Deviance Why does it happen?

Functions of deviance Emile Durkheim Deviance affirms cultural values and norms Responding to deviance clarifies moral boundaries – “line” Responding to deviance promotes social unity – 9/11 Deviance encourages social change Example: Puritans

Deviance affirms cultural values and norms Deviance is needed to define and support morality. You need an opposing view. There is no “heaven” without “hell”. Good and evil No justice without crime Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved before.

Deviance encourages social change Something that is considered “deviant” can become something positive later on. Changes ideas and norms in society 1950s – Rock and roll was the ultimate evil. Caused sin and immoral views/actions Future: today it is a basis of the music industry which creates jobs and make billions of money

Strain Theory (Merton’s theory) The “strain” between our culture’s emphasis on wealth and the limited opportunity to get rich gives rise, especially among the poor, to theft, the sale of drugs, or other street crime

(responses to deviance) Innovation Ritualism Retreatism Rebellion Four types of deviance (responses to deviance) Innovation Ritualism Retreatism Rebellion

Innovation Using unconventional means (street crime) to achieve a culturally approved goal (wealth)

Ritualism Inability to reach a culturally goal If you believe you cannot reach the cultural goal of wealth (for whatever reason), you rigidly stick to conventional means in order to at least feel respectable

Retreatism Inability to succeed Person “drops out” Examples: alcoholics; drug addicts Live an unconventional lifestyle and are willing to stay this way

Rebellion Response to failure Radical “survivalists” condemn all conventional ways Form a counterculture to support alternatives

Deviant Subcultures Another issue – opportunities to illegitimate opportunities for success Criminal subcultures Conflict subcultures Retreatist subcultures

Delinquency is most pronounced in lower class youths They have least opportunity to achieve conventional success

Characterizations Trouble Toughness Smartness Need for excitement Belief in fate Desire for freedom

Critical Evaluation Communities do not always come together in reaction to crime (Durkheim’s work)

Some types of crime better than others and ignores the fact that not everyone seeks success in conventional terms of wealth

Deviance reflects the opportunity structure of society falls short in assuming that everyone shares the same cultural standards for judging right and wrong focuses on undue attention on the behavior of the poor falsely implies that everyone who breaks the rules will be defined as deviant.