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“DEVIANCE”
Public attention and the media focus on criminal deviance involving
property and personal harm. But for sociologists the concept of deviance
is more wide-reaching and includes any behaviour that is subject to
regulation and social control
(Germov & Poole, 2015)
Definitions
■ Strictly speaking, the concept would include any behaviour that does
not conform to social norms…the sociology of deviance is primarily
concerned with violations that are considered offensive by a wide
range of people. For our purposes, then, deviance is behaviour that
violates significant social norms and is disapproved by large numbers
of people as a result. (Robertson, 1989)
■ Try to list three examples of deviance in contemporary Australian
society (CAS)
Definitions
■ Norm or rule breaking behaviour that is usually subject to negative
social sanctions. Deviance can also be defined as behaviour that
transgresses a community’s standards and which is condemned by
influential social groups.
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Smoking
-
Other types of drug-taking
-
Being unemployed
Definitions
■ Non-conformity to a given norm, or set of norms, that is accepted by
most of society. (Giddens, 2006)
Crime
■ A crime is a “deviant” act which is against the law, and punishable by
law within society.
■ While all crimes are deviant, not all acts of deviance are classed as
criminal.
Have you ever….?
Society cannot be divided into the ‘sheep’
and the ‘goats’ (Robertson, 1989)
■ Robertson explains that people in society cannot be divided into the
“normal” and the “deviants”. In other words, they cannot be separated
into those who conform and those who do not.
■ Most people have violated one or more important norms at some
point in their lives.
■ The thing is…most people escape discovery of their deviant behaviour,
are not stigmatised, and generally do not regard themselves as
deviant at all. (Robertson, 1989)
The Sociological view
■ For sociologists “deviance” is not a thing, a type or person or a
behaviour. It is a PROCESS.
■ In other words “deviance” is a social construction and because it is a
social construction it is RELATIVE.
Religious view of “deviance”
The Soul
Biological view of “deviance”
Genetic malfunction
Psychological view of “deviance”
Psychologists may see deviance as being a result of biological or
environmental factors. However, it sees deviance as being implanted into
the personality in a deep way. For example: infancy
A little motor that drives us for the rest of our lives.
Sociologists – deviance is socially
constructed and therefore is relative.
■ Milgram (not something in people’s personality)
■ Adolph Eichmann
■ Zimbardo
Deviance is relative:
■ Relative to: TIME, PLACE, CULTURE, SOCIAL SITUATION.
■ Durkheim (Suicide rates) differ between countries
■ Murder rates (Canada, US, Singapore)
Deviance is relative:
■ Time:
Examples of behaviour considered deviant in the past, but not now….?
■ Being a divorced woman
Deviance is relative:
■ Time:
Drugs
Deviance is relative:
■ Time:
Homosexuality
Deviance is relative:
■ Time:
Masturbation
Deviance is relative:
■ Culture:
Polygamy
Deviance is relative:
■ Religion/Culture:
Eating certain types of meat.
Jewish religion/culture:
Cattle and game that have “cloven hooves” and “chew the cud.”
Deviance is relative:
■ Place/Culture:
The way people eat.
China vs. Australia (e.g. restaurant etiquette)
Exam requirements
■ Define what is meant by deviance.
■ Discuss the relativity of deviance.
■ Construct an argument that evaluates alternative theories used to explain deviance.