Part 1

Deviance
It deals with the actions that disobey social norms whether a formal rule or an informal breach of
social rules.

Views of Deviance:

There are three views of deviance

1. Functionalist Perspective
Functionalist perspective emphasizes that the parts of society are organized in a way that they
can preserve its stability. According to functionalism, all the parts of the society are
interdependent and interrelated and they are contributing in the proper functioning of the society.
Functionalist sociologists believes that society works on social consensus in which all the
participants of system works together and decide what is best for the society to function properly
and tries to achieve them.

For example:

In a country, there is a government that is governing the state and under that government there
are many components that are helping the government to function properly. Like there are
committees that make laws only the government approves those laws. Courts announce the
punishments for the criminals with the right given by the government and the constitution.
Citizens are working in the state not only to earn money but also to run the economy of the
country. So all of them are interdependent and helping in order to run a country smoothly same is
the case with society.

Emile Durkhiem identified two basic functions of deviance.

 It can help to explain the moral values of the society.

 It can help to bring people together

2. Conflict Perspective
Conflict perspective was influenced by Karl Marx’s work. The conflict perspective describes the
inequalities that are prevailing in our societies around the globe. These inequalities can be in
term of race, education, gender, social class. Conflict theorists believe that the powerful people
of the society are maintaining stability be exploiting the poor and weaker people of the society.
Conflict theory proposes that rules and laws mirror the interests of powerful members of the
society. Social order is maintained by the conflict.
Reactions to deviance:

 Street crimes and prison

 Use of power to save the rich
 Biasness while giving justice

Example:

If a crime is committed by someone that belongs to a strong or wealthier background will receive
less punishment as compared to a person belongs to a poor background. Such examples are often
found in Pakistan. Like the corruption cases of politicians of Pakistan are still not completed and
they are still not getting charged of any of it. This is inequality that is prevailing in our country
and we have to stop this before it destroys our country even more.

3. Symbolic-interactionist perspective
This perspective depends upon the symbolic meaning that people develop while socially
interacting with other people of the society and people attach meanings to each other’s words
and actions. This theory depends upon the analysis that has been given to a behavior. According
to this behavior all the communications are based upon the way it perceived and meaning the
listener interprets. Meaning also gives experiences in our lives. Symbolic interactionist view
symbols that people attach to the words or actions as the basis of social life.

Symbols range from words and language to non-verbal gestures and signs.

Example:

Studies find that young people are all around educated about the dangers of tobacco, yet they
likewise believe that smoking is cool, that they themselves will be sheltered from hurt, and that
smoking ventures a constructive picture to their companions. Along these lines, the emblematic
significance of smoking abrogates those undeniable realities in regards to smoking and hazard.