There are two approaches to defining deviance that I believe best explains deviant behavior. Heckert and Heckert 's (article 2) Integrated Typology and Becker’s (article 3) Labeling Theory, to me, make the most sense. Heckert and Heckert (article 2) take an innovated approach to defining deviance by recognizing the many facets that exist within the term. By acknowledging four different types of deviance, Heckert and Heckert (article 2) explain how deviance can present itself in various fashions. Through their use of integrated typology, deviance is defined using four terms: Negative Deviance, Rate Busting, Deviance Admiration, and Positive Deviance. Heckert and Heckert (article 2) recognize that deviance can be seen as both positive and negative
2.) Deviance – Deviance is the idea of an action of event that goes against the morals / ideals of the culture or society that the event occurs within. 3.) Snitch – Someone who tells authorities about illegal activities perpetrated by those within their peer group. C.)
Many groups or cultures have different views on what is considered deviant.
In Wayward Puritans Erikson argues that there is no notable difference between people who participate in deviant acts and those who do not. Deviance therefore is a social construction; it is defined by what society deems normal. What is considered deviant in one society is not necessarily deviant in another. The label of deviance is conferred upon certain behaviors, often by those in power. Dominant groups in society set expectations for what is acceptable behavior, which helps to keep people in line with dominant group expectations.
In most cases, if not all, criminal acts are recognized as deviant, but deviant acts do not have to be criminal. A certain behavior is acknowledged as deviant on three foundations: what others define deviant behavior as,
Deviant behavior is the behavior that is different from the most powerful norms of the society or can also be defined as odd or unacceptable behavior. In sociological way deviance is simply any violation of societal norms. There are many reasons why a person has deviant behavior which includes biological , psychological and sociological explanations. the most popular sociological theories are Structural Strain Theory which was developed by Robert K merton as an addition of the functional point of view on deviance. The theory discovers the origin of deviance that these are caused by the difference
According to Hunt and Colandar (2011), a word deviant refers to when an individual’s actions contradict with society’s norms. For instance, majority peoples followed norms because society expect individual to behave in morally tolerate with each other. Those failing to conform the norms noted as deviant. In a social context, the task of the society is to blind the action of the social community together. Once failing to act them to the society’s reaction that seem as deviant.
As defined by Edwin Lemert, primary deviance, “ is polygenic, arising out of a variety of social, cultural, and psychological factors” (Lemert 1951). This is the type of deviance that occurs initially and does not necessarily have a deep impact on an individual’s life. Lemert could argue that everyone has performed acts of primacy deviance but this primary deviance does not associate completely with the deviant label. Those who commit acts of primary deviance often do not know that they are going against the norm or it is out of their usual character to act in a deviant manner. For example, a 4.0 student who decides to steal a small snack from a gas station is classified under primary deviance because it is an initial isolated incident.
Deviance is defined as "any violation of norms, whether the infraction is as minor as driving over the speed limit, as serious as murder, or as humorous as Chagnon 's encounter with the Yanomamo" (Henslin 194). One statement that stuck out to me was sociologist Howard S. Becker 's definition of deviance: "It is not the act itself, but the reactions to the act, that make something deviant" (Henslin 194). One reaction that acts as a punishment for a deviant or minor criminal is the criminal justice system. On page 211 in our book, it is stated that "the working class and those below them pose a special threat to the power elite" (Henslin). As a result of this threat, the law and punishment comes down harder on the lower class than it does on the upper class.
Although the term deviance usually carried a negative characteristic in first impression trough out history, afterward the term positive deviance was also introduced and analyzed. To begin with according to (“positive deviance.org”2015), “Positive Deviance is established on the inspection that in every community there are certain individuals or groups whose uncommon behaviors and strategies enable them to find better solutions to problems than their colleagues, while having access to the same resources and facing similar or even worse challenges”. “Positive deviance somehow exceeds social expectations. Moreover positive deviance can also be defined as individual or acts of individuals in a society that are superior because they super pass
Defining their deviant behavior is more difficult, but their definition of that behavior isn’t seen as deviant . They learned to accept that deviant behavior as a norm. Mary was a horrible mother to Precious, but instead of raising her kids the way her mother raised her, Precious did the opposite. Precious didn’t accept the abuse; therefore she didn’t conform. Precious tried to better her life by using her imagination to escape her world and also by trying to complete school meanwhile her mother would call her” dummy.”
In the Roughnecks vs Saints, the roughnecks went around doing dangerous things. When the roughnecks did something everyone in the town heard about it. However when the saints were participating in dangerous activity they did it with utmost secrecy and were never detected or labeled as deviant. Being labeled as deviant comes from doing risky things seen as bad in society. Once one has done something deviant and society labels them as a deviant they internalize the way society perceives them and moves on to secondary deviance.
A perfect example of deviance would be when Derek was incarcerated he witness some of the guys from his brother hood were making drug deals with the Mexicans. By Derek’s standards and his outside group they were not allowed to interact with anybody but their own race. When Derek disrespected his brotherhood during recreation time by sitting alone, the group members saw that as deviant which is why he was then raped by them to teach him a lesson and put him back in line. A second example of deviance was when Derek was released from prison he wanted to end his life with the group and start a new life. But his group saw him as a god because he murdered two black people when he told his group members they called him a traitor and a nigger lover.
Deviance has many functions in society. Although deviance violates social norms, without it, we would not have rules, so it helps form, guide, and shape society’s norms and goals. Social norms are different from culture to culture. Norms that may be acceptable in one culture may be frowned upon in another. Emile Durkheim quotes that “deviance and deviant behavior is an integral part of all healthy societies (Adler, 2014, p74).”
Sugeny Genao Writing Assignment 3 SOCI 321 February 18, 2018 Why are some successful? Why do some commit crimes? Society has general laws, offenders who break those laws are known as being deviants. Society views robbery, assault, and murder, as deviant acts. Cultural Deviance Theory is a, “branch of social structure theory that sees strain and social disorganization together resulting in a unique lower-class culture that conflicts with conventional social norms” (Siegel, 2018, P. 581).