Social Deviance

(Theories of
Deviance)
Overview of today’s review class:

⚫What is social deviance?

⚫Who are to be considered as deviants?

⚫What are the causations of such behavior based on

theories?
⚫How do we critique what we learn?
What is social deviance?
Deviant – is the person involved in deviance

Deviant behavior – behavior which does not conform to social

expectation.
  - behavior that is regarded as wrongdoings that
generate negative reactions in persons who witness or hear
about it.
 
Social Deviance /Deviance – disapproved behavior and traits,
characteristics or conditions that generate a similar
condemnatory, rejection reaction in others.
- is an action that is likely to generate, or has generated
reactions to the actor by or from certain audiences.
Some things/types of person regarded as
deviant?
Homosexuals, prostitute/prostituted
women, drug addicts, radicals,
criminals, liars, atheists, card players,
bearded men, perverts, obesity, etc.
Important Ideas to consider in Deviance
⚫An act can be criminal and deviant
⚫An act can be deviant but not criminal.
⚫behavior or conditions that harm
others
⚫Something offends God, or is a
violation of certain religious principles
that makes it deviant.
⚫It deviates criminal code.
 2 Important Ideas to consider in
Deviance

⚫An act can be criminal and deviant

⚫An act can be deviant but not criminal.
Characteristics of Deviance
⚫Deviance is Universal, but there are no
universal forms or deviance.
⚫Deviance is a social definition. It is not a
quality of the act; it is how we define it. It is not
the act; it is how we label it.
⚫Social groups make rules and enforce them,
rules are socially constructed, and social groups
utilize social control mechanism to ensure they
are adhered to.
⚫Deviance is contextual.
Five Naïve, Misleading Definitions of
Deviance

•Absolutist Definition
•Statistical Definition
•Social and Individual Harm
•An act’s criminal
•Positive deviance
Two Fruitful definitions of Deviance

•The Normative Definition- deviance

can take place in secret; an act or conditions
that nobody knows about except the
violator. This definition presumes that this
observers capable of seeing any and all
actions, even if they are secret, and making
accurate judgment about their deviant
status in a given society.
The Reactive Definitions. It argues
that the key characteristics of deviance may
be found in actual, concrete instances of a
negative reaction to behavior. To qualify as
deviance, the action must be observed and
generate condemnation or punishment for
the actor or individual.
2 Fundamental Approaches to
the Explanation of Deviance
1.) The cause is within the deviant; the goal was
to discover individual characteristics
contributing to becoming involved in deviant
behavior. In short, this first approach
concerned explaining the deviant by means of
biological and psychological positivism.
2.) The other approach stressed the importance
of social factors as a cause of deviance. The goal
was to explain both the existence of deviant
behaviors and its distribution in society.
Theories of Social
Deviance
1.) Rational Choice Theory/ Free Will Causation
According to Beccaria, humans are
fundamentally rational and hedonistic.
They possess free will and make deliberate
decisions to behave based upon a
calculation of the pain and pleasure
involved.
⚫ Classical
⚫ Neo Classical
2.) Heredity and Mental Deficiencies
⚫ Heredity concerns the process of passing
characteristics from one generation to
another: Mental deficiencies are specific
characteristics that may or may not be seen
by the theorists as inherited.
⚫Theorist believed in this idea that
criminality was inherited and also the
mental defectiveness which played an
important role in criminal behavior.
3.) SOMATOLOGY

⚫refers to the science of classifying human

physical characteristics by examining the
relationship between body type or physique
and particular patterns of mental and
behavioral characteristics or temperaments.

