Deviance Exam 1

Front 1

Statistical definition of deviance

Back 1

Common conditions determine what is normal or nondeviant; anything in the statistical minority represents deviance.

Front 2

Absolutist definition of deviance

Back 2

Deviance results from a value judgement based on absolute standards. Certain actions and conditions qualify as deviant because they have always defined deviance (through tradition or custom)

Front 3

Reactivist definition of deviance

Back 3

Deviance is whatever a social audience reacts against (or labels) as deviant. Something that elicits no reaction escapes identification as deviant.

Front 4

Normative definition

Back 4

The label deviant depends on a group's notion of actions and conditions that should and should not occur. This situational conception can change in different situations.

Front 5

Subculture

Back 5

A culture within a culture--a collection of normas, values, and beliefs with content distinguishable from those of the dominant culture.

Front 6

Counterculture

Back 6

A subculture that acts in opposition to the larger culture.

Front 7

Norms

Back 7

The expectation of conduct in particular situations that regulates human social relations and behavior.

Front 8

Proscriptive norms

Back 8

Norms that tell people what they should not do

Front 9

Prescriptive norms

Back 9

Norms that tell people what they should do

Front 10

Roles

Back 10

Collection of norms that together convey expectations about appropriate conduct for persons in a particular position.

Front 11

Sanctions

Back 11

Social reactions to behavior

Front 12

Informal sanctions

Back 12

Unofficial actions of groups or individuals such as gossip or ostracism

Front 13

Formal sanctions

Back 13

Official group expressions meant to convey collective sentiments, such as criminal penalties.

Front 14

Positive sanction

Back 14

reward meant to encourage conduct that conforms to a norm

Front 15

Negative sanction

Back 15

punishment meant to discourage deviant conduct

Front 16

types of Positive deviance (2)

Back 16

Overconformity (very violent hockey player)
Deviance admiration (Robin Hood)

Front 17

Justified deviance

Back 17

When a behavior is deviant to us, but may be the norm to another culture, such as terrorist suicide bombings.

Front 18

Social control

Back 18

Collectively, the sanctions or other overt reactions to a deviant behavior or condition.

Front 19

Solutions (3) to Hobbesian dilemma: Why isn't there more deviance?

Back 19

1. Normative – socialization and internalization of shared norms and values
2. Exchange – desire to maintain mutually beneficial relationships in interdependent society (rational choice)
3. Conflict – coercive power of legitimate social control agents (Hobbes)

Front 20

Durkheim's first law of social control: Mechanic solidarity

Back 20

Intensity of punishment is greater in mechanical solidarity (rural/agrarian), and in societies where power in hypercentralized (authoritarian societies, simple division of labor, extended family, shared moral understanding).
Society is characterized by repressive law and harsh physical punishments.

Front 21

Durkheim's second law of social control: Organic solidarity

Back 21

Deprivations of liberty tend to become more the normal means of social control as societies move toward organic solidarity (differentiated societies, complex division of labor, nuclear families, functional interdependence).
Society is characterized by restitutive law and punishment in the forms of restrictions on individual liberty

Front 22

Irony of social control

Back 22

The application of social control can intensify or reinforce deviance

Front 23

Media as an agent of social control

Back 23

Mass media allows for the rapid spread of new information.
The media is often the vehicle by which the public becomes aware of social problems. Create intense public concern about and issue – a “moral panic”

Front 24

Stanley Cohen's concept of "Moral Panic"

Back 24

Mainstream media has initiated several trenchant and possibly hysterical moral panic campaigns.

Front 25

Gramsci's concept of Cultural Hegemony

Back 25

The perspective of the ruling class is absorbed by the masses of workers

Front 26

socialization

Back 26

Process by which we become social by learning norms and roles, based on social interaction, necessary for being adequately human,
source of our sense of self,
how culture is transmitted

Front 27

resocialization

Back 27

takes place in total institutions
Taking on of new role, and the social process consists of removing any trace of former identity (stripping)
Person becomes dependent on the authority
Replaces the former sense of self or identity with a new one

Front 28

Phases of a deviant career (4)

Back 28

1.Entry
Neutralize norms
2. Managing Deviance
Maintain secrecy
Mitigate stigma (manipulating the physical space)
3. Rationalize behavior
Adopt subculture
4. Exit

Front 29

Deviant roles

Back 29

Being deviant is “a” social role that is assumed

Front 30

Master role

Back 30

Role with which person begins to identify and organizes other roles around that role

Front 31

Rational Choice theories

Back 31

Everyone has chouce to becomeDeviants are viewed as rational decision makers who choose to violate the law

Front 32

Biological Trait theory

Back 32

Belief that some people are predisposed to deviance because of biochemical factors, diet, genetic traits, or hormonal imbalance.
Criticism-No real evidence, possible crime-prevention strategies that could be controversial.

