SW106 DEFINITION OF DEVIANCE

SOCIAL DEVIANCE & SOCIAL WORK 1. NORMATIVE- sees deviation as a violation of

➢ "Deviance" is a wide-ranging term used by norms of a society, in which certain actions, beliefs,
sociologists to refer to behaviour that varies, in or words are to be used or not used depending on
some way, from a social norm; "rule-breaking" context.
behaviour 2. REACTIVE- merely what a social audience reacts
➢ Deviance is behavior, thoughts, or attributes that against and labels as deviant.
generate negative reactions in persons who
witness or knew about it (Goode 1994, chap. 2; VIEWS IN DEVIANCE
2005, chap 1).
➢ OBJECTIVIST conception defines deviance as
DEVIANCE. is a violation of established cultural, norm-violating behavior; norms serve as an
contextual, or social norms, whether folkways, mores, objective standard by which deviant behavior
or codified law (William Graham Sumner). may be discovered (Ward et., al 1994)
- a behavior which does not conform to social - (ex. homicide is considered to be deviant simply
expectation because it is always treated as such)
SOCIAL NORMS are the guidelines for what is “ABSOLUTISM”
believed to be appropriate or acceptable in a given social ➢ SUBJECTIVIST conception defines deviance as
group or culture. an act that has been labeled “deviance” by a social
Norms give us an expected idea of behavior and serve audience.
to bring predictability and order to social - (ex. homicide is not inherently deviant; we
interactions. know this because killing is accepted and
celebrated in many contexts (war, euthanasia, etc. )
TYPE OF SOCIAL NORMS “RELATIVISM”
FOLKWAYS -The everyday practices or norms. They Deviance is something that violates social norms (i.e.,
are a form of societal expectation that governs how we an objectivist assertion) but those norms are socially
should behave. Distinguish between proper and rude constructed (i.e., a subjectivist assertion)
behavior.
MORES - Identify what is morally acceptable or
undesirable in any given culture. Dictate right and
wrong
CODIFIED LAWS - are norms that are specified
in explicit codes and enforced by government
bodies.

TYPES OF DEVIANCE
ADMIRED BEHAVIOUR
An example might be something like heroism - the
saving of the life of another person whilst putting your
own life in great danger.
ODD BEHAVIOUR
are frequently considered to be somehow "odd" or
"different" to normal behaviour (e.g. the person who
shares their house with 50 cats; piercing all over the
body)
BAD BEHAVIOUR
Deviant behaviour in this category tends to be
restricted to law-breaking or criminal behaviour that
in some way is seen as being something more than
simply outlandish or eccentric.
CHARACTERISTICS OF DEVIANCE ADAPTATION AND CHANGE
• Deviance is Universal, but there are no universal All change starts with deviance.
forms of deviance o Challenging existing norms and values is deemed a
• Deviance is a social definition. It is not a quality of deviant act, but it could give rise to a new culture.
the act; it is how we define it. It is not the act; it is o If this doesn’t happen, society could stagnant and
how we label it. not make necessary adaptive changes.
• Social groups make rules and enforce them, rules
are socially constructed, and social groups utilize FUNCTIONALISM KEY CONCEPTS
social control to ensure that people follow it.
1. Social Structures. Social structures refer to the
• Deviance is relative.
patterns of relationships, institutions, and norms
that shape and organize society.
Essential Ideas to Consider in Deviance - Family, Political system, Education system,
• An act can be criminal and deviant. Religious Organization, Health and Social care
• An act can be deviant but not criminal services, and Economy
• Behavior or conditions that harm others 2. Functions.
• Something that offends God or is a violation of  Beneficial consequence of social structures
certain religious principles that makes it deviant.  institutions and social structures exist because they
• It deviates criminal code. maintain social order and stability.
 Deviance helps to clarify and reinforce social norms
Theories on DEVIANCE by identifying behavior that is considered
unacceptable or deviant and those who pose as a
Structural Functionalism Theory threat to society.
3. Dysfunctions.
• views society as different parts functioning together
 harmful consequences that may disrupt in social
for society as a whole.
stability.
• deviance as a key component of a functioning
 balance between different parts of the system is
society. They emphasize social solidarity and
disrupted.
stability in social structures.
 Deviance can lead to stigmatization, where
• Based on the assumption that deviance promotes
individuals who engage in deviant behavior are
unity, serve as moral compass and provides
labeled as "outsiders" or "criminals" and are often
opportunities where there are none.
marginalized or discriminated against.
Functionalism on Crime and Deviance
Manifest and Latent Functions
Functionalist believe crime is inevitable and universal
despite the fact they think it makes society less stable Manifest functions are intended and recognized
- Durkheim said “crime is normal... an integral part of outcomes of social institutions
all healthy societies.” - In the lens of Deviance
• Defines social boundary
Why is Crime Universal?
Durkheim identifies two reasons • Maintains social order
o Not everyone is equally and effectively socialized
into the shared norms and values, so some will Latent functions are unintended and often hidden
deviate. consequences
o The diversity of lifestyle and values. This means - In the lens of Deviance
that some norms in one culture may be deemed • Instills social cohesion
deviant in another. • Spark social change

