Week 6 Flashcards
Public reception of deviance accepts fashion as a form of fantasy we will never experience in real life
Deviance
Vicarious enjoyment/attraction to the dark side exists in popular culture and in contemporary society
Deviance
one who performs deviancy
Deviant
Something is deviant when it causes harm/ Harmfulness of one’s actions or beliefs. However, there are many deviant acts that are non harmful (eg public nudity)
Measures of deviancy
‘Statistical Rarity’; things are considered deviant if rare. It is unusual for people to break rules, thus disobedience = deviance. Such people are considered asocial, criminals, etc
Measures of deviancy
Violation of Norms: someone who goes against moraes and social customs. Moraes= proper behaviour. Deviance is a violation of norms
Measures of deviancy
Some subcultures’ defining characteristics include alternative codes of norms
Measures of deviancy
There is no universal characteristic of deviancy
Measures of deviancy
was biological; people are born criminal. Aggression, sexual deviancy, perversion
First theories of deviance
Some of the first systems of identifying criminals was based on their physical appearance.
First theories of deviance
9 physical characteristics that can be considered ‘criminal traits’ are apelike.
First theories of deviance: Cesare Lombroso
ties crime to low intelligence. People who are more beautiful are less likely to be profiled as criminal.
First theories of deviance: Cesare Lombroso
Deviance has some social function that is beneficial
Theories of deviance: functionalism
Stable societies still have criminals
Theories of deviance: functionalism
Accentuates what is right/moral
Theories of deviance: functionalism
When we define deviance through laws, we draw moral boundaries
Theories of deviance: functionalism
Moral outrage against deviancy offers an opportunity for social unity
Theories of deviance: functionalism
Deviance forces a society to progress and reform structure
Theories of deviance: functionalism
Deviance is universal
Theories of deviance: Symbolic Interactionism
Deviance is contingent on who you are, where you are, etc
Theories of deviance: Symbolic Interactionism
Emerges out of social interaction. It is the individual’s’ actions more so than the society’s reaction
Theories of deviance: Symbolic Interactionism
Laws are made by the state and are made in interest of the ruling class
Theories of deviance: Conflict Theory
White collar crime goes unpunished
Theories of deviance: Conflict Theory
Society adjusts to its most unattainable goals
Strain Theory (Robert K Merton 1938)
American dream, material sense of success, making it financially
Strain Theory (Robert K Merton 1938)
If you can not attain the American Dream, strain theory suggests there are four responses: Innovation Ritualism Retreatism Rebellion
Strain Theory (Robert K Merton 1938)
Innovation (not a good characteristic, individual who does not use the conventional means to attain success/they cheat. They accept social goals but do not mean them in the conventional way)
Strain Theory (Robert K Merton 1938)
Ritualism (individual who goes through the motions, conforms to socially accepted behaviour but reject the goal)
Strain Theory (Robert K Merton 1938)
Retreatism (Individual who rejects both the means to the goal and the social goals)
Strain Theory (Robert K Merton 1938)
Rebellion (rejects proper ideas and reject the goals but make new goals/expectations. Counterculture, subcultures who propose alternative forms of success)
Strain Theory (Robert K Merton 1938)
Deviance is a learned behaviour
Learning Theory
Deviance is the result of individuals who conform to a social group who have the ‘wrong’ values
Learning Theory
How the extent to which your behavior is deviant = the level of exposure to learned deviance.
Differential Association Theory, Edwin H Sutherland 1947
Learning Theory
Closer association and more time you spend with the deviant influence determines level of individual’s deviance. Ex learning to disobey authority from TV vs from your sibling
Differential Association Theory, Edwin H Sutherland 1947 (Learning Theory)
Dominant approach to deviance today
Labeling Theory
Deviance is not somebody’s actions or behaviour, but rather a stigmatizing label that society applies to anything it decides is unacceptable
Labeling Theory
Temporary label and has no long-term impact on how others or yourself view you
Labeling Theory: Primary deviance
Ex drunk at a party, embarrassed for a few weeks until someone else does something embarrassing and attention is taken off you. You did not acquire permanent label
Labeling Theory: Primary deviance
Acquire a long-lasting, deviant label
Ex you’re drunk at every party. Label = drunk, master status= drunk
Labeling Theory: Secondary deviance
When society latches onto a label, such as terrorist, and uses it as a way to control irrational fear
Labeling Theory: Moral panic
Ex after Columbine School Shooting, black trench coats and overcoats were banned in American high schools as a means to prevent deviancy
Labeling Theory: Moral panic
Everyone is deviant. Question to ask is not why some people are deviant, but how society manages and regulates deviancy
Control Theory
there are four mechanisms of social control to regulate social deviancy
Travis Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory 1969 (Control Theory)
Attachment (what is the degree of connection between individual and society. Stronger the relationships among school, work, family = less potential for deviance)
Travis Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory 1969 (Control Theory)
Commitment (what kind of opportunities does the individual have? If the individual sees a future in the society, they don’t turn to deviance.)
Travis Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory 1969 (Control Theory)
Involvement (A person who is busy will not be deviant)
Travis Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory 1969 (Control Theory)
Beliefs (we learn values, we internalize them, and they become part of our world view)
Travis Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory 1969 (Control Theory)
Deviance is the result of people belonging to a subculture
subculture= intentionally different from the mainstream.
Subcultural theory (Phil Cohen, 1972)
Examines delinquent subcultures
Subcultural theory (Phil Cohen, 1972)
Subcultures develop their own language: own slang, insider terms
Subcultural theory (Phil Cohen, 1972)
Spectacular= visibly different
Subcultural theory (Phil Cohen, 1972)
Develop vocabularies of motive= have a narrative that justifies their different. A story/explanation for being different.
Subcultural theory (Phil Cohen, 1972)
Beliefs and norms are different from mainstream society (alternative value system)
Subcultural theory (Phil Cohen, 1972)
Stigma, stigma allure = the thing that gave you the stigma might eventually be reincorporated into society
Crimes of Fashion
Harmful ingredients, unhealthy influence on body image
Fashion Victim
Access/going over the top
Fashion Victim
Unaware they’ve gone too far
Fashion Victim
There is social consensus they’ve gone too far
Fashion Victim
Using dress as a form of refusal
Revolting Style
Trying to expand what is acceptable
Style in revolt
