Social-Psychological

Perspectives on Social
Deviation
Thea Angelika Jardin
Ara Joan A. Nipa
BSSW-AS22
STRAIN THEORY
• was developed by Robert K. Merton
• This theory suggests that deviant behavior exists not
because of unregulated goals and expectations rather
from a faulty relationship between cultural goals and
the legitimate means to achieve them.
• Five (5) modes of adaptation: conformity, innovation,
ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.

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Five Modes of Adaptation:

• Conformity 2. Innovation
accepts the cultural goal and try use of socially unapproved or
to achieve it by legitimate means unconventional means to obtain
culturally approved goals

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Five Modes of Adaptation:

3. Ritualism 4. Retreatism 5. Rebellion

use socially reject both cultural reject both cultural
approved means goals and the means goals and means
to achieve less to achieve it and work to replace
goals them. Can be
applied to political
deviants.

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DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION
THEORY
• proposed by Edwin Sutherland in 1947
• According to this perspective, deviant behavior can be
learned through the influence of his/her intimate groups.
• Includes two (2) important elements:
• An individual can learn skills and techniques of
deviant/criminal behavior
• An individual can learn favorable and unfavorable motives

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Nine (9) postulates of Differential
Association Theory:

1. All criminal behavior is learned.

2. Criminal behavior is learned through interactions with others via
a process of communication.
3. Most learning about criminal behavior happens in intimate
personal groups and relationships.

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 Nine (9) postulates of Differential
Association Theory:
4. The process of learning criminal behavior may include learning about
techniques to carry out the behavior as well as the motives and rationalizations
that would justify criminal activity and the attitudes necessary to orient an
individual towards such activity.

5. The direction of motives and drives towards criminal behavior is learned

through the interpretation of legal codes in one’s geographical area as favorable
or unfavorable.
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 Nine (9) postulates of Differential
Association Theory:
6. When the number of favorable interpretations that support violating the law
outweigh the unfavorable interpretations that don’t, an individual will choose to
become a criminal.

7. All differential associations aren’t equal. They can vary in frequency,

intensity, priority, and duration.

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 Nine (9) postulates of Differential
Association Theory:
8. The process of learning criminal behaviors through interactions with others
relies on the same mechanisms that are used in learning about any other
behavior.

9. Criminal behavior could be an expression of generalized needs and values,

but they don’t explain the behavior because non-criminal behavior expresses the
same needs and values.

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SOCIAL CONTROL THEORY

• was developed by Travis Hirschi in 1969

• In sociology, this theory suggests that the strength and durability of
an individual's bond or commitment to the society inhibits social
deviance (Hirschi 1969, Simpson 1976)

• Key point: Weak or broken bonds do not 'cause' deviant behaviors

but rather allows it to happen.

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Four types of Social Bonds:
• Attachment - refers to the level of psychological affection one
has for others and institutions
• Belief - the degree which one adheres to the values associated
with behaviors that conform to the law
• Commitment - refers to the importance of social relationships
that people value
• Involvement - the opportunity costs associated with how
people spend their time
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DETERRENCE PERSPECTIVE

• The concept of this theory is the 'reduction of offending and

future offending' through sanctions or threat of sanctions.
• states that three (3) characteristics of punishment will
influence a potential offender's decision to commit a crime

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 Three Characteristics of Punishment

Swiftness Certainty Severity

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INTERACTIONIST/LABELING THEORY

• associated with the work of Howard Becker

• holds that deviance is not an inherent tendency of an individual,

but instead focuses on the tendency of majorities to negatively
label minorities or those seen as deviant from standard cultural
norms
.
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