 
Endomorphic Body Type:
⚫ soft body
⚫ underdeveloped muscles
⚫ round shaped
⚫ over-developed digestive
system

Associated personality
traits:
⚫ love of food
⚫ tolerant
⚫ love of comfort
⚫ sociable
⚫ good humored
⚫ relaxed
⚫ need for affection
Mesomorphic Body Type:

⚫ hard, muscular body

⚫ overly mature appearance
⚫ rectangular shaped
⚫ thick skin
⚫ upright posture
Associated personality traits:
⚫ adventurous
⚫ desire for power and dominance
⚫ courageous
⚫ indifference to what others think or
want
⚫ assertive, bold
⚫ zest for physical activity
⚫ competitive
⚫ love of risk and chance
Ectomorphic Body Type:
⚫ thin
⚫ flat chest
⚫ delicate build
⚫ young appearance
⚫ tall
⚫ lightly muscled
⚫ stoop-shouldered
⚫ large brain
Associated personality traits:
⚫ self-conscious
⚫ preference for privacy
⚫ introverted
⚫ socially anxious
⚫ artistic
⚫ mentally intense
⚫ emotionally restrained
4.) XYY CHROMOSOMES SYNDROME

⚫46 chromosomes arranged in 23 pairs –

human cells each parents having donated
one of each pair.
⚫Every normal cell in a woman’s body
contains two X chromosomes, and each cell
in a male has one X and one Y.

 
 CONFLICT THEORY

Theories about
Power & Inequality,
Coercion & Change
Based on the ideas that…
⚫Coercion & power determine the social order
⚫Groups struggle to maintain power
⚫One group’s ability to control another group leads to
conflict
⚫All societies have conflict
⚫Conflict produces social change
What is conflict?
⚫“Conflict is a struggle
⚫ between individuals or collectivities
⚫ over values or
⚫ claims to status, power, & scarce resources

⚫in which the aims of the conflicting parties are

⚫ to assert their values or claims over those of others”
Goodhand & Hulme (1999), p. 14
A value
is___________________?
Example of what is/are valuable/s? ___,
___, _____, _____, ____,
____, _____, _____, ______,
______, ______?
Conflict theories assert that…
All problems are created by
disparities
between groups or classes
& how they struggle with each
other for dignity & the
necessities of life where

justice is served.
What is Social Justice?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
___________.
What is Social Justice?
Principles of Justice
•
What is Social Justice?
Theories of Justice

1.) Utilitarian
2.) Egalitarian
3.) Libertarian
4.) Communitarian
Stages of Conflict by Eric Brahm ; 2003

What is your critic?

But first, what is “social class”?

⚫CLASS
⚫ a group of people who share the same social status
⚫ status may be due to education, family, occupation,
gender, income, ethnicity, religion

⚫CLASS STRUCTURE
⚫ social hierarchy of classes in a society from high to low
⚫ stratification of inequality
⚫ status based on perceived power in society
⚫ ex: economic, physical, familial, political, or religious power
⚫ “poverty” class
⚫ the group of people with the least economic status or power
Some societies & cultures are
more “stratified”
than others…have more
clearly defined
groups or classes
The origins of conflict theory
⚫Developed from ideas of Karl Marx (1818-83) &
Frederick Engels (1820-95) in Europe

⚫They believed:
⚫ Society is a class struggle
between the workers (wage
earners) & the capitalists (the
owners)
⚫ Capitalists exploit the workers
⚫ Conflict is primarily economic
Based on their observations of society,
they proposed…

⚫CONFLICT is…
⚫ Inevitable—it is bound to happen
⚫ Continual—it will always happen
⚫ Due to class differences—it results from society’s
inequality & class struggles, especially about production

⚫TRUTH can be known…

⚫ By understanding how social forces work
⚫ By recognizing contradictions within social forces &
class struggles in society
Marx proposed that…
⚫The religious, political, &
economic ideas of the wealthy
reinforce the “status quo”
⚫ It is in the best interest of the
class in power to maintain the
status quo
⚫People not in power should
“unite” in their struggle against
the ruling class, creating a
revolution
Class & bureaucracy
⚫Max Weber (1864-1920), father of modern sociology,
expanded views about class & power

⚫Weber believed most power comes from state

bureaucracies & those who govern
⚫ Bureaucracies control & dominate society
⚫ Bureaucracies have top-down organizations
⚫ Managers & workers are in conflict with those who
govern
Weber’s view of “class”
⚫Defined class as a group of people that
share the same life status or situation
⚫they have in common the same “life
chances”
Power comes from the latin word “potere” which means “ to be able to”.

