A

Term Paper Report

On

Social Science

Topic: “Deviance”

Presented by

Adelaide Beatrice A. Quevedo

Lauren Isabelle Reodica

Sophia Romey

Datu Emir Jaafar

I. Abstract

II. Introduction

III. Content

Deviance is generally defined as any act that violates a social norm

(Thio,1989). It may also be defined as nonconformity to a given set of norms

that is accepted by a number of people or a society. There are various forms

and categories of deviance, one specific form, is rule breaking, or known as

crime. However, deviance is a wide and a complex concept so, how do we

know when an act is deviant? There are different determining factors of

deviance, namely, time, place and public consensus or power. Deviance is

determined by time. Deviant behavior varies from one historical period to

another.

Sociological Perspectives on Deviance

There are different sociological perspectives on Deviance, namely:

the functionalist perspective, the conflict perspective and the symbolic

interactionist perspective.

i. The Functionalist Perspective

For the functionalist perspective, deviance serves two primary

roles in creating social stability. First, systems of recognizing and punishing

deviance create norms and tell members of a given society how to behave

by laying out patterns of acceptable and unacceptable behavior. According

to the functionalist perspective, deviance is a common part of human

existence, with positive as well as negative consequences for social

stability. In order to avoid unsettling society, one must be aware of what

behaviors are marked as deviant. Second, these social parameters create

boundaries between populations and enable an "us-versus-them" mentality

within different groups. Deviance allows for the majorities to unite around

their normativity, at the expense of those marked as deviant. Conversely,

being marked as deviant can actual bolster solidarity within the marked

community, as members take pride and ownership in their stigmatized

identity and create cohesive units of their own (for example, members of the

LGBT community unifying around Pride). Sometimes people find that when

they attempt to attain culturally approved goals, their paths are blocked. Not

everyone has access to institutionalized means, or legitimate ways of

achieving success.

a. Strain Theory

The Strain Theory developed by sociologist Robert Merton, posits

that when people are prevented from achieving culturally approved

goals through institutional means, they experience strain or frustration

that can lead to deviance. He said that they also experience anomie, or

feelings of being disconnected from society, which can occur when

people do not have access to the institutionalized means to achieve their

goals.

ii. The Conflict Perspective

Conflict theories emphasize the social, political, or material inequality

of a social group, that critique the broad socio-political system. In conflict

theory, deviant behaviors are actions that do not go along with the social

institutions. Marx himself did not write about deviant behavior, but he wrote

about alienation amongst the proletariat, as well as between the proletariat

and the finished product, which causes conflict and, thus, deviant behavior.

Marx used the term "lumpenproletariat” to describe that layer of the working

class which is unlikely to ever achieve class consciousness. Michel

Foucault believed that torture had been phased out from

modern society due to the dispersion of power; there was no need

any more for the wrath of the state on a deviant individual. According to

Foucault, instead individuals are controlled by institutions. Contemporary

society is characterized by the lack of free will on the part of individuals

because institutions of knowledge, norms, and values, are in place to

categorize and control humans. Deviance, in a sociological context,

describes actions or behaviors that violate social norms, including formally-

enacted rules, as well as informal violations of social norms. In Sociology,

conflict theories are perspectives that emphasize the social, political, or

material inequality of a social group, that critique the broad socio-political

system, or that otherwise detract from structural functionalism and

ideological conservatism. Conflict theories draw attention to power

differentials, such as class conflict, and generally contrast

historically dominant ideologies. It is therefore a macro level analysis of

society. Karl Marx is the father of the social conflict theory, which is a

component of the four paradigms of sociology.

 a. Conflict Theory

iii. The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

a. Labelling Theory

Labeling theory was created by Howard Becker in 1963.

This theory is rooted in the idea of the social construction of reality,

which is central to the field of Sociology, and is linked to the

symbolic interactionist perspective. It is the view of deviance

according to which being labeled as a "deviant" leads a person to

engage in deviant behavior. Labeling can also mold the way

someone behaves in their lives, especially if they cannot shake off

that label. For example, a 14-year-old boy is caught taking drugs

with his peers. He is not at risk of being labeled as a ‘deviant’

among his peers since all of them take drugs. This is called

primary deviance, a behavior in which the participant does not

react negatively to perceive misbehavior. If it falls down to

secondary deviance, the type of deviance that includes repeated

deviant behavior that is brought on by other peoples’ negative

reactions to the original act of deviance. Another example, when

his fellow students found out that he is taking drugs and is labeled

deviant by his fellow students. They reported him to the school

which led him to be permanently excluded from the institution, and

the police were informed. He got arrested.  He cannot find another

school, and can only find low paid work. He stole from the shop
 where he works in order to buy the drugs that gives him an escape

from the drudgery of everyday life. The shop found out and took

away his job from him. The store owner police reported him to the

police. He was arrested and charged with theft. He has now a

criminal record. Once released, he turned to crime to finance his

life because he cannot get another job. He took an overdose of

heroin that has been cut with impure chemicals and dies at the age

of 20.

b. Differential Association Theory

This theory states that deviant behavior is done by people

because of the people's shortage of needs (mostly poverty) and the

society they are living, influences that people teach them and are

exposed to and their habits in life. This theory was proposed by

Edwin Sutherland. He advanced the notion which was to affect

one of the modern interactionist work. In a society that contains

various subcultures, some social environments allow illegal

activities and whereas most do not. According to this theory,

criminal behavior is learned everywhere and mostly, influences

from the people that is in our environment. For example, an

adolescent changes schools and his new peer group influenced

him in smoking marijuana, the person is more likely to smoke

marijuana, On the other hand if the student moves to a new school

and all the people there are good influence, he is less likely to take
 up the habit. This theory could be used to assess a person's life

especially daily activities and routines.

c. Control Theory

This theory states that there is an imbalance between people

that is causing the problems of the society. It suggests that crime

happens as a result of an imbalance between impulses toward

criminal activity and the social and physical controls that discourage

it. In this theory, people act rationally and engage into deviant

actions. The most known control theorist, Travis Hirschi,

contradicted that human beings are linked in with attachment,

commitment and involvement and beliefs. This theory explains

macro and micro factors that result to changes in the society. It is

possible that this issue would change or it would become worse if

people continue to engage to deviant acts and it is difficult to isolate

them.

IV. Conclusion

V. Reference

 Thio, A. (1989). Sociology: An Introduction (2nd ed.). New York, United

States: Harper & Row

 Duneier, M., Appelbaum, R. P., & Giddens, A. (1999). Introduction to

Sociology (4th ed.). New York, London: W.W. Norton

 Macionis, J. J. (1989, 1987). Sociology (2nd ed.). New Jersey, United

States: Prentice-Hall
 Schaefer, R. (2012). Sociology. 1221 Avenue of America, New York: The

McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

 Source: Sparknotes. Strain Theory on Deviance. Retrieved: November 11,

2016. www.sparknotes.com/sociology/deviance/section3.rhtml

 Source: Boundless. “The Functionalist Perspective on

Deviance.” Boundless Sociology. Boundless, 26 May. 2016. Retrieved 11

Nov. 2016

from https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-

sociology-textbook/deviance-social-control-and-crime-7/the-functionalist-

perspective-on-deviance-62/the-functionalist-perspective-on-deviance-

374-1779/

 Source: Boundless. “The Conflict Perspective on Deviance.” Boundless

Sociology. Boundless, 26 May. 2016. Retrieved 11 Nov. 2016

from https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-

sociology-textbook/deviance-social-control-and-crime-7/the-conflict-

perspective-on-deviance-63/the-conflict-perspective-on-deviance-377-

8262/