...examples here.) Norms are rules of conduct, not neutral or universal, but ever changing; shifting as society shifts; mutable, emergent, loose, reflective of inherent biases and interests, and highly selfish and one-sided. They vary from class to class, and in the generational "gap." They are, in other words, contextual. Deviance can be described as a violation of these norms.[3] Deviance is a failure to conform to culturally reinforced norms. This definition can be interpreted in many different ways. Social norms are different in one culture as opposed to another. For example, a deviant act can be committed in one society or culture that breaks a social norm there, but may be considered normal for another culture and society. Some acts of deviance may be criminal acts, but also, according to the society or culture, deviance can be strictly breaking social norms that are intact. Viewing deviance as a violation of social norms, sociologists have characterized it as "any thought, feeling or action that members of a social group judge to be a violation of their values or rules";[4] "violation of the norms of a society or group";[5] "conduct that violates definitions of appropriate and inappropriate conduct shared by the members of a social system";[6] "the departure of...
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...and elsewhere, assess the usefulness of labelling theory in explaining crime and deviance’ (21 marks) Labelling theory is a micro approach that looks at how individuals construct society based on their interactions with each other (item). In terms of crime and deviance, labelling theory argues that most people commit deviant and criminal acts but only some are caught and stigmatised for it. So therefore, it is not useful to search for differences between ‘deviants’ and ‘non-deviants’ in society. Labelling theorists believe focus on crime should be understanding the reaction to and definition of deviance rather than the causes of the initial act. One labelling theorist, Becker, suggests the idea of crime as a social construct. He argues that an act only becomes deviant when it is defined as such by others, and that a criminal will only be labelled depending on society’s reaction to the crime. Becker argues that those people that have the power to create and impose their definitions on the rest of society such as the police are called moral entrepreneurs, reinforcing that crime and deviance is a construction of society. In addition to this, Becker argues that there is selective decisions as to whether to or how to deal with illegal or deviant behaviour. He calls this ‘selective law enforcement’ and suggests that police act on their own stereotypes and pre-conceptions on how to respond to the deviance and crime they come across. Labelling theorists are interested in who gets labelled...
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...Deviance and the Internet In today’s society we have made plagiarism and the ability to cheat very simple for anyone who is looking for an easy way out. In our culture, we have what are referred to as “cultural norms” which are rules and expectations which guide the behaviors of the members of the society. When there is a violation of these “cultural norms” it is referred to as deviance. There are many forms of deviance within society, some that are easily overlooked and those that are not. Those more serious wherein a person violates society’s formally enacted criminal law have committed a crime at this point. Even criminal deviance takes on many levels of deviance. We have the traffic tickets on the less serious note up to the murder charges on the more serious end of the spectrum. With increased internet access we have opened up opportunities to the children and adults of today who are already susceptible to deviance from the “cultural norms” and have in turn increased our own desires to cheat and plagiarize reports instead of doing the work themselves. I began my research using www.yahoo.com. For my keyword I chose “college term papers”. The results were astounding. I received 18,800,000 website hits, which were both paid and free websites. A few of the top websites are www.ghostpapers.com where you can buy a term paper, book report, thesis for college, high school and graduate school as low as $8.99 per page. There is also www.termpapershortcut.com/...
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...Chapter Eight: Deviance and Social Control Chapter Summary Sociologists use the term deviance to refer to any violation of rules and norms. From a sociological perspective, deviance is relative. Definitions of “what is deviant” vary across societies and from one group to another within the same society. Howard S. Becker described the interpretation of deviance as, “…not the act itself, but the reaction to the act that makes something deviant.” This coincides with the symbolic interactionist view. In some cases, an individual need not do anything to be labeled a deviant. He or she may be falsely accused or discredited because of a birth defect, race, or disease. Even crime is relative when interpreting the deviance of the actor. Deviance is based on adherence to and violation of norms. Human groups need norms to exist. By making behavior predictable, norms make social life possible. Consequently, all human groups develop a system of social control, which involves formal and informal means of enforcing norms. Those who violate these norms face the danger of being labeled “deviant.” Violators can expect to experience negative sanctions for the violation of norms. Members of society who conform to societal norms, especially those who go above and beyond what is commonly expected, receive positive sanctions. In some societies, such as the Amish, shaming is a common negative sanction that acts strongly as a means of social control, minimizing deviance. Biologists,...
