CHAPTER 6DevianceThe Real World: An Introduction to Sociology, 7th Edition, by Ferris andStein, Copyright 2020 by W.W. Norton and Company Show
Defining DevianceDEVIANCE: A behavior, trait,belief, or other characteristic thatviolates a norm and causes anegative reaction.Deviance can be:•Formal-Breaking the law•Informal-Social graces Deviance Across CulturesWhat is considered deviantbehavior varies by:•Time in history (e.g. 1950s vs.today)•Location (e.g. urban vs. rural)It is the response to an act, ratherthan the act itself, that definessomething as deviant Theories of Deviance: FunctionalismEmile Durkheim suggests thatdeviance helps society operate by: Get answer to your question and much more Theories of Deviance: FunctionalismMerton’s Typology of Deviance (1)Structural Strain Theory by RobertMerton•The types of deviance peopleengage in depends on whether asociety provides them themeans to achieve cultural goals Theories of Deviance: FunctionalismMerton’s Typology of Deviance (2)CONFORMISTS: Accept society’sapproved goals and society’sapproved means to achieve them.•Studying (means) to earn acollege degree (goal) Theories of Deviance: FunctionalismMerton’s Typology of Deviance (3)INNOVATORS: Accept society’sapproved goals but not society’sapproved means to achieve them.•Cheating (means) to get acollege degree (goal) Theories of Deviance: FunctionalismMerton’s Typology of Deviance (4)RITUALISTS: Given up hope ofachieving society’s approved goalsbut still operate according tosociety’s approved means.•Studying (means) to learn howto run a criminal enterprise(goal) Theories of Deviance: FunctionalismMerton’s Typology of Deviance (5)RETREATISTS: Renounce society’sapproved goals and meansentirely and live outsideconventional norms altogether.•Addiction driving all lifedecisions Theories of Deviance: FunctionalismMerton’s Typology of Deviance (6)REBELS: Reject society’s approvedgoals and means and insteadcreate and work toward their own[sometimes revolutionary) goalsusing new means.•Cults (e.g. Jonestown, Heaven’sGate)•Forming a militia (means) tooverthrow a government (goals) Theories of Deviance: Conflict TheoryPeople with more power are subject todifferent sanctions than those with lesspower (e.g. white collar vs. streetcrimes, crack vs. powder cocaine, publicdefenders vs. private lawyers). Upload your study docs or become a Course Hero member to access this document Upload your study docs or become a Course Hero member to access this document End of preview. Want to read all 30 pages? Upload your study docs or become a Course Hero member to access this document Crime is a result of a ‘strain’ between legitimate goals and lack of opportunities to achieve those goals. Strain Theory argues that crime occurs when there aren’t enough legitimate opportunities for people to achieve the normal success goals of a society. In such a situation there is a ‘strain’ between the goals and the means to achieve those goals, and some people turn to crime in order to achieve success. Merton’s Strain Theory of Deviance Please enable JavaScript Strain Theory was first developed by Robert Merton in the 1940s to explain the rising crime rates experienced in the USA at that time. Strain theory has become popular with Contemporary sociologists.  Strain Theory: The BasicsMerton argued that the cultural system of the USA was built on the ‘American Dream’ – a set of meritocratic principles which assured the American public that equality of opportunity was available to all, regardless of class, gender or ethnicity. The ‘American Dream’ encouraged individuals to pursue a goal of success which was largely measured in terms of the acquisition of wealth and material possessions. People were expected to pursue this goal through legitimate means such as education and work. The dominant cultural message was if you are ambitious, talented and work hard, then income and wealth should be your rewards. However Merton pointed out that these goals were not attainable by all, that the structural organisation of the USA mean that the means to get on were not fairly distributed and it was difficult, if not impossible for some to compete an achieve financial success. Merton developed the concept of ‘anomie’ to describe this imbalance between cultural goals and institutionalised means. He argued that such an imbalanced society produces anomie – there is a strain or tension between the goals and means which produce unsatisfied aspirations. Five Adaptations to StrainMerton argued that when individuals are faced with a gap between their goals (usually finances/money related) and their current status, strain occurs. When faced with strain, people have five ways to adapt:
Explaining the Higher Rates of Offending Among Lower Social ClassesMerton developed his theory from a well-established observation from official statistics – that a higher proportion of acquisitive crime is committed by those from unskilled manual backgrounds (or ‘lower social classes’). Merton noted that American society promoted material success as a ‘legitimate goal’, and encouraged self-discipline and hard work as the ‘legitimate means’ of pursuing that goal, with the idea that any individual, irrespective of their background could, with sufficient effort, achieve material success. HOWEVER, Merton argued that for those from lower social classes, this ‘dream’ had become an ideology, masking the fact that the legitimate opportunities are not available to all, and worse, those who failed to achieve success via legitimate means were condemned for their apparent lack of effort. This situation puts great pressure on people to achieve material success by illegitimate means (acquisitive crime) to avoid being branded a failure. In short, Merton argued that America was a highly unequal and divided society which promoted goals that only some of its population could realistically hope to achieve. Many young, working class men especially had internalised the desire to achieve material success (they wanted cars and nice clothes for example), but the only way they could meet these goals was through crime. Thus, it is not so much the individual’s flaws that lead them to crime, but rather ‘anomie’ in society – the combination of the pressure to be materially successful and the lack of legitimate opportunities to achieve that success. Criticisms of Strain Theory
The Continuing Relevance of Strain Theory
SourcesGiddens and Sutton (2017) Essential Concepts in Sociology This post offers a useful discussion and evaluation of Strain Theory Crime and Deviance Revision Bundle for SaleIf you like this sort of thing, then you might like my Crime and Deviance Revision Bundle The Bundle contains:
Written specifically for the AQA sociology A-level specification. Signposting/ Related PostsMerton’s Strain Theory is taught as part of consensus theory within the A-level sociology Crime and Deviance syllabus. Other consensus theories include:
Which theory suggests that individuals become deviant when exposed to a higher level of deviant persons and influences compared with conventional influences?His conclusions established differential association theory, which suggested that individuals learn deviant behavior from those close to them who provide models of and opportunities for deviance. According to Sutherland, deviance is less a personal choice and more a result of differential socialization processes.
What is secondary deviance quizlet?Secondary deviance occurs if the label from primary deviance sticks. The taking on a deviant identity by talking, acting, or dressing in a different way, rejecting the people who are critical, and repeatedly breaking the rules.
Which theory notes that someone is defined as deviant because others react to the person as such?The premise of Labeling Theory is that, once individuals have been labeled as deviants, they face new problems stemming from their reactions to themselves and others to the stereotypes of someone with the deviant label (Becker, 1963; Bernburg, 2009).
What are the adaptations that Merton refers to when there is a disjunction between goals and means to achieve them?Merton's concept on how people adapt to the disjunction between cultural goals and structural barriers to the means of obtaining them. What are Merton's 5 Modes of Adaptation? Conformity, ritualism, innovation, retreatism, and rebellion.
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