Weber’s definition of “power”

⚫Power is the chance to realize one’s will or control over

the resistance of others

⚫Bureaucratic control, social status, & political power

also depend on class

⚫But ultimately, social class is determined by economic

power
What does this mean?
⚫ The degree that group A has power
over group B depends on the degree
to which A has control over B’s
resources
⚫ Dependency includes both the
“availability” of resources & the
“motivational investment” of the
groups involved
⚫ If resources are available from other
sources, group A does not have as
much power over group B
Types of Power ( Daft, 2004; Johns, 1996)
⚫Legitimate/ positional power
⚫Reward power
⚫Coercive power
⚫Referent power
⚫Expert power
More thoughts about “power”
⚫Social exchange theorists proposed that power can
only be understood in terms of social relationships

⚫Power is not an attribute of an individual actor

⚫Power is related to the “mutual dependency” in the

relationship of people
The Social Construction of Difference:
Defining Self & Others
 Categories of Differences:
Key Terminology
❖Social Group: “A group of people who share a range of
physical, cultural, and/or social characteristics within
one of the categories of social identity (race, ethnicity,
immigrant status, religion/spirituality, sex and gender,
sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status).”

❖Master Status: “A status (based on one’s social group)

that has a profound affect on one’s life; that dominates
or overwhelms the other statuses one occupies.”

What do you think are the most influential “master

statuses” in Mindanao and in the larger Philippines?
 Social Group Identities

❖ Race
❖ Ethnicity
❖ Immigration Status
❖ Religion/Spirituality
❖ Sex/Gender
❖ Sexual Orientation
❖ Disability/Ability
❖ Age
❖ Socio-economic Class
❖ Other Social Group Identities in Mindanao?
Dyadic or Small Group Exercise

(Handouts)
5 Steps in Defining Difference
(Social Construction of Difference)
Naming
↓
Aggregating
↓
Dichotomizing
↓
Attributing Meaning to Difference
↙ ↘
“The Norm” “The Other”
❖ “The Norm”
“A standard of rightness and often righteousness
wherein all others are judged in relation to it.”
The Norm includes those who have ability to exert
power and control (may not be numerical majority;
example of nonwhites in South Africa; women).

❖ “The Other”
“Those who fall outside ‘The Norm,’ yet who are

defined in relation to it.” The Other are often seen

as “abnormal,” “inferior,” “needing help,” etc., and
are often marginalized and not able to exert power
and control (may not be the numerical minority).
 One’s master status affects major life opportunities
and limits. No one who is relegated to an
“outgroup” can ignore that fact.

“One may overcome it, compensate for it, deny it,

fight or rebel against it, or accept it – but a
reaction to this reality is unavoidable.”
 Responding to Triggers
❖A trigger is something that an individual
says or does, which makes us as members
of different social groups feel diminished,
offended, threatened, stereotyped, discounted,
or attacked. We can also be triggered by an
organizational or social policy or practice.

❖Triggers do not necessarily threaten our

physical safety, but we often feel psycho-
logically threatened. We can also be triggered
on behalf of another social group - although
we may not feel personally threatened, our
sense of social justice feels violated.
❖Triggers cause an emotional response. These
emotions can include hurt, confusion, anger, fear,
surprise, or embarrassment.

❖We respond to triggers in a variety of ways, some

helpful and others not. Some of these responses are
effective and some not. What responses we choose
depend on our own inner resources and the dynamics
of the situation.

❖Our goal in developing a full repertoire of responses to

triggers is to take care of ourselves and then decide
how to respond most effectively. The following list of
possible responses to triggers is not intended to be all-
inclusive and is in no order of preference.
❖Leave: We physically remove ourselves from
the triggering situation.