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...Define One of the most notable approaches in understanding deviance and delinquency has been the concept and founding of the labeling theory. John Hamlin stated, “The labelling perspective had a large number of followers in the 1960s and early 1970’s…It has lost in recent years much of its early luster but so much of what it has given to theoretical criminology remains as truisms” (Hamlin, 2001). Figures such as Edwin M. Lemer, Howard S. Becker, Kai Erikson, and John Kitsuse are the ones who came to define and outline the labeling theory approach. Once the labeling prospective was introduced, it caused plenty of research to be done with endless hours of debate. Hamlin also debated that “The intellectual heritage of labelling is directly traceable...
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... Social control is a product of social learning via labeling strategies, it is composed of both informal and formal mechanisms and maintains that the exploitation of socialization and social learning contributes to the individual building of self-control, and in the reduction divergent behaviour. Both controls enforce labeling as a sanction to shame the supposedly deviant character; it infers that the individual has earned disapproval from society due to failed expectations of behaviour. Labeling theorists propose that criminality comes from the response to behaviour as an alternative to actual violation of the law (Wellford, 1975), this is evident in society’s acceptance of illegal downloading despite the sanctions and group in powers values. Durkheim views this defiance as a necessity to an ever changing society where deviance is of use to maintaining functionality, social constancy and collective consciousness, when this is absent anomie is said to arise. Labelling theory holds much of the same stance as conflict theory in emphasising the power of social groups and social control in expectations and stigmatisation. Where the delegation of labels creates sub-groups within society each group is anticipated to fulfil certain normative behaviours, in violating these they become outsiders and hereafter ‘deviant’. Control theory is dependent on the socialization of an individual; it introduces various restraints reliant on internal controls inclusive of morality, consciousness and...
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...Chapter Eight: Deviance and Social Control Chapter Summary Sociologists use the term deviance to refer to any violation of rules and norms. From a sociological perspective, deviance is relative. Definitions of “what is deviant” vary across societies and from one group to another within the same society. Howard S. Becker described the interpretation of deviance as, “…not the act itself, but the reaction to the act that makes something deviant.” This coincides with the symbolic interactionist view. In some cases, an individual need not do anything to be labeled a deviant. He or she may be falsely accused or discredited because of a birth defect, race, or disease. Even crime is relative when interpreting the deviance of the actor. Deviance is based on adherence to and violation of norms. Human groups need norms to exist. By making behavior predictable, norms make social life possible. Consequently, all human groups develop a system of social control, which involves formal and informal means of enforcing norms. Those who violate these norms face the danger of being labeled “deviant.” Violators can expect to experience negative sanctions for the violation of norms. Members of society who conform to societal norms, especially those who go above and beyond what is commonly expected, receive positive sanctions. In some societies, such as the Amish, shaming is a common negative sanction that acts strongly as a means of social control, minimizing deviance. Biologists, psychologists, and...
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...an accepted path. Many sociological definitions of deviance simply elaborate upon this idea. Thus deviance consists of those areas which do not follow the norms and expectations of a particular social group. Deviance may be positively sanctioned (rewarded), negatively sanctioned (punished), or simply accepted without reward or punishment. In terms of the above definition of deviance, the soldier on the battlefield who risks his life above and beyond the normal call of duty may be termed deviant, as the physicist who breaks the rules of his discipline and develops a new theory. Their deviance may be positively sanctioned; the soldier might be rewarded with a medal, the physicist with a Noble...
