Deviance

Question 1

What is formal deviance?

Answer 1

Laws.

Question 2

What is informal deviance?

Answer 2

Folkways, mores, values

Question 3

What are laws?

Answer 3

Formal written rules that are usually based on values or mores.

Question 4

What are folkways?

Answer 4

Informal norms that are considered customs or habits. While they are expected behaviours there are no serious consequences if they’re broken.

Question 5

What are mores?

Answer 5

Behaviours that are considered morally wright or wrong.

Question 6

What are values?

Answer 6

Ideas that are important to our society.

Question 7

What is functionalism?

Answer 7

Viewing society as a system (interconnected parts which together form a whole). All the parts work together, therefore there is a relationship between them, and they all contribute to the stability and functionality of society as a whole.

Question 8

What are the functions of society according to Durkheim?

Answer 8

Affirmation, clarification, unification, and encouraging od social change.

Question 9

What is affirmation?

Answer 9

The affirmation of social norms (socialisation) occurs when deviant actions give society opportunities to affirm and reinforce right/wrong behaviour.

Question 10

What is clarification?

Answer 10

The clarification of moral boundaries (punishment) occurs when deviant acts allow society to clarify ‘the line’ (boundary). This is done through formal and informal punishment.

Question 11

What is unification?

Answer 11

Society unifies against deviance and around agreed norms, acting to condemn the deviant and bring people together. This reinforces conformity.

Question 12

What is the encouragement of social change?

Answer 12

Deviance causes society to reevaluate/discuss its social norms and question whether they are still relevant. Old norms may be reinforced, or new norms created.

Question 13

What is the Social Bonds theory?

Answer 13

Travis Hirschi proposed that deviance occurs when a person lacks social bonds, but that a person will avoid deviance if they have strong bonds. This is because deviance threatens social bonds.

Question 14

What are the four social bonds according to Hirschi?

Answer 14

Attachment to relationships, commitment to goals, involvement in community approved activities and belief in moral or religious systems.

Question 15

Explain attachment as a social bond.

Answer 15

If we have people we care about (friends, family), we want to avoid hurting or disappointing them, so we avoid deviance.

Question 16

Explain commitment as a social bond.

Answer 16

We will avoid deviance if it threatens our goals in work or education. Lacking these goals makes us more likely to be deviant.

Question 17

Explain involvement in community approved activites as a social bond.

Answer 17

If our time is taken up by, we will be less deviant. Community activities give us a sense of purpose and connection to those around us. Purposelessness leads to increased opportunities for deviance.

Question 18

Explain belief in moral or religious systems as a social bond.

Answer 18

Strong ethics, morality or religious beliefs give us ‘inner’ or personal reasons (a conscience!) to follow rules and do the right thing.

Question 19

What is the labelling theory?

Answer 19

Howard Becker, sociologist, saw society as a set of ‘symbols’ or behaviours that society assigns meaning to (labels).
Some ‘symbols’ are seen differently depending on perspective. This suggests that deviance is created by society, rather than symbols (behaviours) being ‘naturally deviant’.

Question 20

Give an example of the labelling theory.

Answer 20

The label ‘Karen’ groups deviant behaviours (entitlement and oppression) together with middle aged white women in order to discourage them.

Question 21

What is positive deviance?

Answer 21

Positive acts of deviance occur when an individual or a group behaves or performs above the expected norms set by a society or culture.

Question 22

What is altruism?

Answer 22

Helping others without expecting any reward or recognition.

Question 23

What is charisma?

Answer 23

Natural leaders who have personal characteristics that set them apart and inspire followers.

Question 24

What is innovation?

Answer 24

The creation of new ideas that change society and the way people view an issue or problem.

Question 25

What is supra-conformity?

Answer 25

People who can perform beyond the expected expectations of society.

Question 26

What is meant by innate characteristics?

Answer 26

Possessing natural traits that a society values such as intelligence, beauty and/or talent.

Question 27

What is an ex-deviant?

Answer 27

Someone who has left behind a deviant or criminal identity and have replaced it with a new, non- deviant role.

Question 28

What is a moral panic?

Answer 28

An intense emotional reaction from society to an issue that is perceived to threaten social order.

Question 29

What are the features of a moral panic?

Answer 29

Concern, hostility, concensus, disproportionality, volatility.

Question 30

What is meant by concern?

Answer 30

There must be awareness that the issue is likely to have a negative impact on society. Usually, there is a norm in society (moral concern) that is being threatened.

Question 31

What is meant by hostility?

Answer 31

‘Us vs Them’; division between Folkways vs Moral entrepreneurs as hostility and antagonism increases.

Question 32

What is meant by consensus?

Answer 32

There must be widespread agreement that the issue does pose a real threat to social order.

Question 33

What is meant by volatility?

Answer 33

Society’s responses to moral panics can be unpredictable and may change rapidly.

Question 34

What is meant by disproportionality?

Answer 34

The action taken against the folk devil must be out of proportion to the threat they cause. Public reaction might be hysterical or exaggerated.