POSITIVE FUNCTION Criticisms and Limitations

• Society doesn’t create crime in advance of
BOUNDARY MAINTENANCE. predicts that
strengthening social solidarity.
deviance is likely to happen when there is a
• They do not consider the effect of individuals; who is
misalignment between the “cultural goals” of a society
crime functional for?
(such as monetary wealth) and the opportunities people
have to obtain them.
STRAIN THEORY - Abandon society’s goals but conform to approved
A. Definition and Origins and Key Concepts means of achieving them
1. Anomie • Retreatism. Rejecting or abandon both goals and
• state of normlessness/lawlessness means, withdrawing from society
• defined as a condition characterizing a society when • Rebellion. Rejecting or Challenges both existing goals
“the scale is upset, become disoriented, no longer and means to achieving them while advocating for new
recognize the limits proper to them. ones, create an alternate set of goals/means.
• occurs when there is a disjunction between societal
goals and the legitimate means available to achieve Robert Merton's Strain Theory
them, leading to strain or pressure on individuals. Structural Strain
• pressure experienced by individuals as a result of
2. Strain Theory structural factors within society.
• ideas were first advanced in the 1930s by American • draws emphasis on the role of social structures
sociologist Robert K. Merton influencing how people react to societal goals and the
• Merton argues that people engage in deviant behavior available ways to attain them.
when they cannot achieve socially approved goals by - social, economic, and institutional conditions
legitimate means. shaping individuals' opportunities, resources, and
• Explains crime as a response to social pressure life chances.

STRAIN- Refers to the discrepancies or gap between Modes of Individual Adaptation

