Deviance Definitions and Theories PDF

Deviance Definitions and theories of deviant behavior  Deviance Deviance is defined as any behavior that violates that standards or expectations of a group or society. Sociologists are concerned with normative violations not “statistical deviance”.  Deviance...

Deviance Definitions and theories of deviant behavior  Deviance Deviance is defined as any behavior that violates that standards or expectations of a group or society. Sociologists are concerned with normative violations not “statistical deviance”.  Deviance Two general approaches to understanding deviant behavior: 1. Absolutist approach contends that there is an absolute right and absolute wrong behavior which exists above and beyond the bounds of society. Those who engage in these wrong behaviors should be seen as sick or dangerous. Society must work to eliminate these types and behaviors and help/remove those who engage in them.  Deviance 2. Relativist approach argues that behavior can only be understood as right/wrong in the situation where it occurred. Relativists maintain that no behavior is inherently correct or incorrect.  This judgment can only be made by knowing the norms in play at the time of the action.  Medicalization of deviance Medicalization is the process whereby previously non-medical aspects of life come to be seen in medical terms, usually as disorders or illnesses. A wide range of phenomena has been medicalized , including normal life events (birth, death), biological processes (aging, menstruation), common human problems (learning and sexual difficulties), and forms of deviance. Problems that, in the past, had typically been viewed as personal failings (overeating, alcoholism, addictive behaviors) were now seen as treatable medical conditions.  Medicalization of deviance Medicalization of deviance (Conrad 1982) refers to the process whereby non- normative or morally condemned appearance (obesity, unattractiveness, shortness), belief (mental disorder, racism), and conduct (drinking, gambling, sexual practices) come under medical jurisdiction. Also refers to the increasing tendency of our culture to allow deviant behavior to be defined by and handled by the medical community.  Often much of the deviance is not handled by the criminal justice system it is turned over to the medical community.  Conflict: Deviance as power Generally speaking, there are two institutions designed to deal with deviant behavior within society; medical community and the justice system.  There is concern that both have become too powerful in they each can decide what is/isn’t deviant and how the deviance should be treated. 1. Criminalization of deviance refers to the tendency of our society to allow deviant behavior to be defined by and handled by the criminal justice system. Conflict theorists argue that criminalization works to insure those in the lowest social classes are consistently defined as deviant (in this case criminal).  “Normal crimes” (Sudnow 1960) desire of public defenders to make crimes seem “typical” so they can pursue plea deals and avoid court cases.  New Jim Crow (Alexander) “Where have all the Black men gone?” To jail, on drug related charges. Popular narrative focuses on black men as “irresponsible”.  Ignores impact of mass incarceration on black community. In Chicago, 55% of adult, black, male population are felons which accounts for 80% of the black, male workforce.  Nearly 8800 adult, black, male felons in 2005 (up from 469 in 1985).  More black men in Illinois prisons than in Illinois state universities.  New Jim Crow (Alexander) Three stages: Roundup of vast numbers of people through sweeps in poor communities of color. Formal control which involves poor legal representation leading to plea deals, harsh sentences, and sentences in dangerous prisons. Invisible punishment which assures difficulty reintegrating to society.  Convicts face discrimination in housing, employment, removal of voting rights, jury service, and public benefits.  Criminalization Deterrence theory is the idea that if you make the punishment for certain types of crimes severe enough the crimes will be prevented. For deterrence to be effective, the offender must believe:  They will be caught.  The threatened punishment will happen.  The punishment will be worse than their current life. Concern within conflict theory that deterrence results in poor minorities being overrepresented in prison and on death row.  Innocence Project (Scheck) has freed 251 innocent people in prison (including 9 on death row) and found 158 real perpetrators.  These prisoners spent an average of 14 years in prison  ~70% were racial/ethnic minorities; most were poor.  Criminalization White-collar crime refers to any offense committed in the context of an individual’s legitimate occupation during the course of their regular business activities. White-collar crime has…  The highest monetary cost of any crime.  Some of the lowest amounts of prosecution.  Among the shortest prison terms upon conviction. Functionalism: Deviance as functional “Society of saints” (Durkheim 1895)  “Crime is the most normal of all behavior…” Strain theory (Merton, 1968)- Also referred to as anomie theory of deviance. According to Merton every society has 1) an ultimate goal and 2) an acceptable means to achieve that goal. The desire to earn the goal using the acceptable means is what motivates people and keeps them behaving normally.  Functionalism: Deviance as dysfunction Deviance occurs when the structures break down and some people are disconnected from the goals or the means of achievement.  These people are now experience normlessness (or anomie) because of the disconnection. The strain associated with the anomie causes one of 5 possible reactions: Ritualism where the individual continues to adhere to the acceptable means while giving up on the goals.  Simply going through the motions with no desire to succeed.  Functionalism: Deviance as dysfunction Innovation is continuing to pursue the goal but using illegitimate means to do so. Retreatism is abandoning both the goal and means of achievement and fundamentally withdrawing from society.  May involve total withdraw from society or the substituting of a new goal/means for the individual. Rebellion is the substitution of your own goals and means along with the desire to fundamentally change the society and structures. Conformity is continuing adhere to the societal goals despite the strain.  SI: Deviance as learned behavior Control/Bond theory (Hirschi, 1969) argues that what we would currently call “deviance” is a human’s natural state of being.  Conformity is the unique behavior that must be explained. If left to ourselves, humans become hedonistic and will do whatever feels good at a given time.  Things that, to us, would now be considered deviant. Most people resist following their “deviant” instincts because of social bonds formed between themselves and people/things within society.  To behave in a deviant way would put these bonds in jeopardy so we follow the rules rather than risk the bond. So for Hirschi, deviance is prevented if everyone has bonded well to society.  SI: Deviance as learned behavior Differential association (Sutherland 1937) is sometimes more generally referred to as “cultural transmission”. DA argues that people become deviant due to association with deviant people. Sutherland says that deviants learn not just the idea of deviant behavior but the behaviors, motives, justifications, rationales, and techniques from other deviants.  SI: Deviance as a label Labeling theory (Becker 1963) concentrates more on the meaning associated with deviance than the act itself. Becker argues that deviance is not a behavior but a consequence of a behavior. Behavior is only seen as deviant once it is noticed and labeled as unacceptable.  For Becker there is no such thing as a deviant act, only the repercussions of having your behavior labeled as deviant.  SI: Deviance as a label Primary deviance are initial violations that tend to provoke little reaction from society and/or change in self- concept of the individual. Secondary deviance causes a change to the individual’s self-concept due to repeated labeling by society (Lemert 1972).  Individual now works to meet the expectations of the label resulting in increased deviance.  SI: Deviance as a label ErvingGoffman defines a stigma (1963) as a deeply discrediting characteristics, widely viewed as an insurmountable obstacle, that prevents “completely competent or morally trustworthy behavior”. ForGoffman, if you have a stigma you will never be seen as normal or equal by the rest of society.  SI: Deviance as a label Keep in mind… Stigmas cannot be seen as positive, if they’re positive (or even neutral) they aren’t stigmatizing. Stigmas are created by society, society as a whole will decide if something is stigmatizing or not. Goffman is not saying this is good, he’s simply pointing out the unequal treatment the stigmatized will almost certainly receive. Goffman’s basic premise: You must be able to give a believable performance.  SI: Deviance as a label Three categories of stigma: Physical stigma or defects of the body. Character stigma or defects of the mind, personality or character. Tribal stigma or membership in a devalued social group. The danger with stigma is that if you have one stigma, you will usually be labeled with several.