Theories of Deviance

Ledford
01/2009
 Three Schools
Structural Functionalism (not normal
by norms, values, or laws)
*deviations come from the formation of
norms and values which are enforced by
institutions
*macro view of deviance
*deviants are not deviant by nature but
rather are born our of institutions arbitrarily
creating new prescriptions or proscriptions
 Symbolic Interactionism
*looks at individual vs. institutional
*deviance is learned
Conflict Theory
1. conflict arises between individuals
and groups
2. deviance is a reaction due to conflict
between individuals and groups (usually
over resources)
 3 School Breakdown by Theory
Structural Functionalism
1. Durkheims Anomie
2. Mertons Strain Theory
Symbolic Interactionism
1. Sutherlands Differential Association
2. Sykes & Matzas Nuetralization Theory
3. Tannenbaum & Beckers Labeling Theory
4. Hirschis Control Theory
Conflict Theory
1. Marx
2. Michel Focaults Discipline and Punish and the
Panopticon
Constructionism is the blending of
labeling and conflict theories.
 Strain Theory by Robert Agnew
Adler and Adler 2009

Deviance looked at in terms of goals vs.

means to obtain those goals

Merton added to Anomie coined by Emile

Durkheim (will be discussed next session)
in that he added the phrase legitimate
before means
 Strain Theory cont.d
Institutionalized Means

Accept Reject
Accept
Cultural Coals

Conformity (1) Innovations (2)

Ritualism (3) Retreatism (4)

Reject

New Means
Rebellion (5)

New Goals
Explanations on the next slidenote the numbers in each box.
 Strain Theory Cont.d
1) White collar employee who holds a full time
job to support their family.
2) Drug dealer who sells drugs to support their
family.
3) White collar employee who holds a job but is
completed disenfranchised with American
Dream.
4) Drug addicts who dont care about social
goals and use drugs to escape reality.
5) Radicals who want to change capitalist
system in order to build new social structure.
 Control Theory by Hirschi
Adler and Adler 2009

Why do people refrain from deviant

behavior?

Norms deter criminal behavior

Deterrence occurs when people believe

theres more to gain by refraining from
deviance
 Control Theory cont.d
Hirschis Four Factors of Control
1) Commitment
2) Attachment
3) Belief
4) Involvement
*They are all positively correlated.
 Differential Association
by Sutherland and Cressy
Adler and Adler 2009

Not nature, its nurture that causes

deviance

Acquisition of deviant knowledge no

different than the acquisition of any other
knowledge
 Differential Association cont.d
Assumptions
1) Learning takes place using
communication within intimate groups
2) Techniques, motives, drives,
rationalizations, and attitudes = learned!
3) Excess of definition favorable to
deviation
4) Legitimate and illegitimate behavior both
express same general needs and values
 Functionalism by Emile Durkheim
Adler and Adler 2009

Deviance is not an illness but rather

something that contributes to societys positive
functioning.
Crime is normal as long as it doesnt exceed
certain levels. This is true because a society
without it is IMPOSSIBLE.
a) this is because if there were no crime,
everyone would agree on whats right, and how
is that diversenew diversities in
beliefs/values/etc would emerge
 Functionalism by Emile Durkheim
cont.d
Imagine a society of saints, a perfect
cloister of exemplary individuals.

Something will emerge as deviant and will

be judged, eventually. This is because,
What confers this character upon them is
not the intrinsic quality of a given act but
the definition which the collective
conscience lends them.
Constructionist Stance by Joel Best
Adler and Adler 2009

Constructionism is a marriage between

labeling and conflict theories.
This perspective frames the majority of
articles in your text.

Reality, that is everything

we understand about the
world, is socially constructed.
Constructionism by Best Cont.d
Born of two developments:
1) The Social Construction of Reality by
Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann
(1966)
2) Labeling Theory, leading approach to
study of deviance in the 60s (labeling
theory came under fire in the 70s-
construnctionism is an answer of sorts)
Constructionism by Best Cont.d
The Constructionist had to look at the claims and
the claim-makers. They were now looking at the
construction of social problems as opposed to
deviance.
Eventually, the pendulum swung back towards
the study of deviance because after all after wife
abuse is defined as a social problem, the officer
must still define- or construct- the events as an
incident of wife abuse.
Therefore, deviance is also socially constructed.
 Durkheims Anomie
Adler and Adler 2006

Emile Durkheim was a 19th Century

Frenchmen who studied suicide: He is
regarded as the father of Sociology.

Anomie is a lack of an individuals

personal norms, values, beliefs and is
often referred to as normlessness.
 Durkheims Anomie Cont.d
a) Those who commit suicide have less to bind
them to stable social norms and goals
b) Two dimensions of the social bond
1. social integration
*attachment to groups
and institutions
independent
2. social regulation
*adherence to the norms
and values of society
Durkheims Anomie cont.d
Integration Regulation

Egoism: Very Anomie: Very

Unintegrated Unregulated

Altruism: Very Fatalism: Very

Integrated Regulated
 Durkheims Anomie Cont.d
Types of Suicide
1) Altruistic: death for the good of the group
2) Egoistic: death for the removal of the self
either due to or lack of ties to others
3) Anomic: death for the confounding of
self-interests and societies norms
Neutralization by Sykes and Matza
Adler and Adler 2006
Deviants will rationalize behaviors or
conditions as OK
1) Denial of Responsibility- propelled helplessly
2) Denial of Injury- doesnt hurt anyone and/ or
not morally wrong
3) Denial of Victim- the victim did not receive
harm
4) Condemnatation of the Condemners- theyre
hypocrites or deviants too
5) Appeal to Higher Loyalties: family, friendship,
God more important than law or conforming
 Labeling Theory by Becker and Tannenbaum
Adler and Adler 2006

Step 1: Dominant Group applies deviant label

Step 2: The now-labeled Deviant internalizes
the label
Step 3: Deviant acts accordingly & takes on
real deviant outlook, appearance, action

*Elements of conflict theory as dominant group

decides who gets labeled.
 Labeling Theory cont.d
Edwin Lemert coined Primary and
Secondary deviance
Primary Secondary
*before deviant label *after deviant label
*admitted or reported *reaction to label
Also:
Retrospective = self labeling in reflection
Prospective = sees future acts as deviant
 Labeling Theory Cont.d
Steps to Becoming Deviant
1) Primary Deviation
2) Social Penalties (as a result of label)
3) Secondary Deviance
4) Stronger Penalties
5) Further deviance with resentment/ hostility
6) Community stigmatizes individual
7) Strengthening of deviant conduct b/c of #4 &6
8) Acceptance of role as deviant or criminal
Michel Foucaults Discipline and Punish
Adler and Adler 2006
 Discipline and Punish cont.d
Punishment in the form of torture has been
phased out of modern society due to the
dispersion of power
Modern state receives praise for its fairness and
dispersion of power which controls the masses
vs. the individual
Institutions control people through the use of
discipline like the modern prison (panopticon)
Postmodern society is characterized by a lack of
free-will on the part of the individual
Institutions of knowledge, norms and values are
simply in place to categorize and control
humans