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...What Is Deviance? The word deviance connotes odd or unacceptable behavior, but in the sociological sense of the word, deviance is simply any violation of society’s norms. Deviance can range from something minor, such as a traffic violation, to something major, such as murder. Each society defines what is deviant and what is not, and definitions of deviance differ widely between societies. For example, some societies have much more stringent rules regarding gender roles than we have in the United States, and still other societies’ rules governing gender roles are less stringent than ours. Gender and Deviance In the United States, women who cry in public in response to emotional situations are not generally considered deviant—even women who cry frequently and easily. This view of women has remained relatively constant. Over the past fifty years, however, society’s perception of men who cry has changed. A man who cried publicly in the 1950s would have been considered deviant. Today, men who cry in response to extreme emotional situations are acting within society’s norms. Male politicians cry when announcing defeat, male athletes cry after winning a championship, and male actors cry after winning an award. By today’s standards, none of these men is committing a deviant act. Relativism and Deviance Deviance is a relative issue, and standards for deviance change based on a number of factors, including the following: * Location: A person speaking loudly during a church service...
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...Sharna Luscombe Outline and asses the functionalist explanations of crime and deviance. Functionalist ignore deviance; they look at society as a whole and ignore individualism. Functionalism is a structuralist approach (also known as a consensus theory) they believe that individuals are shaped by society and social facts. A limitation of functionalist is that they ignore certain groups within society, such as women and people with disabilities. They also ignore factors such as ‘race’ and social class. They believe that society will maintain stability if the institutions still exists and the factors that may cause conflict – are ignored. I will assessing the functionalist contribution to explanations of crime, to how useful it is and if those explanations have been applied within modern day society. Also how useful the explanations are at reducing crime. Deviance is a normative approach, it is associated with behaviour that differs from the set norms and values set out by society. Deviance is linked to informal social control through sanctions (not by laws or government policy). In a Post Modern society – this definition of deviance would be problematic because it refers to societal norms (which would have disappeared; due to individualism making it hard to follow set norms and values). Deviance could collapse in a post-modern society. Durkheim (1895) is a positivist who proposed the concept of anomie; as an explanation as to why certain people commit crime. He believes that...
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...Jonquelia Semies Assignment 2 Chapter 5 1. What is the definition of a secondary group? a) Incorrect. A small social group whose members share personal and lasting relationships b) Correct. A large and impersonal social group whose members pursue a specific goal and activity c) Incorrect. Two or more people who identify with and interact with one another describes a social group d) Incorrect. A social group whose members have interests , social position , and age in common 2. Which leadership role focuses on the group’s well-being? Democratic and a) Incorrect .Laisezz-faire Leadership allows the group to function more or less on its own b) Correct. Expressive Leadership is when a group leadership that focus on c) Incorrect .Instrumental Leadership is a group leadership that focuses on the completion tasks. d) In correct. Democratic Leadership is more expensive and makes a point of including everyone in the decision making process. 3. What is the tendency of group members to conform, resulting in a narrow view of some issue? a) In correct. In-group is a social group toward which a member feels respect and loyalty b) Incorrect. Out- group is a social group toward which a person c) Correct. Groupthink the tendency of group members to conform, resulting in a narrow view of some issue d) Incorrect. Triad is a social group with three members 4. What German...
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...MEANING AND DEFINITION OF DEVIANCE Sociology defines social deviance as an act of omission or commission of an offense where perpetrators risk facing state prosecution and legal punishment. Therefore, the sociological study of deviance looks at various social laws, their influence on the individual and societal behavior, and potential punishments for lawbreakers. Indeed, Kubrin, Stucky, & Krohn, (2009) note that sociology appreciates the fact that social norms vary in description across societies. This implies that an action that is deviant to one community may be morally acceptable to another. Moreover, sociology recognizes that while societies play a more important role than individuals do in creating and imposing norms and rules. This means that views on deviant acts existing in individuals more likely relate to their society’s responses to the behavior (Kubrin, Stucky, & Krohn, 2009). Norms are rules and expectations by which members of society are conventionally guided. Deviance is a failure to conform to these norms. Social norms differ from culture to culture. For example, a deviant act can be committed in one society that breaks a social norm there, but may be normal for another society. Over the years, sociologists have come up with numerous theories and concepts that help explain the causes, effects, and solutions to deviance. For instance, originally studied at the Chicago School, the social disorganization theory owes its application to deviance as a social...
