24  Relationships and Deviance Polygamy: another frequently discredited form of relationship. It is a subculture in which men are allowed and encouraged to take multiple wives. some religions and subcultures still allow and encourage men to take multiple wives Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 25  Deviance in Cyberspace: Making up the Norms as we go Cyberdeviance: a relatively new phenomenon. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 26  Deviance in Cyberspace: Making up the Norms as we go Cyberdeviance: a relatively new phenomenon With the advancement of new technology, new forms of deviance have emerged. Approach to self-injury: Adler and Adler's (2007) study shows how self-injury has transcended into cyberspace, where the internet now provides self- injurers with safe spaces to connect, breaking their isolation. In the past, these individuals suffered silently, but the internet allowed them to find others who helped them feel less stigmatized and understood. By the mid-2000s, online communities emerged with varying approaches to self-injury: some focused on recovery, while others glorified it. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 27  Subcultural Deviance Research on subcultures. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 28  Subcultural Deviance Research on subcultures has been wide ranging (political, sexual, environmental, paranormal experiences) 1.Hamm studied terrorist subcultures, examining the “complex ways in which music, literature, symbolism and style are used to construct terrorism”. 2.Others have written about “fat admirers,” men who have a strong, erotic desire for obese women; 3. Radical environmentalist organizations; 4. The subculture of UFO contactees and abductees. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 29  Elite Deviance, Corporate Deviance, and Workplace Misconduct Criminal and deviant acts by large corporations. Types of harm in elite deviance. Study on corporate transgressions. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 30 Elite Deviance, Corporate Deviance, and Workplace Misconduct Elite deviance: It refers to criminal and deviant acts committed by large corporations, powerful political organizations, and individuals with prestige and influence; may result in: 1.physical harms, including death or physical injury; 2. financial harms, including robbery, fraud, and various scams; and 3.moral harms, which are harder to define but encourage distrust and alienation among members of the lower and middle classes. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 31 Elite Deviance, Corporate Deviance, and Workplace Misconduct Study on corporate transgressions: Bandura, Caprara, and Zsolnai examined corporate transgressions, focusing on how corporations can adopt practices that violate laws and harm the public. The study identifies several disengagement mechanisms that contributed to these tragedies, such as moral justification, shifting responsibility, ignoring consequences, dehumanizing victims, … Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 32 Much more common and smaller-scale form of deviance is workplace deviance. Table 2.2 documents the percentage of employees taking part in the “invisible social problem” of workplace misconduct (Huiras, Uggen, & McMorris, 2000). Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 33  Positive Deviance Intentional behaviors that depart from community norms. Example: positive deviance shown by Merck. Line between positive deviance and crime. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 34  Positive Deviance Positive deviance: Generally understood as intentional behaviors that depart from community norms in honorable ways. Example: In 1978, Merck & Co. discovered a potential cure for river blindness, a debilitating disease affecting the developing world. Initially a veterinary antibiotic, the medication was found to be effective in treating the disease. However, Merck faced a dilemma: producing the drug would not be financially viable since it would not recover costs from the developing world, and any side effects could damage the drug’s reputation. Despite these challenges, Merck decided to distribute the drug for free, incurring millions of dollars in costs. This decision helped eradicate river blindness, Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 35  Positive Deviance The line between positive deviance and crime is extremely hard to define. Edward Snowden, a former CIA technician, became a whistleblower by leaking classified documents that exposed widespread NSA surveillance on ordinary citizens. While some consider him a traitor and a threat to national security, others view him as a hero who exposed government overreach. Snowden sought asylum in Russia and remains a controversial figure, with opinions divided on whether his actions were justified or criminal. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 36  Discussion Sunshine Superman, a documentary about Carl Boenish, known as the father of BASE jumping; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrqNMEypHzI.  Would you consider Boenish as deviant or innovative?  Could Boenish’s actions possibly be considered Positive Deviance? Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 37  Global Perspectives on Types of Deviance Social Control of Homosexuality Being gay. Homosexuality is illegal. Anti-Homosexuality Bill. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 38  Global Perspectives on Types of Deviance Homosexuality is illegal in many African countries, including Uganda. In 2009, Uganda proposed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill (e.g., Individuals convicted of engaging in homosexual acts could face life imprisonment) The bill sparked international outrage, with European nations threatening to withdraw aid from Uganda if it passed. As a result, the bill was temporarily shelved. However, despite the bill not becoming law, gays and gay rights activists in Uganda continue to face informal but severe social sanctions, which can be deadly. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 39  Disparity and Deviance: Differential Treatment in Dealing with Addiction, Prostitution, and Graffiti Drug Use and Addiction Celebrities with addictions. Poor and working-class addicts. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 40  Disparity and Deviance: Differential Treatment in Dealing with Addiction, Prostitution, and Graffiti When deciding whether an act or a characteristic is deviant, the social class and status of the actor(s) can make all the difference. Celebrities with addictions: Celebrities go to rehab, checking themselves into treatment facilities for a variety of ailments, including addictions to prescription pills, alcohol, and cocaine. They have the resources to go to expensive facilities where their privacy and care is closely guarded. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 41  Disparity and Deviance: Differential Treatment in Dealing with Addiction, Prostitution, and Graffiti Poor and Working-Class Addicts: Any U.S. rehabilitation centers work with drug courts and diversion programs, treating clients referred by court order rather than choice. A recent study calls these centers "strong-arm rehab," marked by long stays, strict structures, mutual surveillance, and a focus on character reform. This is highlighting how different social groups are treated in the criminal justice and rehabilitation systems. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 42  Disparity and Deviance: Differential Treatment in Dealing with Addiction, Prostitution, and Graffiti Prostitution Media images of prostitution. People in sugar relationships. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 43 Disparity and Deviance: Differential Treatment in Dealing with Addiction, Prostitution, and Graffiti Media images of prostitution: Media images of prostitution range from the streetwalker working the corner to the expensive and exclusive call girl working to satisfy her wealthy clients. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 44 Disparity and Deviance: Differential Treatment in Dealing with Addiction, Prostitution, and Graffiti People in sugar relationships: Scull conducted 48 in-depth interviews with women in the United States who had been in sugar relationships and she identified seven types of sugar relationships, “only one of which can be considered prostitution.” While 40% of the women that Scull interviewed never had sex with a benefactor, in all cases, the women accepted money or gifts in exchange for their time and companionship. Scull argues that the majority of sugar relationships differ from prostitution because they are not direct “pay-for-play” relationships. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 45  Disparity and Deviance: Differential Treatment in Dealing with Addiction, Prostitution, and Graffiti Graffiti Defacing public property: vandalism or art? Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 46  Disparity and Deviance: Differential Treatment in Dealing with Addiction, Prostitution, and Graffiti Defacing public property: Some graffiti writers set out to offend people in the community, viewing their practice as a key aspect of a rebel lifestyle Illegal graffiti can be seen as a subcultural activity that provides graffiti writers with excitement and risk. Many of these writers lead double lives, concealing their everyday identities behind their distinctive graffiti tags. Graffiti elders, like Andrew "Zephyr" Witten, continue to use spray paint well into middle age, balancing the responsibilities of parenthood and conventional careers with the illicit excitement of illegally painting trains or other people's property. However, some graffiti murals, such as those by British artist Banksy, have been recognized as legitimate public art. Inderbitzin, Deviance and Social Control, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 47