❖Avoidance: We avoid future encounters with

and withdraw emotionally from people or
situations that trigger us.

❖Silence: We do not respond to the triggering

situation though we feel upset by it. We
endure it without saying or doing anything.

❖Release: We notice the trigger, but do not

take it in. We choose to let it go.
❖Confusion: We feel upset but are not clear
about why we feel that way. We know we feel
angry, hurt, or offended. We just don’t know
what to say or do about it.

❖Shock: We are caught off guard, unprepared to

be triggered by this person or situation and
have a difficult time responding.
❖Surprise: We respond to the trigger in an
unexpected way. For example, we react with
constructive humor that names the trigger and
makes people laugh.
❖Attack: We respond with an intention to hurt
whoever has triggered us.
❖Internalization: We take in the content of the
trigger. We believe it to be true.
❖Rationalization: We convince ourselves that
we misinterpreted the trigger, that the
intention was not to hurt us, or that we are
overreacting so that we can avoid saying.
❖Misinterpretation: We are feeling on guard
and expect to be triggered, so that we
misinterpret something someone says and are
triggered by our misinterpretation, rather
than by what was actually said.
❖Name: We identify what is upsetting us to the
triggering person or organization.
❖Discuss: We name the trigger and invite
discussion about it with the triggering person
or organization.
❖Confront: We name the trigger and demand
that the offending behavior or policy be
changed.
❖Strategize: We work with others to develop a
programmatic or political intervention to
address the trigger in a larger context.
❖Discretion: Because of dynamics in the
situation (for example, power differences, risk
of physical violence or retribution), we decide
that it is not in our best interests to respond to
the trigger at that time, but choose to address
the trigger in some other way at another time.
Overview of Possible Responses to Triggers:
⚫ Leave
⚫ Avoidance
⚫ Silence
⚫ Release
⚫ Confusion
⚫ Shock
⚫ Surprise
⚫ Attack
⚫ Internalization
⚫ Rationalization
⚫ Misinterpretation
⚫ Name
⚫ Discuss
⚫ Confront
⚫ Strategize
⚫ Discretion
Group Discussion
Discussion Questions:
1. Which responses are most typical for you when you
are triggered? As a member of ‘the norm’? As an
member of ‘the other’?
2. Are there differences in how you respond to
triggers depending on your different social group
memberships or identities?
3. Which responses would you like to add to your
repertoire?
4. Which responses do you use now and would like to
stop using or use more selectively?
5. What blocks you from responding to triggers in
ways that feel more effective?
6. What can you do to expand your response
repertoire?
 In summary, the main ideas of conflict
theory are…
⚫ Groups & individuals try to advance their interests over the
interests of others
⚫ Power is unequally divided & some groups dominate others
⚫ Social order is based on manipulation & control of
nondominant groups by dominant groups
⚫ Lack of open conflict is a sign of exploitation
⚫ Members of nondominant groups become alienated from
society
⚫ Social change is driven by conflict, with periods of change
interrupting long periods of stability
Conflict theory’s contribution
to social work practice
⚫ Recognizes the interconnection between social structure,
culture, personality
⚫ Helps explain the roots of social injustice amongst and
between classes, including oppression due to gender
difference
⚫ Rejects the status quo & the equilibrium that aims to
maintain inequality
⚫ Recognizes that numerous social conflicts can be occurring
at the same time
⚫ Recognizes that people can have overlapping status groups
& conflicts between the groups
⚫ Provides an activist model for social work practice
How applicable are these ideas about conflict
& power for your work?

⮚ Do you see social classes in the Philippines? &

Mindanao?

⮚ What classes have “power”?

⮚ What determines the power?

Does social change have to
occur through armed
conflict & violence?
 Can conflict be
“transformational”?
Can you think of some positive outcomes of conflict?
Some contemporary scholars propose
that…

⚫Conflict is a “social process” that can

be positive.

