Sociology of Deviance (pp. 17-24)

Question 1

What are Erickson’s 2 counter-intuitive claims on deviance?

Answer 1

1) Deviancy is not necessarily bad, and might even be good for society.
2) Social control agencies contribute to and may even generate deviant behaviour.

Question 2

Why do human communities maintain boundaries (sociological)?

Answer 2

1) To promote community solidarity/cohesion. 2) To promote stability (boundary maintenance). 3) To retain cultural integrity.

Question 3

How do we learn about boundaries?

Answer 3

Members behaviour. The only material for creating and maintaining boundaries is how the members within society behave. Rituals or behaviours mark appropriate and inappropriate behaviours.

Question 4

How are boundaries publicized?

Answer 4

Via interactions between the deviant person and official agents of the community-particularly during offical ceremonies. (ex: criminal trials, courts-marital trials, psychiatric wards).

Question 5

How could social control agents actually be promoting deviance while at the same time trying to get rid of it?

Answer 5

Deviance is necessary in the creation of the boundaries of society. Many institutions designed to discourage deviant behaviours actually reinstate it-high recidivism rates in prisons, psychiatric hospitals that make you more insane.

Question 6

What are the steps that make it highly unlikely for a person to ever be rehabilitated into society?

Answer 6

1) Formal confrontation between society and the deviant
2)Announcement made about the nature of deviance
3) Announcement represents a persons permanent status change as someone who is deviant.
Thus creates a self-fulfilling prophecy, as the deviant can no longer be unbranded as deviant.