Front 33

Psychological Trait Theories (3)

Back 33

Psychiatric- Views deviance as a symptom of a psychological illness (or mental disorder) requiring treatment

Psychoanalytic- Deviance is caused by an imbalance in the id, ego, and superego. Alsoconflicts during critical psychosexual stages of development.

Psychological- Deviance is related to the presence of abnormal personality traits

Criticism-The medical model does not account for cultural differences, no real scientific explanation of deviant behavior.

Front 34

Anomie/Strain theory

Back 34

views crime as a normal response to the conditions that limit the opportunities for some individuals to obtain the economic success for which we are all supposed to strive

Criticisms-Dismisses that forms of strain exists for everyone.
Explains particular types of crimes and/or deviance in terms of their prevalence in society, but not why one individual becomes criminal and another doesn’t

Front 35

Merton’s deviant paths to adapt to anomie (4)

Back 35

1. Innovation –
Accept goals, reject means – use alternative methods
2. Ritualism –
Regect goals, accept means - routines are important
3. Retreatism –
Reject goals, reject means - withdrawn from society
4. Rebellion –
Reject goals & means and replace with new goals & means

Front 36

Agnew’s General Strain Theory

Back 36

Sources of Strain (failure to achieve goals, removal of positive stimuli, presentation of negative stimuli, disjunction of expectations) lead to
Negative Affective States (anger, frustration, disappointment, depression, fear) lead to...
Antisocial Behavior (drug abuse, delinquency, violence, dropping out)

Front 37

Cultural Deviance

Back 37

“American Dream”
Goal – accumulation of material goods and wealth
Process – socialization of youth to pursue material success above all else.
Social institutions (families) have been rendered powerless to reach goals

Front 38

Quinney's social reality of crime

Back 38

the social definition of crime is constructed by those who have titled authority and power

Front 39

Conflict theory (structural)

Back 39

The definition of the law is controlled by people who hold social and political power.
Deviance involves actions that interfere with the interests of those with economic power; thus the actions of those who lack power are more likely to be labeled as deviant

Criticisms-Not all conflict represents social or economic class.
Crime, arrest/punishment continues to exist in non-capitalist countries

Front 40

Labeling theory (processual)

Back 40

Deviance as a “Reaction” - Becker
Societal reaction defines and creates deviance. Labels affect identity and self-concept.

Criticisms: Ignores original deviant act,
Fails to explain the behavior of those committing deviant acts who are never caught.
Takes away the responsibility of the deviant.
Little empirical evidence on the effects of sanctions on all forms of deviance

Front 41

Lemert's Primary and Secondary deviance

Back 41

Primary Deviance- initial behavior that causes recognition

Secondary Deviance- society’s response to behavior and the subsequent deviant behaviors that result from response

Front 42

Tertiary Deviance

Back 42

Individuals “actively protest” their labels – reject rejection

Front 43

Schur's stigma contests

Back 43

Different groups promote competing rules and definitions of deviance.
Society’s determination of deviance reflects the power of the group – with the least powerful groups carrying the label as deviant

Front 44

Durkheim's influence on Social Control Theory

Back 44

Social Control theory is based on Durkheim’s concept of Anomie, with human interaction and ties to society keeping people from being deviant

Front 45

Reckless' Containment Theory
(inner/outer)

Back 45

Inner containment:
individuals self restraint
ability to resist inducements

Outer containment:
Factors that help fight off external pressures to deviate

Front 46

Elements of Hirschi’s Social Bond (4)

Back 46

1. attachment:
the strength of attachment or ties to significant others
2. commitment:
pursuit of cultural ideals and acceptance of prosocial values
3. involvement:
investment of time / effort in prosocial activities
4. belief:
acceptance of cultural values and morals

Front 47

Gottfredson and Hirschi’s Self-Control Theory

Back 47

Adds to Hirschi’s Social control theory’s elements of the social bond.
-kids engage in deviance because they perceive it to be advantageous (rational choice).
-kids are rational and choose deviant behavior, but relationships with parents or guardians can deter such behavior (routine activities).
-certain kids are “predisposed” to deviance, but involvement in conventional activities and attachment to parents can prevent such behavior (biosocial).
-certain kids have low-self control and are impulsive (psychological), which they claim stems from inadequate child-rearing practices and lack of discipline.

Front 48

Social Control Theory (processual)

Back 48

Humans will be deviant if not socialized to conform to the norms of society.

Criticisms- Some would say humans are not inherently evil.
What about those deviants who have been socialized to conform?

Front 49

Social Learning Theory (processual)

Back 49

Deviance, like any other behavior, is learned. Those we most intimately associate with are most likely to influence us.

Criticisms-Maybe deviants are rejected by the conforming segments of society and later seek association with other deviants.
Doesn’t account for those in deviant environments who do not become deviant

Front 50

Durkheim's function of deviance

Back 50

Society bonds more in reaction to deviance
Defines boundaries
Can be a safety valve to release pressure and prevent more harmful acts