Lecture 10 Flashcards
What is the positivist approach to deviance?
There is such a thing in the world that is deviant, and it can be empirically studied (ie: genetic explanation for deviance - there is something concrete)
Who represented the relativist approach to deviance?
Howard Becker: The relativist approach (opposite of positivist approach) –> you can’t find an act that is inherently deviant, deviance is a social construct.
What does Durkheim suggest about deviance in a society of saints?
Deviance is present in every society. In a society of saints, minor infractions would still be considered deviant (there will always be such a thing as deviance).
According to Costello, what is an essential characteristic of deviance?
It has to do with suffering and victims. Costello believes there is an essential characteristic that we call deviance.
What is the macro theory of deviance?
It explains deviant behaviors as a systematic view, such as through strain theory and conflict theory/marxist theory.
What does strain theory focus on?
How society functions as a whole.
What is the focus of micro theories in deviance?
Interactions between individuals.
ie: labeling theory, physiological approaches
Critiques of Marxist approaches to deviance
1) Largely non-falsifiable – Cannot empirically test this theory
2) Criminal activities hurt the lower classes most – most exposed and victimized by crime and they ask for protection/intervention, so it is hard to explain that police control is geared up towards the rich
3) Tough to explain “hard violence” – how do we explain violent crime and aggressive behaviours
4) Communist societies still have crime/deviance – societies that went far with the Marxist approach still have a lot of crime
5) Most people In Western societies are in the middle classes (neither bourgeoisie nor proletariat) — dual relationships do not apply anymore, largely middle class.
What is the problem with spitzer’s theory
- Spitzer cannot explain why we have murder…Doesnt explain this mechanism
- Chambliss explains this better → self-fufilling prophecy (from merton)
- Reaction of society to the roughnecks explains these patterns in behaviour (why they drop out of school)
Social Interaction Approaches to Deviance
- Essentially, it is a relativist approach. It is a micro approach and is more modest in what it tries to explain.
- Deviance as a product of the social interaction between individuals and various types of audiences
- Deviance is a designation—a label—that is attached to some individuals and not to other
What does labeling theory emphasize?
Deviance is a designation or label attached to some individuals.
What is Tannenbaum’s explanation about labeling theory?
Tannenbaum (1938): The Dramatization of Evil:
* It starts with the act: ie = somebody stealing. We have an act and judge the act.
* But then the act happens again and we move on to labelling the person as deviant (tagging).
* “Tagging” the person as evil
This affects the self-image of the person.
* We perceive ourselves through the eyes of others. Most of our perception of ourselves is based on how we think others judge and see us (your idea of how others judge you). –> Internalization
What is ‘tagging’ in the context of labeling theory?
Labeling a person as deviant after they commit an act.
Who is a key thinker in interactionist terms related to deviance?
Erving Goffman.
What is stigmatization according to Goffman?
Being treated based on a single trait, reducing one’s identity to that label.
* This is what happens to people that are subjected to total institutions - your identity becomes reduced to this one trait.
What does Becker’s labeling theory state?
- Becker’s book “Outsider” was a big step in labeling theory.
- Deviance exists when someone identifies and labels an act as deviant (it does not just simply exist).
- Labeling and the relativity of deviance (a relativist, non-positivist approach)
- The main question is no longer why deviance exists but instead how we define it (label it)
Cicourel
- Pre-labeling - label before even knowing the person or anything
- White youth were less likely to be accused by police/commit crime
Edwin Lemert and the process of labeling: What is primary deviance?
Small acts of rule-breaking that receive mild or no social reaction. They have no effect on self image.
What is secondary deviance?
When one internalizes a deviant identity and integrates it into their self-image.
* Stigma
* Self-fulfilling prophecy → normative people start to stay away from you so you look for other company (this is when you get into the role of deviance)
* A deviant role
* Retrospective labeling → forget about all the previous aspects and labels them as deviant
* A deviant career → develop a deviant career (entry, learning, managing and exiting)
* A deviant master status
What is Lemert’s view of social deviance?
- If social reaction to your deviant act is not stigmatizing, then it ends there and stays under primary deviance. But if your parents are very upset (intense reaction), you will internalize this and pushes you into that identity/isolates you.
- You become an outsider in one group (your normal circle) forcing you to find belonging in another group (the ones that are deviant) → creates secondary deviance
- No longer part of normative group and become part of delinquent group. Deviance becomes central to your life
What are the critiques of labeling theory?
1) Why does deviance happen in the first place? Does not explain the reason for deviance.
2)How do we account for severe/violent crime? Why are people committing severe crimes
Fits well for vandalism, shoplifting, using drugs
3) Not enough attention to deviance in adulthood and to the long term effect of deviance.
- Some people just engage in crime in adulthood.
4) Questionable empirical support.
What critique is commonly directed at Marxist approaches to deviance?
They are largely non-falsifiable and cannot be empirically tested.
What is differential association according to Sutherland?
- Deviant behaviors are learned through socialization in peer groups.
- this is also interactionist approach
- One of the leading approaches
- Deviant behaviours are learned and transformed. Happens through the same processes as we learn to be normative. Acquired in the same manner we learn.
- Also coined white collar crime.
What did Sutherland find in his studies of 1st and 2nd generation immigrants?
- Comparison of crime rates among first- and second-generation immigrants
- According to strain theory, first generation immigrants would be more likely to commit crime because they are experiencing more barriers/strain.
- Significantly higher rates among second-generation immigrants
- Does not necessarily dismantle Merton’s theory of strain: perhaps they have different goals.
- Socialization – Learning deviant behaviours and justifications through association with deviant peer groups.
- We need to focus on the process of socialization, who are socializing the second generation into society.
- Can enter the circle of peers that are going against the norms or follow your parents directions
What does Edwin Lemert say about the social reaction to deviant acts?
Intense reactions can push individuals into a deviant identity.
What is a deviant master status?
A label that becomes central to an individual’s identity.
What is retrospective labeling?
Reinterpreting past behaviors as deviant based on current labels.
True or False: Labeling theory effectively explains why deviance happens in the first place.
False.
What is the focus of Sutherland’s study of first- and second-generation immigrants?
- Comparison of crime rates and the impact of socialization.
- Sutherland beleives that different individuals associate with different groups and either learn deviant or normative norms –> both are learned.
What does the self-fulfilling prophecy imply in the context of deviance?
Normative individuals start to avoid the labeled person, pushing them towards deviance.
What is the significance of socialization in learning deviant behaviors?
It occurs through association with deviant peer groups.
What does the term ‘delinquent group’ refer to in Lemert’s theory?
A group that one may join after being marginalized from the normative group.
What are the limitations of labeling theory highlighted in critiques?
It does not account for severe/violent crime or long-term effects of deviance.
What is Skyes and Matza’s take on deviance?
- Criminals and normal people are not essentially separated by two different moral codes/values.
- People that engage in criminal activity still are aware of these normative views. But they have different strategies to neutralize these values so that they are able to go engage in criminal behaviours.
- People that do commit illegal acts do have cognitive dissonance (they do feel bad) but they are able to neutralize this.
What are the four neutralization techniques identified by Sykes and Matza?
1) Denial of Responsibility: acknowledge you did something wrong, and learn to think you are the victim of the circumstances that made you commit the act
2) Denial of the injury/victim: deny they caused any harm to anyone or that the victims deserved it. Dehumanize the victim so that it is not wrong.
3) Condemnation of the condemners: try to change the focus from your own behaviour to the behaviour of the institutions that control you.
4) Appealing to higher loyalties: justifying deviant behaviour as servicing something bigger than you.
