Deviance is found in all types of societies. Some sociologists such as, Emile Durkheim, believe that deviance is universal and not abnormal in a society. Durkheim puts his ideas of deviance into a structural-functional theory, which sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. Whereas other sociologists, such as Alexander Liazos, believe that deviance is a result of social inequality. Liazos ideas fit into a social-conflict theory, which sees society as an arena of inequality that generates conflict and change. However, both theories see deviance in a society in two different lights.
Sociologists using the structural-functional theory believe that deviance within a society helps to affirm …show more content…
Deviant acts can bring imbalance into a society, so when returning that balance back, the society is often forced to change. When Rosa Parks’s committed an act of deviance in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955, it ultimately led to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to declare segregation was unconstitutional. As a result, deviance in a society can lead to social change by pushing society 's moral boundaries.
On the other hand, sociologists using the social-conflict theory see deviance in a society differently than sociologists using the structural-functional theory. Deviance under a social-conflict theory is seen as a result of social inequality. Theorists see that the society is split into two groups: the rich and the working class. The rich are at the top of the societal ladder and therefore are imposing their norms onto the rest of society, making the working class …show more content…
With the rich class being at the top of the societal ladder, they are able to create laws that benefit their interests and themselves. This causes issues for the working class because laws are unfairly created against them. In this case, both groups can commit deviant acts, but the laws created see deviant acts differently for each group. For example, if a military member with a security clearance was to accidently release information that was critical to the nations national security, that individual would be arrested and put in prison for many, many years; however, recently a past Secretary of State passed information that critical to the nations national security through unsecured means, which could have been released. Yet, there is not the same punishment, instead there was no punishment for the deviant act. Therefore, each group is punished differently. The unbalance in the judicial system allows the law to become oppression tool used by the elite to maintain their societal
Sociologists using the structural-functional theory believe that deviance within a society helps to affirm …show more content…
Deviant acts can bring imbalance into a society, so when returning that balance back, the society is often forced to change. When Rosa Parks’s committed an act of deviance in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955, it ultimately led to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to declare segregation was unconstitutional. As a result, deviance in a society can lead to social change by pushing society 's moral boundaries.
On the other hand, sociologists using the social-conflict theory see deviance in a society differently than sociologists using the structural-functional theory. Deviance under a social-conflict theory is seen as a result of social inequality. Theorists see that the society is split into two groups: the rich and the working class. The rich are at the top of the societal ladder and therefore are imposing their norms onto the rest of society, making the working class …show more content…
With the rich class being at the top of the societal ladder, they are able to create laws that benefit their interests and themselves. This causes issues for the working class because laws are unfairly created against them. In this case, both groups can commit deviant acts, but the laws created see deviant acts differently for each group. For example, if a military member with a security clearance was to accidently release information that was critical to the nations national security, that individual would be arrested and put in prison for many, many years; however, recently a past Secretary of State passed information that critical to the nations national security through unsecured means, which could have been released. Yet, there is not the same punishment, instead there was no punishment for the deviant act. Therefore, each group is punished differently. The unbalance in the judicial system allows the law to become oppression tool used by the elite to maintain their societal