Determining Deviance Flashcards
How does deviance demonstrate the “problem of definition”? What are some issues with dictionary definitions, individual definitions, and sensational descriptors (e.g. nuts, sluts, and perverts)?
There is a lack of agreement - there is no universal agreement
issues:
- dictionary definitions: straying from accepted norms - how far do you have to stray, where do these norms come from?
- individual definitions: not universal, lots of diversity between individuals
- nuts, sluts, and perverts: not the whole of deviance, just highlights sensational cases
What is a common definition of deviance?
A person, characteristic, or behaviour considered strange, inappropriate, or immoral - in need of social control
What dichotomy exists when defining deviance? How have views on this dichotomy changed?
Objectivism vs. subjectivism
Used to be viewed as mutually exclusive, but nowadays perspectives tend to combine elements of both which is very useful
Define the objective approach to deviance (what does it focus on, how is deviance defined, how do we know what is deviant?)
Objective: why are people doing these acts?
focus = deviance as an act
defined = deviance is defined by a common characteristic
how we know = we know it when we see it
Define the subjective approach to deviance (what does it focus on, how is deviance defined, how do we know what is deviant?)
Subjective: how is it somethings are considered deviant but not others + why do we react the way we do?
focus = deviance as a label/perceptions and reactions to deviance
defined = deviance isn’t associated with a particular characteristic but is socially defined
how we know = we’re taught what’s deviant
What are the four identified traits that are most often highlighted within objectivist views of deviance?
- statistical rarity
- harm
- normative violation
- -ve reaction by society’s masses
What is statistical rarity, and what are some limitations of this definition of deviance?
statistical rarity = something is deviant if it’s statistically rare in a population
limitations:
- difficult to quantify rare - what prevalence rate is required?
- some behaviours, beliefs or characteristics aren’t rare and still considered deviant (e.g. underaged drinking)
- some behaviours, beliefs or characteristics are rare but aren’t considered deviant (e.g. making the Dean’s List)
What is harm, and what are some limitations of this definition of devinace?
harm = something is deviant if it causes harm (e.g. physical, emotional, social, or ontological)
limitations:
- perceptions of harm vary over time - dynamic/evolves (e.g homosexuality, cannabis use, masturbation)
- perceptions of harm are also subjective - harm to self vs. harm to others; whether society or a belief system is being harmed (e.g. feminist movements)
- sometimes reactions cause more harm that the deviance itself (e.g. criminalziation of drugs), which can create an “us vs. them”
Describe how perceptions of harm are subjective is seen in feminist movements
feminists were accused of harming social order by fighting for women’s rights to vote, questioning a women’s role as a homemaker, and moving from the home to paid employment - were these women causing harm to society or beliefs, because harm implies -ve impact?
Describe how the criminalization of drugs causes more harm than drug use itself
- doesn’t solve the root problem of drug addiction
- stigmatizes drug users –> identity of criminal –> prevents opportunities to get back on track
- economic costs –> judicial costs (court, prison, etc.) –> this money could be better spent on public health measures to address the root issue
- illegal products are unregulated, tend to have a higher potency, and could be laced
- having to purchase drugs from criminal enterprises places users at risk
- fuels creation of powerful criminal organizations
What are two routes of physical harm, name an example for each?
- if someone harms someone else
- e.g. assault, drunk-driving, or exposing others to 2nd hand smoke - can be done to oneself
- e.g. self-mutilation or drug abuse
What are two routes of emotional harm, name an example for each?
- done to others
- e.g. cyberbullying - done to oneself
- e.g. -ve self talk
What is social harm? Give an example
social harm = causes social disorder/interferes with the smooth running of society
e.g. criminal activity threatens the safety of the population at large as well as the social order
- implicit in criminal law is the assumption that certain acts must be prohibited because of their harmfulness
- in Canada, all crimes are considered a harm to society itself (i.e. Crown vs. the defendant, not the victim vs. the defendant)
What is ontological harm? Give an example
ontological harm = when there is a threat to the fundamental ways we understand the world and our place in it
e.g. religious belief systems have frequently provided us with means of abstract understanding on a large scale
- even in contemporary societies, religious systems provide many people with a fundamental way of understanding existence
- when new religious belief systems emerge (or are imposed) to displace older ones, conflicts emerge between individuals or groups with different religious beliefs, or people with strong religious beliefs find themselves in an increasingly secular world, there can be threats to the fundamental ways that people understand the world and their places in it
What is societal reaction, and what are some limitations?
societal reaction = something is deviant if society reacts negatively (e.g. anger, fear or distrust)
limitations:
- it’s not always clear why we react to some things and not others
- how strong is a reaction and how many -ve reactions must there be?
- why do some people’s reactions (e.g. politicans, scientists, the wealthy) count more than others (e.g. students, those with mental illness, working class)?
- policy making is often based on something other than societal opinion; what those in power want to happen (e.g. cannabis legalization - people wanted, conservatives refused; e.g. death penalty - people wanted, but the government took it away)
