Lecture 5

Deviance Week 4 Overview of Today’s Lecture Defining deviance Constructing deviance Analyzing Deviance Within the Realm of Sociological Theories of Deviance Defining “deviance” The violation of social norms, behavior perceived as: Not “normal” Morally Devalued Varies across societies and among members of social groups Review -- What are social norms? Behavioural codes or prescriptions that guide people into actions and self-presentations conforming to social acceptability THUS -- Who decides what is or is not deviant? Functionalist Perspective Society is the source of definitions of deviance. Deviance functions to: Unify society Show what is allowed or not allowed Call attention to flaws in the system Promote social adaptation Symbolic Interactionist Perspective Deviance is socially constructed. Social groups create deviance by making rules, applying those rules to particular people, and labelling them outsiders Deviance is not a quality of the act, but a consequence of the application of rules and sanctions. (2005: Education Canada) Conflict Perspective Deviance is determined by those in power. Two approaches: Pluralist position: moral entrepreneurs: various individuals and groups compete to have their definitions accepted Critical school: economic elite is the major force behind definitions. They accept that a consensus could prevail, e.g., about murder, but will ensure that their interests are met. Feminist Perspective Concerned about the imbalance in a field written by and about men. Highlights: Experiences of women, especially as victims Differential treatment of men and women, e.g., prostitutes are arrested more than “johns” How smaller size affects violence Do men accept women as accomplices? (2005, Education Canada) Crime and Deviance Is crime a subset of deviance? Much of deviance is not criminal For example – eating disorders, unwed pregnancy, and body-building Applying a Deviant Label ? Once definitions exist, the reaction of others is crucial in deciding who is and is not a deviant. Rule breakers: Commit deviant acts & exist as deviants (see Fig 5.1). Crime funnel ? loss that takes place from crimes committed to convictions. varies by type of crime and province Do all crimes violate norms? For example – forms of civil disobedience, speeding, some forms of white-collar crime (tax evasion) Overlapping Categories Do all crime violate norms? DEVIANCE CRIME Gothic style Computer nerd Smoking Tax evasion Speeding Murder Theft Two Forms of Crime Data Self-report and victimization data: respondents report crimes committed or experienced in surveys. Numbers are much higher than official data Subject to the problems of surveys Official data: collected and processed by police and courts Different rates can occur for different groups, e.g., classes, sexes, some visible minorities Disadvantaged often have higher rates (2005: Education Canada) Sociological Theories of Deviance Human ecology: different city areas have different levels and types of crime. But is this showing cause or selection (the attraction of deviants)? CONSTRUCTING DEVIANCE Absolutist The perspective that something obvious and inherent within an act, belief, or condition makes deviant Social Constructionist Deviance is defined by people, varying in time and place Anomie Theory Anomie theory ? people who have traditional goals may not have legitimate means. They innovate, cheat or steal, for goals. Official crime rates are higher for the disadvantaged and young. Ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion are options. Anomie Theory’s Problems: Holds up less well with self-report crime Is sexist: women are denied means but are not criminal (2005: Education Canada) Merton’s Strain Theory People who do not have legitimate means to an approved goal (e.g., wealth) use illegitimate means (e.g., crime). This is called innovation. Subcultures Norms, beliefs, attitudes and other cultural elements are shared within the group Individuals deviate from conventional values in order to conform to the group The group provides tutelage relationships, power and acceptance Therefore, loyalty is strong Structural-Functional Analysis Emile Durkheim Deviance affirms cultural values and norms. Responding to deviance clarifies moral boundaries. Responding to deviance promotes unity. Deviance encourages social change. Hirschi’s Control Theory Deviance is Deterred by: 1) Attachment – Strong social attachments encourage conformity. 2) Commitment - The greater a person’s commitment to legitimate opportunities, the greater conformity. 3) Involvement - Time and energies linked to “legitimate” activities inhibit deviance. 4) Belief - Strong belief in conventional morality and respect for authority figures inhibits deviance. “Broken homes & a weak attachment to school are related to delinquency. But are social ties only what keeps us all from deviance?” (2005: Teevan & Hewitt) Social-Conflict Analysis Deviance and power Norms or laws reflect interests of rich and powerful Powerful have resources to resist deviant labels Belief that norms and laws are natural and good masks political character Deviance and Capitalism (Spitzer, 1980) Those who threaten private property Those who cannot or will not work People who resist authority People who challenge the status quo Social-Conflict Analysis – Cont’d White-Collar Crime crimes committed by people of high social position in the course of their occupations: fraud, bribery, and embezzlement Which is worse – street crime or white collar crime? Symbolic-Interaction Analysis Labelling theory deviance and conformity result not so much from what people do, as from how others respond to those actions Stigma Goffman’s term – refers to a trait or attribute possessed by a person which dominates how they are viewed and perceived by others Medicalization of Deviance phenomenon where everyday life is becoming under the authority of doctors. Ex. menopause, child birth, aging, physical fitness, hair loss, etc. Social Processes and Deviance Differential association: learning deviance through association with deviant groups. Techniques of neutralization: rationalizes guilt by Denial of injury Denial of victim Denial of personal responsibility Condemning the condemners Appeal to higher loyalties (2005: Education Canada) Social Processes and Deviance – Cont’d Labelling theory victims can forget crime or call police. If call police then deviance amplifying process, reacting to deviance may increase it. Self-fulfilling prophesy: Primary deviance: deviance occurs Labelled as a problem and more occurs Punishment leads to Secondary deviance: self-definition as deviant and a deviant career develops Social Foundations of Deviance: Deviance varies according to cultural norms across Canada and internationally. People become deviant as others define them that way. Both norms and the way people define situations involve social power.