Sociologically speaking, the word “deviance” is used to describe the actions and behaviours that violate social norms, both formally-enacted and socially appropriate. Divided into two different types of categories; formal and informal deviance, aforementioned deviant behaviours range from murder and rape (formal) to standing unnecessarily close to another individual (informal). These also have different ramifications in both legal and societal senses. The variance of deviance occurs dependent on culture, as cultural norms are incessantly relative, along with deviance itself. In a study headed by Jason Payne for the Australian Institute of Criminology, on juveniles in detention, it is discussed that the impact of family life on a young individual
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It is particularly relevant as it demonstrates the ability to distinguish between nature and nurture, in terms of the development of norms. It also explains that even deviant behaviours are learned. The theory also considers the variables involved in learning, these being inclusive of the age of the learner, the intensity of contact with the deviant role model and the ration of good to bad social contacts in an individuals life. In the discussed statistics in Payne’s research, the cultural transmission theory coincides with the lifestyles led by the juvenile detainees. The facts state that of the interviewed adolescents “about one third had endured violent or emotional abuse” and “one fifth had been left alone for long periods of as a child”, but also that “[when] not living with parents increased the risk of offence, and repeat offending”. This information details the impact of being taught deprived of understanding what is wrong, as well as being deprived of learning what is right. (Payne, 2005) In the case of those being abused, the violent and emotionally brutal environment developed a sense of normalcy for the subjected child, who then was responsible for mimicking these behaviours in society. Which is why the statistics also demonstrated that “regular violent offenders had suffered more abuse and neglect than regular property offenders.” (Payne, 2005). Similar applications of the Cultural Transmission Theory can been seen in Macquarie Fields, a low socio-economic town, where the imbalance in the agents of socialisation helps to validate the Cultural Transmission Theory, verifying how a neglectful hoe life does nothing in terms of reiterating social norms and non-deviant behaviours. For both the individuals represented in Payne’s study and the residents of Macquarie Fields, witnessing substance abuse by those who are considered the
It is particularly relevant as it demonstrates the ability to distinguish between nature and nurture, in terms of the development of norms. It also explains that even deviant behaviours are learned. The theory also considers the variables involved in learning, these being inclusive of the age of the learner, the intensity of contact with the deviant role model and the ration of good to bad social contacts in an individuals life. In the discussed statistics in Payne’s research, the cultural transmission theory coincides with the lifestyles led by the juvenile detainees. The facts state that of the interviewed adolescents “about one third had endured violent or emotional abuse” and “one fifth had been left alone for long periods of as a child”, but also that “[when] not living with parents increased the risk of offence, and repeat offending”. This information details the impact of being taught deprived of understanding what is wrong, as well as being deprived of learning what is right. (Payne, 2005) In the case of those being abused, the violent and emotionally brutal environment developed a sense of normalcy for the subjected child, who then was responsible for mimicking these behaviours in society. Which is why the statistics also demonstrated that “regular violent offenders had suffered more abuse and neglect than regular property offenders.” (Payne, 2005). Similar applications of the Cultural Transmission Theory can been seen in Macquarie Fields, a low socio-economic town, where the imbalance in the agents of socialisation helps to validate the Cultural Transmission Theory, verifying how a neglectful hoe life does nothing in terms of reiterating social norms and non-deviant behaviours. For both the individuals represented in Payne’s study and the residents of Macquarie Fields, witnessing substance abuse by those who are considered the