In society, when it comes to understanding what a deviant act is, we must be able to understand how conformity plays a big part. A person cannot simply understand what is deviant without understand conformity, it’s almost like society and culture; both intertwine and cannot be understood without one another. The need to belong is a basic human motive and even if they may not agree with everything in society, humans conform because they fear of being disbanded or sanctioned from the group. Norms also play a big part in deviance, norms are the rules on how a person should behave, but when someone breaks those rules, then it is deviant. Now, norms vary in different places. In many countries, the death penalty is extremely deviant, but is accepted in America. Also, because society can change overtime, so do norms. In the 1600 century and for a long time, slavery was justified as okay because people were making profit. Today, murder, adultery, gambling, drugs, cheating on tests, and skipping class are all considered deviant acts. If an individual violates a norm, it is expected to receive responses from others; negative sanctions. The intensity of the negative sanction depends on the importance of the norm. There’s two types of sanctions; informal and formal. Informal sanctions come from social groups and can vary from dirty stares from friends and family to disapproval by the group. A formal sanction comes organizations within society and can vary from fines to prison. So,
As a student, I am often troubled by the rigid routines of the school day, despite the fact that I am actually a very habitual person. The constant ringing of bells, lectures, bellwork, classwork, homework, each a daily practice throughout the school year. Although all of these components promote conformity, which will ultimately support the balance of school and societal norms, they also tend to threaten each student’s own unique characteristics. This then poses the question; to what degree should schools encourage conformity versus individuality? Certainly, a level of conformity is required to achieve a balanced society however, the overall structure of the school day and class, including the methods used to teach and mandatory classes,
“Deviance in sociological context describes actions or behaviors that violate cultural norms including formally-enacted rules (e.g., crime) as well as informal violations of social norms.”
While observing deviance, one will realize deviance comes in many forms of behaviors and characteristics. Most think of deviance a bad behavior, which is true, but deviance is much more boarder than that. Deviance can be defined in many different ways, however according to (Adler 2012), deviance is the violation of social norms. (p.11) To get a better understanding, Norms is considered as a way of life for many people, basically what is acceptable in society’s eyes. There are three types’ of norms, folkways, mores, and laws. Folkways are norms that which is strongly constructed more so of traditions, etiquette, and customs. Next you have, Mores, it is constructed
Deviance is the behavior and the standards of expectations of a group or society. It is also behavior that is considered dangerous, threatening or offensive. The people that are deviant are often labeled to be weirdos, oddballs, or creeps. In the United States, people with tattoos, drug addicts, alcoholics, and compulsive gamblers are all considered deviant. Sociologists believe that everybody is deviant from time to time. They believe each person will violate a social norm in certain situations. People are considered deviant if they don't stand for the national anthem at a sports event, dress casually to a fancy restaurant, or skip classes. One category of deviance is Crime. Crime is a violation of norms
Deviance can also be explained by context; if an individual member of a gang does not join in on an activity along with the rest of the gang members, the individual can be seen as deviant. Macionis and Gerber explain that “the social welfare and criminal justice system blame individuals, not the system, for social problems.”(p.219). Deviance is constructed by institutions to be a problem stemming from the individual rather than society. Basically, because society makes up a majority, what most of a society's members do is considered normal. Doing something unlike what a society does is considered abnormal and people are usually uncomfortable with this sort of disparity. Macionis and Gerber go on to clarify that “people become deviant as others define them that way.”(p.219). Without defining the boundaries between normal and abnormal, deviance would not exist. Essentially, deviant acts are constructed through stigmatizing actions that are deemed dissimilar or immoral in a society. Fundamentally, deviance is a violation of the social norm. It is constructed by certain institutions and individuals; and it can be condemned by society, the law or both.
Beginning from a child we begin to experience different situations and interactions with others. We start getting taught the difference between right and wrong, what may be considered good and what is considered bad, and also taught the things we should and should not do. As we grow older we try to refrain from behavior of which society may disapprove of. Society see’s certain types of behavior as being deviant. First let’s begin by explaining what is a deviant behavior? Deviant behavior can be any behavior that does not conform to what people may consider normal, a behavior that does not meet with many expectations in society. Societies are both social structure and culture. Robert K Merton developed structural
When defining deviance, it’s a behavior that is recognized as violating expected rules and norms and behavior that departs significantly from social expectations. In the sociological perspective on deviance, there is subtlety that distinguishes it from our commonsense understanding of the same behavior. Sociologists stress social context, not just individual behavior. That is, deviance is looked at in terms of group processes, definitions, and judgments, and not just as unusual individual acts. Sociologists who study deviance and crime look into cultural norms, how they change over time, how they are enforced, and what happens to individuals and societies when norms are broken.
