Positivist and Constructionist Theories: Basic Differences

There is a basic difference in the two theories known as positivist and constructionist in sociology. It is considered determinism. In order to understand the theories and deviance, one must understand determinism. What is determinism? It is the belief that everything is already decided and occurs based on every thought, action and feeling we have by things that have already happened. The future then is determined by our past.

Many individuals in today’s society wonder what pushes people past a breaking point in which they become involved in actions not accepted by society, such as stripping, prostitution, drug use, alcoholism and more. The reasoning behind this is deviance. Deviance can be either positive (over conforming) or negative (under conforming). When applying the subject of crime to a type of deviance, it falls under the negative category because those who under conform in society have a tendency to reach their goals with non-accepted means. Considering the crime of drunk driving, many factors add up to develop a reason why so many people do it. Merton’s strain theory perspective explains the deviance behind drunk driving very well, using its’ assumptions, key focuses, and root of deviant acts to support it. Before focusing on Merton’s theory relating to the crime of drunk driving, we first have to recognize how sociologists understand the concept of deviance.

In American society money is seen as the purpose of life, overemphasized. In attaining that money, for some individuals is not always great but the money in the end, the goal, is greater. Success is attainable for everyone which leaves failure to be the fault of the individual. Merton described five modes of adaptation, depending on the individual's attitudes toward cultural goals and institutional means to attain them. The first approach to the adaptation of strain in society is Conformity, the most common. Individuals accept both the goals as well as the advised means for attaining those goals. The last four adaptations Merton described were seen as deviant; Innovation, Ritualism, Retreatism, and Rebellion. Individuals

Control theory, Anomie theory and Strain theory provide very different explanations of why people commit crimes based upon assumptions about how humans function. Control theory suggests that humans are naturally drawn to breaking the law. Humans are driven to fulfill their needs and desires. Crime provides one method by which humans can reach their goals. Control theorists would thus ask why everyone does not turn to crime to meet their wants and needs. The question shifts from the typical why do people commit crime to why do people not commit crime (Cullen and Agnew, 2011). Hirschi suggest that crime and social bonds are linked, such that crime occurs in absence of a strong social bond. The four elements of the social bonds are

In Merton’s version of the anomie/strain theory he pointed out five adaptations to strain: conformity, innovation, rebellion, ritualism, and retreatism. Conformity means that one accepts both the goal and the means. They may try to attain the goals with limited means. This adaptation is most common in society. Innovation means that one accepts the goals but rejects the means. This individual has a “by any means necessary” attitude when it comes to the attainment of goals. Rebellion means that one rejects both the means and the goals. They may substitution those goals and means with their own goals and means. Ritualism means that one rejects the goals and responds to the means in a slavish and conforming attitude. Retreatism means one rejects both the goals and means, but they do not replace with their own goals and mean. Instead, they will drop out of society and into things such as alcoholism, drug addiction, and homelessness. This adaptation is the least common in society.

There are many theories of how a person becomes a deviant. Edwin Sutherland’s theory of differential association explains the etiology and epidemiology of deviance (Clinard and Meier, 2014). The etiology of deviance is the cause of deviance, while epidemiology is the spread of deviance. Differential Association explains that no one is born a deviant, but deviance can be learned through

Deviance and crime are wide-ranging terms used by sociologists to refer to behavior that varies, in some way, from a social norm. Cultural Norms are society's propensity towards certain ideals; their aversion from others; and their standard, ritualistic practices. Essentially the 'norm' is a summation of typical activities and beliefs of group of people. This essay will evaluate the sociological theories associated with crime and deviance and to compare and contrast these main theories. And find links between these theories to today’s society. There are various Sociological deviance theories, including Structuralist: why do some people break the rules? ,

The positivist perspective focuses on three assumptions to define deviance: it is determined by influences, it can be observed objectively, and

Both biological and psychological approaches seem to focus on the individual themselves and their personalities. Much of the social conditions and life situation are not under consideration. They tend to blame the individual for their deviant behavior and while encouraging stereotyping, affect public policy. The consideration of deviance is overlooked as a social

There are various explanations biologically and sociologically for the reason of people committing crime. In sociological terms, deviances are regarded as behaviors that considered as violating and ravaging standard norms and guidelines. Giddens (2001) identified deviance as non-conformity to a given set of norms that are accepted the people in society whereas John Schiller (n.d) defines crime as actions or omission forbidden by law that can be punished by imprisonment fine. Some of the common examples of deviance and crime are murder, burglary, robbery, rape and many more. Sociologists who study deviant and crime examine cultural norms on how varies over time, enforced, and what happens to individuals and societies when norms are broken. Deviance and social norms differs among societies, communities, and times.

According to strain theory, individual deviance is caused as a result of negative treatment from others, which then results in anger and frustration. Control theory, however, is based on the absence of significant nondeviant relationships, but social learning theory is based on positive deviant relationships (Agnew, 1992).

However, Durkheim believed that society had to mechanisms needed to decrease a person’s greedy appetite, noting that societies have the power to enforce laws that place limits on individuals. Anomie, understood by Durkheim is when the society’s ability to help limits the greedy appetite of individuals breaks down, that their greedy tendencies are uncontrolled. Durkheim was the creator of a model in regards to working with theories and how research can be combined to help with the testing of differences across a plethora of social groups. In the 20th century the concept of the strain theory came about with influences from the Durkheim and his framework on the concept of anomie. (Tibbets

Social structural arrangements affect social processes by exerting pressure on certain persons in the society to engage in nonconforming rather than conforming conduct”. Most groups that are socialized tend to want the same cultural goals such as, status, economic reward, and social influence, but they tend to also not be able to have the means to attain those goals. Anomie is a precursor of deviant behavior. It is defined as the dissociation between cultural goals and available means for attaining them. This can be seen through strain, stress, or tension that requires some form of adaptation. The variations in rates of deviant behaviors can be accounted to a number of factors such as, conformity, which is the typical adaptation to a state

Social Pathology details the concepts of primary and secondary deviance. According to Lemert (1951), primary deviance is the initial incidence of an act causing an authority figure to label the actor deviant. This initial labeling of a deviant act will remain primary as long as the actor can rationalize or deal with the process as a function of a socially acceptable role (Lemert 1951). If the labeled deviant reacts to this process by accepting the deviant label, and further entrenches his/herself in deviant behavior, this is referred to as secondary deviance (Lemert 1951). Lemert considers the causes of primary deviance as fluid, and only important to researchers concerned with specific social problems at a certain time.

Robert Merton’s study of deviance have some similarities with the work of Durkheim in Suicide. Merton developed Strain Theory; its first version was written 1940s. According to him, deviance varies in different societies. Deviance pertains to actions or behaviors that do not follow the social norms. It is affected by social structural and cultural elements. Deviance is not only about faulty communication between the difference in cultural values and/or individual socialization (Dillon 2014:177).