1. Deviance
Why does it happen?

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

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

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

8. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

16. 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.