Deviance can be described as a violation of social norms, this violation can vary in extremity but nevertheless is still a violation (Henslin 158). Deviant actions are described based on the reaction of society towards the action, this means that deviant acts can differ from person to person based on opinions. Deviant acts in themselves don't always have to be negative but are given a negative connotation due to society's opinion on the actions. Socialization creates these norms that keep order, deviance is the destruction of this order.
Deviance can be defined as an absence of conformity to the social norm. Not all deviant behavior is necessarily illegal or harmful to individuals, these behaviors can range from standing in another’s personal space to murdering another individual. In some cases, it can be looked upon as a positive change or a unique and favorable act. Although, considered deviant because it is not the social norm, it still can have a very positive social aspect or lead to social change. Culture and the societies within these cultures have a significant impact on what is considered deviant and what is acceptable or even lawful behavior. The degree of deviance is measured by society’s reaction towards the action and the lawful sanctions that may take
Social deviance is considered a broad term, it tends to describe actions or behaviors that violate society’s “norms.” Norms, in a simple context, are rules by, which members of society are expected to conform to. When it comes to discussing the term deviance, it tends to mean a person’s failure to conform to unspoken rules established by society. Social deviance can have many forms and interpretations. Deviant acts are primarily relative to the setting because deviance in one place could be considered non-deviance in another place. Theft, violence, murder, or any kind of criminal behavior, can be considered either deviant or non-deviant, depending on the context. It's coming up to countries, establishments, and governing bodies to determine, which acts are and aren’t acceptable. An example, could be murdering someone for drugs is not acceptable, but murdering someone in an act of self-defense is. It can be concluded, all acts of deviance are subjected to review and accepted on the condition that it fits what society holds acceptable. Acts of deviance can result in some very positive outcomes.(Why is this here?)
Norms are means of guiding the behavior of one social group (Macionis, Jansson & Benoit, 2013, p. 161). Deviance is the recognized violation of cultural norms (Macionis et al., 2013, p. 161). Crime is one category of deviance. It is defined as the violation of a society's formally enacted criminal law (Macionis et al., 2013, p. 161).
Remember those times in class when the teacher has asked a question and the answer in mind is surely correct, yet when you look around the majority have chosen an option completely opposite? What about the time your friends pressured you into stealing that shirt or CD or involving in mocking little Johnny because he was a ‘geek’? At the time there was no problems. As a part of the group you felt confident, secure and “like so cool”.
Deviance is socially constructed because it is defined and outlined firmly by society’s norms. As a result, a deviant act in one society may not be considered deviant within a different society. Societies define themselves through the shared common values of the individuals and in order for a society to maintain these values and cultural identity they create and maintain boundaries (Erikson, 2005, p17). These boundaries allow individuals to relate to each other in an articulate manner and so that they may develop a position within society (Erikson, 2005, p17). The boundaries are created by individuals’ behavior and interactions in their regular social relations. Deviance then becomes the actions which society perceived to be outside of its boundaries. In other words, an act is viewed as deviant when it falls outside of those commonly shared values and norms which created the boundaries. This is because the society is making a declaration about the disposition and arrangement of their boundaries. Boundaries are not fixed to any society rather they shift as the individual’s redefine their margins and position on a larger cultural map (Erikson, 2005, p20).
Deviance, as it pertains to this theory involves behaviors that violate the socially accepted norms of law enforcement, civil rights, and social norms. Conformity is considered the social construction many of us consider normal. Without a basis of conformity, our behaviors would direct our deviant behaviors. Many organizations develop policies practices, and laws based from on codified acts of deviance. Further, criminal justice agencies develop codes of ethics or standards of what is acceptable practices.
Deviance can be defined as the transgression of social norms. Deviant behavior may not always be criminal behavior. It can be as minor as farting or picking your nose in public to as serious as vandalizing someone's property or murder. Societal expectations provide orderliness that when society finds an act unacceptable or offensive, you would be considered a deviant. Power plays a big role in the construction of a deviant behavior. Power can manipulate the individual and society and how they view deviance. When a deviant person is caught in a deviant act, depending on the seriousness of the offence, they are subject to punishment.