Final Proposal - Sociology
Why Are People Deviant?
Sociological theories of deviance
A key theme of functional theories of deviance is that deviance serves necessary functions that contribute to the overall stability of our society.
Functional theories of deviance include…
Durkheim’s theory of deviance
Merton’s strain theory
Deviant subculture theory
Functionalist THEORIES
Sociologist Emile Durkheim identified several core functions or roles that deviance serves for society. These include:
Declaring some behaviors as deviant establishes clear boundaries between right and wrong.
Deviance upholds society’s norms and values regarding acceptable behavior. In other words, we can’t know what “good” behavior is if we don’t designate what’s not.
When people react to deviant behavior, it unites them and solidifies group ties and group beliefs about morality. For example, think about the way the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2011 united American society.
Deviance can lead to social change. When deviants violate social norms, as many students did during the Civil Rights Movement, they raise awareness about the need for and help create social change.
Durkheim’s theory of deviance
Robert Merton theorized that deviant behavior is a function of the level of strain people feel as they try to achieve goals deemed culturally important (such as obtaining a college degree or achieving financial success). He argued that when people have the means to achieve such goals they are less likely to engage in deviant behavior.
Merton identified five categories that describe the extent to which people follow or don’t follow the goals and means society deems acceptable.
Merton’s strain theory
Conformity
Pursuing culturally acceptable goals through culturally approved means
Innovation
Using culturally disapproved means to achieve culturally acceptable goals
Ritualism
Giving up on culturally acceptable goals while still conforming to acceptable means of achieving those goals
Retreatism
Rejecting culturally approved goals and the acceptable means of achieving them
Rebellion
Challenging culturally approved goals and means of achieving them and posing or practicing new alternatives
According to Richard Clowin and Lloyd Ohlin, deviance occurs when people have access to illegitimate opportunity structures where they can achieve through illegitimate (often illegal) activities what they may not be able to achieve through traditional legal channels.
Clowin and Ohlin expanded on Merton’s strain theory and through their research on gangs indentified three types of deviant subcultures:
Criminal subcultures, where drug dealing, robbery, and other illegal acts are used as the primary source of income
Conflict subcultures, where members use fighting and violence as a way to demand respect
Retreatist subcultures, where deviants “drop out” of society and abuse drugs and alcohol or otherwise disengage from
Opportunity structure theory
A key theme of symbolic interaction theories of deviance is that people learn deviant behavior through their interactions with other people.
Symbolic interaction theories of deviance include…
Labeling theory
Differential association theory
Control theory
SYMBOLIC INTERACTION THEORIES
Labeling theory emphasizes that what and whom is defined as deviant varies according to time and place. In other words, what one person sees as deviant another person may view as normal behavior.
According to this theory, deviance is a socially constructed process where some people and behaviors are labeled as deviant. Some people labeled as deviant may accept the label they’ve been given and behave according to the expectations of that label.
Labeling theory
Ever heard the saying, “you are who you hang out with,” often a warning admonished by concerned parents of teenagers? This is exactly what Edwin Sutherland’s differential association theory captures.
According to Sutherland, those who are more often in contact with people who engage in deviant behavior are more likely to participate in that behavior themselves. Similarly, this theory argues that people who aren’t often around deviant behavior are less likely to be deviant.
DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION THEORY
According to sociologist Travis Hirschi, when a person has close ties to family, friends, school, and other social institutions, they are more likely to anticipate and worry about the potential negative reactions if they engage in deviant behavior. Being connected to society, and envisioning the consequences of behavior, are factors that reduce the likelihood of deviance.
Hirschi identified four key ways in which social ties and adherence and belief in cultural norms and values act as “social controls” that reduce deviance.
Control theory
Attachment
Strong social attachments promote conformity and reduce the likelihood of deviance.
Opportunity
Access to legitimate opportunities improves a person’s confidence in his or her ability to succeed.
Involvement
Being involved in legitimate activities, such as having a job, earning a degree, playing sports, or taking singing lessons, leaves less room for deviance.
Belief
People who respect authority figures and believe in standard rules governing morality are less likely to engage in deviant behaviors.
Conflict theories of deviance focus on the way in which how deviance is defined, and who is labeled as deviant, often depends on who holds power within society.
Conflict theorists argue that deviance is a result of the social inequality within society and that norms and laws regarding behavior are reflections of the interests of the rich and powerful.
According to conflict theory, those without power are more likely to be defined as deviant. For example, we are more likely to label homeless people on the streets as deviant than executives engaged in white-collar crime.
Conflict theories