part 3 Flashcards
Deviance
is a behavior, trait, or belief that departs from societal norms and elicits negative social reactions. It is a relative concept, varying across time, culture, social context, and group.
Consensus crimes
are widely condemned and severely punished acts, reflecting societal agreement on their harm.
Social deviations
are non-criminal norm violations subject to formal control (e.g., violating school dress codes).
Social divisions
represent minor deviance often tolerated as harmless differences within society.
Subjective positions
see deviance as a social construction, focusing on how actors perceive and experience it.
Objective positions
emphasize the macro-level impact of deviance on society, viewing it as norm violation or inherent in individuals.
Labeling Theory (Howard Becker):
Deviance arises not solely from the act but from the social reaction and labeling of the actor as deviant. This label can become a master status, shaping the individual’s self-identity and future actions.
Differential Association Theory (Edwin Sutherland)
Deviance is learned through interaction with others, especially within primary groups. The frequency, duration, and intensity of exposure to deviant definitions influence the likelihood of adopting deviant behavior.
Strain Theory (Robert Merton)
Deviance results from the strain between culturally approved goals (e.g., wealth) and limited legitimate means to achieve them. This discrepancy can lead to adaptations like innovation, ritualism, retreatism, or rebellion
Functionalism and Deviance
Émile Durkheim
argued that deviance is a normal and necessary part of society. It serves functions like reinforcing social solidarity by highlighting shared values and promoting social change by challenging the status quo
Conflict Theory and Deviance
Conflict theorists
focus on the relationship between power and deviance. They argue that the powerful define and enforce laws to benefit themselves while criminalizing behaviors that threaten their interests. This results in the disproportionate labeling and punishment of marginalized groups.
Feminist Theory and Deviance
Feminist perspectives
highlight the gendered nature of deviance. They examine how power imbalances between men and women shape the definition, labeling, and experience of deviance, particularly in areas like sexual assault and domestic violence.
Social Control
encompasses the mechanisms used by society to regulate thoughts, feelings, appearances, and behaviors to maintain order and conformity.
Internal social control
involves socialization and internalization of norms through institutions like family and education.
External social control
relies on formal sanctions (e.g., laws) and informal sanctions (e.g., social disapproval) to enforce compliance.
Contemporary Trends Surveillance
has become a prominent feature of social control in post-industrial societies, using technology to monitor and manage behavior.
Contemporary Trends
Medicalization of deviance
refers to the increasing tendency to define and treat deviant behaviors as medical conditions, shifting the focus from punishment to treatment.
Differential Association Theory:
The theory that individuals learn deviant behavior through interaction with others, particularly those who hold deviant values and attitudes.
Formal Sanctions:
Officially imposed punishments for violations of formal rules or laws
Functionalism
A theoretical perspective that views society as a system of interconnected parts that work together to maintain stability and equilibrium.
Informal Sanctions:
Unofficial, often subtle, social responses to deviance, such as disapproval, ridicule, or ostracism.
Labeling Theory:
The theory that deviance is a social construct resulting from the application of deviant labels to individuals by others.
Master Status
A social status that overrides all other statuses and becomes the primary basis for how an individual is perceived and treated
Medicalization of Deviance
The process by which deviant behaviors are redefined as medical conditions, often requiring medical intervention.
Norms
Shared rules and expectations that guide behavior in a society or group.
Panopticon
A circular prison design that allows for constant surveillance of inmates, used as a metaphor for modern surveillance systems.
Sanctions
Social responses to deviance that aim to enforce norms and maintain social control.
Social Control:
The mechanisms that a society uses to regulate individual behavior and maintain social order.
Stigma
A negative social label attached to a person or group, often leading to discrimination and social exclusion.
Strain Theory:
The theory that deviance results from the strain experienced when individuals are unable to achieve culturally valued goals through legitimate means.
Surveillance
The systematic monitoring of individuals or populations, often using technology, for the purpose of control and management.
The Body as a Social Product:
Sociologists study the body to understand how it reflects and is shaped by social forces. Factors like jewelry, hair color, and gym culture illustrate the body as a canvas for expressing identity.
The Body Project
This concept refers to the active shaping of the body to meet cultural beauty and health standards. It encompasses activities like camouflaging (makeup, deodorant), extending (glasses, prosthetics), adapting (weight loss, hair removal), and redesigning (plastic surgery, tattoos).
