Deviance

Question 1

Deviance

Answer 1

Behaviour that does not conform to the norms or values held by most members of a group or society. What is viewed as deviant varies across cultures and time.

Question 2

Norms

Answer 2

Rules of conduct that specify appropriate behaviour in a given range of social situations. A norm either prescribes or forbids a type of behaviour.

Question 3

Values

Answer 3

Ideas held by individuals or groups about what is desirable, proper, good and bad

Question 4

Social Control

Answer 4

The process of enforcing conformity and minimising deviancy using authority to enforce norms

Question 5

Durkheims functionalist theory of deviance

Answer 5

A sociological theory that interprets each part of society in terms of how it contributes to the stability of the whole society.

Question 6

Affirmation of societys cultural norms and values (durkhiems theory of deviance)

Answer 6

Deviancy identifies the value of a norm by differentiating between right and wrong behaviour and is used to justify the benefits of the norm.

Question 7

Clarification of society’s moral boundaries (Durkhiem’s theory of deviance)

Answer 7

Norms are understood when deviancy exposes their value to society

Question 8

Unification of others in society (Durkhiem’s theory of deviance)

Answer 8

People with different opinions and beliefs are united by deviancy when it shows the extent to which they share common norms and values.

Question 9

Encouraging social change (Durkhiem’s theory of deviance)

Answer 9

Modern societies express greater levels of deviancy due to social structures allowing for greater differences in people’s beliefs and life styles. The diverse range of deviancies allows competition between norms promoting social change and innovation.

Question 10

Social control theories of deviance

Answer 10

Theories that focus on people avoiding deviant behaviour.

Question 11

Hirschi’s theory of deviance

Answer 11

Travis Hirschi’s theory asserts that people violate social norms because they lack social bonds to significant others (e.g. family, social or work)

Question 12

Attachment (Hirschi’s theory of deviance)

Answer 12

Deviancy is minimised when an individual has strong social bonds with positive role models, encouraging conformity to shared social norms.

Question 13

Commitment (Hirschi’s theory of deviance)

Answer 13

Deviancy is minimised when an individual does not want to risk losing investments such as the positive regard to others

Question 14

Involvement (Hirschi’s theory of deviance)

Answer 14

Social integration with others minimises deviancy through participation in socially approved activities

Question 15

Belief (Hirschi’s theory of deviance)

Answer 15

Sharing the same moral values creates agreement and reduces deviancy

Question 16

Beckers interactionist theory of deviance

Answer 16

Interactionists argue that there are no behaviours that are intrinsically deviant. They suggest that deviant actions are simply those which are defined as deviant within a society.

Question 17

Labelling

Answer 17

A sociological theory that suggests that no status or behaviour is inherently deviant until other people have judged it and categorised it as so