Angezah Fernandes Mr. Mattas Ap Language 30 Nov. 2015 Conformity As humans, our lives are revolved around the line that separates conformity and individuality. Conformity is a type of social influence that includes a change of belief or behavior to fit into a group. Many people can cross the line too far back or too far forward, thus being too much of a conformist or too much of an individual.
After reading these articles I garnered a greater insight on what deviance is and how it is formed. According to the Outsiders reading, deviance is essentially a label that is put on a person of whom commits an act or exhibits behaviors that stray from what is normal or expected. These people are therefore also labeled as “outsiders”. Outsiders in that they are seen as those who are to be placed outside of a certain group do to their deviant behaviors. There exist many views of deviance.
As members of society we are always curious of pushing the limits of any system we are operating in, but where do you draw the line? Robert Ben Rhoades from an early age felt that there were no perimeters that bound him, so he frequently rebelled against the status quo. This act of defying society’s norms is defined by psychologists as deviance. Challenging society’s typical routine can act as innovation in a positive aspect, although more often than not this behavior violates social norms and expectations. Robert Ben Rhoades is classified as a deviant individual who challenged norms and negatively impacted society.
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.
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.
Deviance is considered a vagrant form of human activity, moving outside the more orderly currents of social life” (Erikson, 2013). Labeling theory is a major factor in criminal behavior. This theory gives insight on what can make an individual attracted to criminal behavior, opposed to wise decisions and acceptable behaviors. Kurbin shares with his readers that “ In contrast, labeling theory adopts a “ relativist” definition, assuming that nothing about a given behavior automatically makes it deviant. In other words, deviance is not a property of behavior, but rather that result of how others regard that behavior” (Chris E. Kubrin,
Also, Merton’s theory of social structure and anomie looks to clarify deviance. In this theory, circumstances in the social structure cause deviant conduct. An inequality of goals and their means of achievement is what cause deviant behavior. People do not have an equal chance to attain the goals. The low class does not have the same opportunities as the upper class.
dysfunction in America is a pretty common thing to most people. dysfunctions such as bribery during elections, the political parties not working together so solve problems. Such as, not having enough jobs in America. And lastly money problems in politics. But sometimes America and the people who are in it aren’t so bad.
1. How does Strain Theory define and explain deviance? Strain theory defines deviance as the situation whereby there exists a gap or difference between societal success goals and the determined means available to the society for achieving these goals. In a society, individuals share similar goals towards success and thus have agreeable means of achieving the same, however, when such an agreement is foregone such a society has a high rate of deviance.
Deviance is described as a violation of culture norms. In Jonestown as a Perverse Utopian they described it as a cult. There are cults all round the world however, it is not a norm to be in on or know of one personally. On December 8th, due to their utopian cult there was a mass suicide of 911 people. The leader believed that for many years the “followers needed” to be poisoned with opium and then cyanide.
In society, there are many standards that people must uphold to. In western society, it is uncommon for men to have long hair or for women to have short hair. Naturally, people will be conscientious of their differences between other people and try to change them or cover them up, and often times people who do not follow the standard are looked down upon. This leads to people trying to fit into the groups around them almost thoughtlessly. However, when people conform without thinking, it can lead to dangerous consequences.
Deviance is any behavior that violates social norms and is usually of sufficient severity to warrant disapproval from the majority of society. Deviance can be criminal or noncriminal. Media helps us frame the way we think, act, and choose. Children have growing brains
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.
Many groups or cultures have different views on what is considered deviant.
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,