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...Deviance The television show that I will be using is on VH1, and is a reality series Love & Hip Hop Atlanta ("Love & hip hop” 2014). The show is based in Atlanta Georgia, and focuses on the lives of several former rappers, and music producers ("Love & hip hop” 2014). The show follows the individuals and their families in their day to day lives, trying to rebuild their careers or take on new ventures ("Love & hip hop” 2014. I chose Love & Hip Hop, because it shows the individuals as living a life of luxury, drugs, alcohol, break ups of marriages and relationships, fighting, fast cars, big houses, sex, and money, ("Love & hip hop” 2014). The cast members seem to have no problem the deviant lifestyles that they choose to live out on television. The message I want the younger generation to see is that regardless of your background or financial standing you can make a difference in the lives of others, but not the individuals on Love & Hip Hop. This show and other reality television shows are very popular, but they all seem to have the same goal in mind which is high ratings and do to it regardless of what it takes to make money, and achieve power and fame. The individuals in the program are labeled as being defiant because they are going against everything that society believes to be normal behavior. The individuals whom are watching the show are the ones that encourage and support the behavior, because viewers watch the show the expectation...
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...Social Structure & Social Interaction, Groups, Deviance, Poverty and Social Class Both Sides Microsociology emphasis is placed on social interaction- rules, codes, survival strategies, relationships, face to face contact. 1/54 Study: Speller Learn Test Play Games: Scatter Space Race All 54 terms PrintExportCopyCombine Order by Terms Definitions Microsociology emphasis is placed on social interaction- rules, codes, survival strategies, relationships, face to face contact. Location in Social Structure People's location in the social structure accounts for differences in their behavior & attitudes Ascribed Status involuntary status; a status you inherit o Class of parents, gender, sex, ethnicity, race Achieved Status voluntary status; a status you earn o Student, criminal, doctor, friend Society people who share culture & territory Hunting & Gathering Societies simplest form of society, few social divisions, few people, nomadic, most egalitarian [treat all as equals, no one is rich or poor], society with most leisure time. Role Conflict When what is expected of us in one role is incompatible with what is expected in another role. Role Strain When the same role presents inherent conflict- one role Thomas Theorem If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences- think of people as less than and they will be treated as such. Group members of a group think of themselves as belonging together, they interact with...
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...Deviance In All Its Glory Marcos Antonios Sociology 101-01 Susan J. Quade Ulster County Community College Abstract Humans have always ineptly had some form of deviance in their nature as it is something that has contributed multiple times to the structure of any society and their views. The terms “good” or “bad” deviances are more so labels branded from the current society’s views on what is and isn’t accepted. At its core deviance can be hard to measure and examine as it forms from many different personas and behavioral ways. What is true however is that acts viewed as deviance has changed many times throughout recorded history. While interracial marriages at one time may have been labeled a negative deviance in the U.S., today it does not seem to be a problem. Just as the world has constantly evolved in many ways, so too has the area of deviance and what is recognized as being deviant. With technology progressing so rapidly it seems to have given birth to whole new deviances. Deviances and the people linked to them will always stand out, be they for better or worse. Today’s world is no different as deviances come in many forms, and with it come the opinions of many as well regardless if they’re negative or positive. Perhaps one of the commonly most misconstrued ideas is that deviance and crime related incidents are one in the same. However one must remember that crime is the act of breaking laws set by society; deviance on the other hand is the breaking of norms...
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