Deviance
Social deviance is a term that refers to forms of behavior and qualities of persons that others in society devalue and discredit. So what exactly is deviance? In this essay we are concerned with social deviance, not physiological deviations from the expected norm. In general, any behavior that does not conform to social norms is deviance; that is behavior that violates significant social norms and is disapproved of by a large number of people as a result. For societies to run with some semblance of order the problem of deviance is essential and intrinsic to any conception of social order. It is problematic because it causes a disruption, but it is essential because it defines our boundaries as a society. It is intrinsic to a conception of order in that defining what is real and expected, defining what is acceptable, and defining who we are - always done in opposition to what is unreal, unexpected, unacceptable and who we are not. If we can accept the reality of change, then designations of deviance are crucial in locating the shifting boundaries of our socially structured reality. (Erikson, 1964) What is perceived as deviant behavior is subject to change depending on our position, place and time. Different cultures have
Durkheim first introduced the notion of anomie, and suggested that anomie exists when there are no clear standards to act as a proficient guide for behavior in a social setting. The definition of deviance defines the threat and allows for containment and control of the threat. Emile Durkheim and other functionalists posed the notion that deviance is functional. (Giddens, 1997) In contrast to this informal construction there is the formal consensual reality, one that is constructed by "crime experts" - people who make a living by reacting to crime (such as law enforcement agents), or studying crime (criminologists) disseminate information in the form of crime statistics, books, articles, editorials, and government publications. People turn to crime when found in prolonged association with others who partake in criminal activities. It is a social problem, brought about by the differing views and values instilled in each culture and society. He believed that in these circumstances people begin to feel anxious and lost; therefore Durkheim concluded that anomie is one of the social factors that leads individuals to suicide. Deviance therefore exists in opposition to those who attempt to control it - to those who have power. This move allowed researchers to see deviant behavior as something that was caused by society and culture rather than individual defects. It is a product of social interaction.
Common topics in this essay:
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Theorists Chicago,
Robert Merton,
Krieken Smith,
Edwin Sutherland,
Emile Durkheim,
Amazonian Indians,
deviant behavior,
Haralambos Holborn,
social reality,
giddens 1997,
krieken smith 1996,
chicago school,
social deviance,
smith 1996,
krieken smith,
social norms,
definition deviance,
concept anomie,
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Acceptance Essays
