FormalandInformalDeviance

FORMAL AND INFORMAL DEVIANCE 3

Formal and Informal Deviance

Tamika Kelly

GCU

SOC-220

Professor Mitchell

01/23/2021

Formal deviance is an act done by an individual that is against the law of a country. Murder, theft, and robbery are formal deviance examples; hence, they were still against the law and social norms. Informal deviance is the violation of social norms that are not enacted as law in a country or society. Polygamist an example of informal deviance and is approved by the community but is against the law.

Historically, formal deviance has dealt with different ways and forms, such as

Hammurabi's code is a paraphrase of an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. The principle illustrated that if a person steals another person's properties, his or her hand was chopped off (Hong, 2017). Other codes explained that if you commit a crime, you were to be stone to death. In modern days, criminals are arrested by the police or the public member, and they are prosecuted in a court of law. During the legal process, the accused person can challenge the evidence, and they cannot be punished until proven guilty.

Traditionally, informal deviance was also dealt with in different ways. For instance, practicing polygamy was not allowed, and people who practiced it were supposed to pay tax. The more you marry many wives, the more you pay a hefty tax. In modern days, polygamy is prohibited, and if a person has practiced, he will be charged under civil law.

Modern solutions are the best because they can challenge the evidence in court and prove them innocent and set free. In traditional methods, a person had no chance to prove him or herself innocent hence he or she was subjected to punishment immediately. Modern solutions replaced historical solutions because some of the answers were inflicting injuries. Also, most of them were violating human rights.

Reference

Lee, J. S., Tajima, E. A., Herrenkohl, T. I., & Hong, S. (2017). Effects of formal and informal deviant labels in adolescence on crime in adulthood. Social Work Research, 41(2), 97-110.