⚫Conflict can potentially contribute to

development, change, & eventual
stability
⚫ (Goodhand & Hulme,1999)
Principles of Conflict
⚫Conflict has a function in Society.
⚫Conflict is positive.
⚫Conflict is a normal part of any relationship.
⚫Conflict is ongoing dynamic.

What do you think is lacking?

Can you think of some negative outcomes of intractable
conflict?

1.) Human Costs – combat, rape, torture, disruption of

individuals ability to earn a living ,trauma, fear,
depression , physical and emotional (sense of
hopelessness) and the like.

2.) Economic costs

3.) Environmental degradation

4.) Organizational costs

6.) Anomie
⚫simply defined , a state where norms
(expectations on behavior) are confused ,
unclear or not present
⚫normlessness
⚫A breakdown in the cultural structure,
occurring particularly when there is an acute
disjunction between cultural norms and
goals and the societies structural capacities
of members of the groups to act in accord
with them.
Merton’s Anomie
Merton’s theory involves the interaction of 2
social components:

⚫Culture goals – the aspirations and aims

that define success in society.
⚫Institutionalized means – the socially
acceptable methods and ways available for
achieving goals.
⚫There are 4 adaptations apart from
conformity that can be defined as deviant:

a.) INNOVATION – is the adaptation in

which most property crimes would be
found. It occurs when persons accept
without qualification the importance of
attaining the goals and will use any means
regardless of their prosperity, morality, or
legality to achieve those goals.
b.) RITUALISM – is a behavioral alternative
in which great aspirations are abandoned in
favor of careful adherence to the available
means. Early morning classes often
considered ritualists. Attendance is not a
means for them to attain success; they are
there simply because they should be.

 
c.) RETREATISM – is the category containing
the mentally disordered, drug addicts,
alcoholics and any other groups that has
apparently withdrawn from the competitive
struggle. Thus persons do not strive for the
goals that society encourages, nor do they
obey rules of how to act. They seek their
own private rewards and live by rules
peculiar to their style of living.
⚫ 
d.) REBELLION – involves not only a
rejection of the goals and means, but the
intention of replacing those goals and
means by altering the social structure.
 
Comments /Criticism of Anomie:

⚫Middle class Bias

⚫Irrelevance of anomie from more forms of
deviation
⚫Absence of value consensus
7.) CONTROL THEORY
⚫according to this theory , the social
environment does not push one toward
deviant behavior; rather, it fails to restrain
one from so behaving
⚫Deviance is not caused by the present
values, beliefs or other motivating factors,
but by the absence of values and beliefs that
normally forbid delinquency
⚫Most of us do not engage in deviant or
criminal acts because of strong bonds with
or ties to conventional, mainstream social
institutions. If these bonds are weak or
broken, we will be released from society’s
rules and will be free to deviate.
⚫Society or neighborhood is able to invest its
citizens or residents with a stake worth
protecting, it will have lower rates of crime
vs. society where strong bond is not present
or relatively low.
8.) DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION
THEORY
⚫The explanation of crime lay not in biology
but in the social world and that crime is
transmitted through intimate personal
groups.
⚫Some groups are organized fro criminal
activities and some are organized against
these activities.
Propositions of Differential
AssociationTheory

⚫Crime is learned
⚫Criminal Behavior is learned in interaction
with other persons in a process of
communication.

 
⚫The principal part of learning criminal
behavior occurs within intimate personal
groups. Impersonal communication such as
television, magazines and the like play only
a secondary role in the learning of crime.
⚫When criminal behavior is learned, the
learning includes techniques of crime,
which are sometimes complicated, simple,
the motives and drives.
9.) Labeling Theory
⚫Deviance is not a quality of the act the person
commits but rather a consequence of the
application by other rules and sanction to an
“offender”.
⚫Any word attached to a person sometimes
become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

 
SHUKRAN!