Durkheim’s Basic Insight “There’s nothing abnormal about deviance” - Emile Durkheim Durkheim believed that deviance had some very positive effects upon society Deviance affirms cultural values and norms Responding to deviance clarifies moral boundaries Responding to deviance brings people together Deviance encourages social change

Durkheim’s Basic Insight #1. Deviance affirms cultural values and norms Inevitably, people must choose / value some behaviours over others There can be no good without evil and no justice without crime Deviance is needed to define and sustain morality

Durkheim’s Basic Insight #2 Durkheim’s Basic Insight #2. Responding to deviance clarifies moral boundaries By defining some people / behaviour as deviant, we draw a boundary between right and wrong (eg. Universities’ harsh consequences for students who plagiarize (expulsion) emphasize the importance of academic honesty)

Durkheim’s Basic Insight #3 Durkheim’s Basic Insight #3. Responding to deviance brings people together People typically react to serious deviance with collective outrage (ie. they act / respond collectively as opposed to individually) In doing so, they reaffirm the moral and social ties that bind them together

Durkheim’s Basic Insight #4. Deviance encourages social change Deviant people push a society’s boundaries. This can result in either: more fervent efforts to promote the norm (eg. the “War on Drugs”, drinking & driving road blocks); or eventual acceptance of behaviour that was previously deemed unacceptable (eg. ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll 1950-Present) Regardless, change is sought and achieved.

Merton’s Strain Theory Merton believed that some deviance may be necessary for a society to function. The extent and the kind of deviance depends on whether a society provides the means to achieve cultural goals.

Merton’s Strain Theory Merton’s explanation of why there is deviance: Through socialization, society tells us which cultural goals we should value and strive for. (eg. wealth, material goods) It also tells us what are the acceptable ways of attaining these goals (eg. laws, norms, etc.)

Merton’s Strain Theory By striving for and attaining these goals (ie. making money, buying a house) in socially acceptable ways (ie. legally, ethically), we conform to society’s values. However, society is not such that everyone has equal means to attain this goal. Therefore, not everyone can conform. Some people resort to methods that are not socially acceptable (ie. illegal, unethical) in order to attain the goals that (through socialization) they have been told to want or seek. In other words, they become deviant.

Merton’s Strain Theory Conformity lies in pursuing conventional goals through approved means. (ie. by trying to attain what other people say we should want, we are conforming). Our culture puts emphasis on wealth; some level of wealth is necessary for us to conform. Unfortunately, our system is such that not everyone will get rich. This leads to deviance, especially among the poor

Merton’s Strain Theory When people are unable to succeed (ie. to attain the goals that society says they should achieve), they may respond in different ways. Merton describes four responses to the inability to succeed: 1) Ritualism – Many people believe that they can achieve only limited academic success, so they obsessively stick to the rules in order to at least feel respectable 2) Innovation – The use of unconventional means (eg. cheating) to achieve a culturally approved goal (eg. good grades)

Merton’s Strain Theory 3) Retreatism – Rejection of both cultural goals and acceptable means, so that one “drops out” of social reality (eg. alcoholics and drug addicts are retreatists) 4) Rebellion – Rebels reject both the cultural definition of success and the normative means of achieving it. They assert their own agendas and acceptable means of achieving their goals (eg. terrorists)