1. WHAT IS DEVIANCE?

Deviance is defined as a behavior that violates significant social norms and is disapproved by
majority of people. The sociology of deviance is concerned primarily with violation of behaviors
that are considered unacceptable or offensive by the majority because society subjects all of us
to social control, an attempt to regulate people’s thoughts and behaviors. Deviance also varies
from one situation to another. A behavior only becomes deviant when it is socially defines as
such and definitions vary according to time, place, and group.

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 or group conduct, that violates definitions of appropriate and inappropriate conduct
shared by the members of a social system. The departure of certain types of behavior from the
norms of a particular society at a particular time and "violation of certain types of group norms
where behavior is in a disapproved direction and of sufficient degree to exceed the tolerance
limit of the community.

2. IDENTIFY THE TYPES OF DEVIANCE

 PRIMARY DEVIANCE – primary deviance refers to a person’s behavior which violates or

does not conform to a prescribed norm of conduct but is tolerated or concealed by
others. Example of primay deviance includes vandalism, littering, loitering in restricted
areas,cheating during examination or refusal to truthfully declare one’s annual income.
Person only occasionally breaks norms; not a lifestyle.
 SECONDARY DEVIANCE- secondary deviance refers to the behavior of a lifetime
conformist, the behavior of a person who killed self-defense or the behavior of a branded
criminal. Such behavior stigmatizes a person from the rest of the society. Examples of
secondary deviance are the behavior of ex-convicts or prostitutes who are isolated from
ordinary people and who find difficulty in returning to society. Person for whom deviance
is a way of life; a normal reaction for that person.
 INDIVIDUAL DEVIANCE- individual deviance refers to a violaton against a group’s norm
or subculture. An example of an individual deviant is a person who belongs to a religious
or conservative family, or group who carries an considered taboo. This nonconformity to
the established group norm creates individual deviance.
 GROUP DEVIANCE- group deviance refers to the act of members of a group to conform
to the group’s norms but which disagree with the norms of the larger society. An example
of group deviance are street gangs or cults that engage in human sacrifice.
3. DISCUSS THE REASONS FOR DEVIANCE
Biologists say that deviance is caused by factors coming from within the individual. They say
that deviant behavior is a result of aberrant genetic traits, as in the case of homosexual
criminals and mentally-ill individuals.

In contrast, sociologists say that factors outside the individual cause deviance. In other words,
they presume that an individual’s environment may cause, him to show deviant characteristics.

Psychologist however, explain that the deviant behavior of people is caused by abnormalities in
their personalities or what we call personality disorders.

Likewise, there are other psychologists who view deviant behavior as a form of aggression
against others or against society caused by frustration.

Some causes of deviance include poverty, mental illness, learned behaviors and possibly even
inherited traits. Deviant behavior is caused by complex interactions of psychological,
sociological, economic and biological forces that encourage individuals to rebel against societal
norms.

4. ENUMERATE THE DIFFERENT THEORIES OF DEVIANCE

 BIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF DEVIANCE- biological theories of deviancefocus on the
genetic endowments of human beings or their anatomical or physiological components
of Persons who are biological deviants are assumed to have mental illness or are
unhealthy organisms due to some defects or weakness in their physical conditions.
 PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES OF DEVIANCE- psychological theories, according to Zulueta
(2002), focus on personality, motives, aggression, frustrations or ego strength. These are
often rooted in the minds of people rather than in their bodies and focus on factors such
as personality structure, learning, goals, interests, motivation, will power, frustration,
anxiety, guilt, and other psychological conditions and responses.
Psychological theories of deviance often associate deviance with a psychological or
metal illness, personality observation or psychopathic personality.

Freudian theorists attributed psychological deviance to defects of the super ego or

conscience. Weakened egos are likely to be unable to control impulses, defer
gratification or adhere to planned, rational courses of actions. Motivation, intelligence,
stress, unconscious needs and personality traits are found contributory to deviance.
However, unconscious needs are extremely difficult to test empirically.

 SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF DEVIANCE- sociological theories of deviance focus on the

sociocultural, organizational, environmental and group factors. Sociologists consider the
 breakdown or determination, if not, the absence of values and social norms as in
displaced persons,

As started earlier, sociologists say that outside factors cause an individual’s deviant
behavior. They look at it in two sociological perspectives:

A. Symbolic interactionism perspectives

 Differential association theory
 Labeling theory

B. Functionlist perspectives
 Anomie theory
 Five ways of adaption
o Conformity
o Innovation
o Ritualism
o Retreatism
o Rebellion
 Control theory
 Cultural transmission theory
5. EXPLAIN SOCIAL CONTROL

The term social control refers to the “techniques and strategies” for regulating human behavior
in any society (Schaeffer & Lamm, 19970. It occurs in all society’s levels. Techniques of social
control varies in both societal and group levels .

Social control, within sociology, refers to the many ways in which our behavior, thoughts, and
appearance are regulated by the norms, rules, laws, and social structures of society. Social
control is a necessary component of social order, for society could not exist without it.

Social control is achieved through a variety of means, including through social norms, rules,
laws, and social, economic, and institutional structures.

In fact, there would be no society without social control, because society cannot function
without an agreed upon and enforced social order that makes daily life and a complex division
of labor possible. Without it, chaos and confusion would reign.

6. DIFFERENTIATE THE TYPES OF SOCIAL CONTROL

 FORMAL SOCIAL CONTROL- formal social control is implemented by agents of uthority

like police officers, military officers, managers, physician, school administratos,
 employees and the like. This is imposed as a last resort when informal methods of social
control are inadequate in enforcing obedient or conforming behavior.

Among the countries of the world, Singapore deals severely with serious crime. Caning,
flogging, beting and other forms of harsh punushments are employed in Saudi arabia, south
Africa, Iraq, iran, and other middle east contries.

 INFROMAL SOCIAL CONTROL- informal social control, as the term implies, is casually
used by people (Schaeffer & Lamm, 1997). Some examples of informal social control are
ridicule, wagging a finger and raising the eyebrow.

Primary groups, particularly families, typically employ techniques of informal social

control. Such techniques of informal social control are learned early during childhood in
their socialization to cultural norms. For example, in the metro rail transit (MRT), an
elderly woman rides and finds that there re no vacant seats. In the disabled section, a
teenager is seated. Yet, the teenager does not move to give way to the old woman. A
nearby passengers may scowl, another may give the teenager a dagger stares and a thir
passenger may bluntly tell the teenager to vacate the seat for the elderly woman.