Chapter 2 - Explaining Deviance - The Act

Question 1

Theory

Answer 1

a set of statements or principles intended to explain a fact or phenomenon

Question 2

Why is theory necessary?

Answer 2

because facts never interpret themselves
- theory and practice must be connected for either to be meaningful

Question 3

What did early theories of deviance focus on, and what became emphasized later on?

Answer 3

Early theories of deviance focused on the supernatural (e.g., demonology, witchcraft) but with the Enlightenment came an emphasis on rationalism and science (e.g., Cesare Lombroso’s theory of atavism, heritability)

Question 4

Biological Theories

Answer 4

• Cesare Lombroso’s theory of atavism - Stigmata, ape-like characteristics- people with these qualities are not as “evolved”, not as civilized and more likely to be involved in deviant behavior
• criminality based on HEREDITY. According to those theories, just as the colour of one’s eyes is biologically inherited, so is social behaviour like criminality
• X and y chromosome theories

Question 5

Objective theories and What are they called

Answer 5

focus on ACTS
- focuses on RULE-BREAKING
- called POSITIVIST theories

Question 6

Positivist theories

Answer 6

Understanding is based on observation and science (objective)
- cause-effect relationships
- modelled after approaches in the natural sciences, which identify the unchanging laws of nature that govern the environment
- In pursuing the rules that govern the social environment, positivist sociologists seek to explain why people act in certain ways—the variables or social factors that are associated with a certain behaviour
- coupled with measures of social control

Question 7

What do Objective / Positivist Theories do

Answer 7

Are used to explain the WHY of deviance
Attempt to establish cause and effect as well as generalizable, universally applicable laws with the goal of improving society

Question 8

What are the three kinds of Objective / Positivist theories

Answer 8

functionalist, learning, and control theories

Question 9

What do Functionalist theories assume?

Answer 9

The social structure creates deviance
- In this perspective, society is seen as comprising various structures (e.g., the family, the education system, the political system), each of which fulfills important functions (manifest functions vs. latent <dys>functions) for the smooth running of the social order
- the rules that make up the social order are based on consensus
therefore, if rules are typically functional (i.e., they contribute to social order), and if rules are based on consensus, we need to understand why some people break the rules so order can be restored
- Social structures include institutions, such as the economic system, government, education, the family, and the roles that we play within these institutions as well- things that structure human experience</dys>

Question 10

Manifest functions

Answer 10

intended and recognized
- For example, a manifest function of post-secondary education is to train young adults for employment

Question 11

Latent functions

Answer 11

unintentional and unrecognized
- Post secondary offers more though, like the formation of friendships and romantic relationships

Question 12

What specific theories are included in functionalist theories?

Answer 12

Include Durkheim’s anomie theory, Merton’s anomie and strain theories, Cloward and Ohlin’s differential opportunity theory, Agnew’s general strain theory, and Cohen’s status frustration theory

Question 13

What did Durkheim suggest about deviance?

Answer 13

That a certain level of deviance is functional for society:
- increases social solidarity
- Deviance is functional in that seeing someone break the rules leads the rest of us to realize how important the rules are and the necessity of following the rules
- helps determine moral boundaries
- tests society’s boundaries
- when certain rules no longer work and need to be changed
- reduces societal tensions
Deviance serves a useful purpose in helping maintain a society’s balance or equilibrium
Beyond this optimal level, deviance becomes dysfunctional (interferes with the social order)

Question 14

What creates deviance according to Durkheim?

Answer 14

The structure of society
- mechanical solidarity -> organic solidarity

Question 15

What are the two ways in which deviance reduces societal tensions?

Answer 15

when there is some sort of scapegoat that can be blamed for a social problem, since blaming a scapegoat takes the pressure off society at large.
The second way that societal tensions can be defused is when individuals engage in small acts of minor deviance that act as a safety valve and let off some steam

Question 16

What do Parsons and Smelser suggest about letting off steam through minor acts of deviance?

Answer 16

Subsequently activates social processes that return deviant actors to their acceptable roles in society
- Socialization – deviant actors letting off steam have internalized society’s rules enough so that they return to their legitimate social rules
- Profit - which teaches citizens that there is a payoff or benefit accorded to those who conform to society’s rules
- Persuasion - through advertising, the sermons of religious leaders, psychologists’ advice, etc.
- Coercion - punishment for those who do not return to their legitimate social roles

Question 17

Mechanical Solidarity

Answer 17

Durkheim - society was bonded together by LIKENESS or by a COLLECTIVE commitment to conformity
- characterized by minimal specialization in the division of labour; people produced whatever they needed for survival
- interactions between individuals in this type of society were quite personal and often kin-based; everyone knew and had a personal relationship with everyone else. Each person in this society had much in common with every other person

Question 18

Organic Solidarity

Answer 18

society was bonded together by DIFFERENCE or interdependence through a highly specialized division of labour
- tasks that keep society running smoothly are divided among different institutions
- interactions between people are somewhat impersonal, based primarily on our dependence on others because of the degree of specialization in the division of labour
- collective way of thinking and interacting is replaced by INDIVIDUALISM

Question 19

Under what conditions keeps deviance at a functional level according to Durkheim?

Answer 19

Under conditions of both mechanical and organic solidarity, social integration and moral regulation have the potential to keep deviance at a functional level and facilitate the degree of conformity necessary to maintain social order

Question 20

What does rapid social change cause according to Durkheim?

Answer 20

anomie (normlessness) that can result in harmful levels of deviance, beyond the degree functional for society

Question 21

What did Robert Merton suggest deviance originates from?

Answer 21

originates from both the macro level (of larger social structures and processes) and the micro level (of individual choices and experiences).
At the macro level, characteristics of the social structure are important.
At the micro level, individual adaptations to these structural characteristics propel some people into deviance

Question 22

Robert Merton Anomie and Strain Theory key concepts

Answer 22

institutionalized goals (culturally identified goals for “success”) and legitimate means (culturally approved ways of obtaining goals)

Question 23

How do anomie and strain result according to Merton?

Answer 23

Anomie results when the goals become more important than the means (“deinstitutionalization of the means”) and strain results when there is a structural gap between the goals and the means

Question 24

What did merton develop in his strain theory

Answer 24

modes of adaptation (conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, rebellion)

Question 25

Conformity

Answer 25

individual continues to accept both society’s institutionalized (or cultural) goals and the institutionalized (or legitimate) means
- only one not considered deviant

Question 26

Innovation

Answer 26

accepts the institutionalized (or cultural) goals but rejects the legitimate (or institutionalized) means of achieving those goals.
- For example, if you want to become wealthy, you can do so in a conforming way by pursuing a higher education and training for a high-paying career, or you can do so in an innovative way by selling drugs

Question 27

Ritualism

Answer 27

person rejects the institutionalized or cultural goals but accepts the legitimate or institutionalized means
- This is someone who thinks he or she will never get anywhere in life but keeps going through the motions—for example, never missing a day of work

Question 28

Retreatism

Answer 28

people reject both the institutionalized goals and the legitimate means
- These are people who have given up on the goals, do not even go through the motions anymore, and instead retreat into their own isolated worlds, sometimes characterized by alcohol abuse or drug addiction

Question 29

Rebellion

Answer 29

• also reject both institutionalized goals and legitimate means, however, unlike retreatists, they substitute new goals and new means
• These are people who have a “vision” of a different world and act to bring that vision to life