cultural defined goals and institutionalized legitimate Application of Strain Theory in Understanding
means available to achieve this goals. Deviance
1. Crime and Deviant Behavior
➢ Classic Strain Theory. predicts that deviance is 2. Social Mobility
likely to happen when there is a misalignment 3. Educational Attainment
between the “cultural goals” of a society (such as
monetary wealth) and the opportunities people have Criticisms and Extensions of Strain Theory
to obtain them. • Its overemphasis on economic goals, limited scope in
➢ General Strain Theory. This predicts that various understanding broader structural factors,
strains (such as violence and discrimination) create • Neglect of the gender and race raises concerns about
negative feelings which, when there are no other its applicability and explanatory power.
viable options for coping, lead to deviance.
Social Disorganization Theory
ELEMENTS OF STRAIN THEORY • This theory asserts that crime is most likely to occur in
Structural Factors communities with weak social ties and the absence of
- society's unequal opportunity structure social control.
- include things like social inequality, limited access • seeks to explain the occurrence of crime and deviance
to legitimate opportunities (such as education or within certain neighborhoods or communities based on
employment), economic deprivation, and social the breakdown of social institutions and structures
disorganization. • originated in the early 20th century within the Chicago
School of Sociology, particularly through the works of
Cultural Factors researchers like Robert Park, Ernest Burgess, and
- society's greater emphasis on success goals over Clifford Shaw
using legitimate means to achieve them
- success, material wealth, and achievement in Key Concepts
American society. The “American Dream” 1. Social Institutions and Structures
• there is crucial role of social institutions, such as
TYPES OF ADAPTATION family, schools, religious organizations, and community
• Conformity. accepting both cultural goals and means groups, in maintaining social order within
- People achieve success by working hard and saving neighborhoods and communities.
money
• Innovation. accepting goals but rejecting legitimate 2. Ecological Perspectives
means • views neighborhoods and communities as complex
- Obtaining wealth by theft or drug dealing ecosystems where various social, economic, and
• Ritualism. ejecting goals but following the means environmental factors interact to shape human behavior.
3. Neighborhood Effects
• characteristics of a neighborhood significantly impact
the level of social disorganization and, consequently, SUBCULTURAL THEORY
crime rates within that area. ➢ Proposes that those living in an urban setting are
able to find ways of creating a sense of community
Chicago School and Social Disorganization despite the prevailing alienation and anonymity.
1. Concentric Zone Theory. proposes that cities ➢ This theory propose that crime and deviance are
develop spatially in concentric circles caused by individual’s participation in subculture
• central business district at the core and zones of with norms and values differ from those of the
varying social organization radiating outward dominant culture.
• innermost zones experience highest levels of crime
2. Social Ecology. explores the dynamic interplay SUBCULTURE
between social and physical environments in shaping - Create own culture in order to attain or satisfy their
human behavior and social interactions. needs and goals.
• emphasizes the importance of considering both - Go against to their norms, values, principles in their
structural factors and social processes in understanding mainstream
the spatial distribution of crime and deviance. - Delinquent serves as their status
- There is belonginess
Factors Contributing to Social Disorganization
1. Poverty Albert Cohen: Deviant Subcultures emerge because of
• high levels of poverty are strongly associated with Status Frustration
social disorganization - argues that working class subcultures emerge
• as poverty hinders individuals' access to essential because they are denied status in society.
resources and opportunities, such as education, - working class boys strove to emulate middle-class
healthcare, and stable employment values and aspirations, but lacked the means to
• poverty often intersects with other forms of achieve success
disadvantage - This led to status frustration: a sense of personal
failure and inadequacy.
2. Residential Mobility
• rapid turnover in residential populations: Cloward and Ohlin’s 3 types of Subculture
gentrification, eviction, and foreclosure, can destabilize They suggest that the ‘illegitimate opportunity
neighborhoods and disrupt social networks structure’ affects what type of subculture emerges in
• people moving in and out of neighborhoods a lot. it response to status frustration.
can make it hard for people to make friends and work
together to solve problems. ➢ Criminal subcultures involve crimes carried out
for practical purposes, such as theft. These
3. Ethnic Diversity subcultures, according to Cloward and Ohlin
• may worsen social tensions, fuel intergroup conflicts, (2017), develop in stable working-class areas where
and contribute to feelings of alienation and mistrust there is an established pattern of crime.
among residents • If daghay opportunities, wealthy the this
• this is when there are people from different cultural subculture will flourished. (ex. Theft kay
backgrounds living together. they bring something daghay makawat)
different but can also cause problems if people can no
longer understand each other due to said differences. ➢ Conflict subcultures, meanwhile, emerge in
socially disorganized areas where there is high
Structural Functionalism Theory: population turnover and thus a lack of community
focuses on how society maintains its equilibrium via or social cohesion. This lack of social cohesion
emphasizing the role of social structures and prevents the formation of stable adult criminal
institutions. subcultures.
Strain Theory: demonstrates how social pressures • Ma frustrate because they can’t commit
and injustices cause people to act in ways that are not criminal acts such as theft kay walay
acceptable to the community in order to achieve their opportunities example is poor na community.
goals (also derived from society’s culture and ( mo commit nalang ug gang or street crime)
upbringing)
Social Disorganization Theory: investigates the ➢ Retreatist subcultures emerge among lower-class
relationship between deviance and the disintegration of youths who fail to succeed both in mainstream
social institutions and systems within a community. society and in crime and gang cultures.
 • No opportunities to commit crime and don’t CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR
have the qualities to commit such bad activities Criminal behavior refers to any act or conduct that is in
then they will more likely do alcohol and drug violation of established laws, statutes, or regulations
abuse. within a particular jurisdiction.
• Means and goals were not attained ➢ Mechanistic situational or Dynamic
• (those who fail to gain access to the other two ▪ Focus on Immediate Factors: Mechanistic
subcultures) situational explanations of criminal behavior
emphasize immediate factors and situational
Walter Miller. Revived interest in delinquency as a dynamics that contribute to criminal acts.
product of alternative values. He posits that the ❖ Immediate act of criminal
underclass is responsible for the majority of street ▪ Environmental Influence: This perspective
crime. considers elements such as environmental cues,
Focal Concerns: Toughness, Smartness, Excitement, opportunities, and social interactions that may
Fate Trouble trigger or facilitate criminal actions.
❖ You live in a community na dato, maibog,
David Matza’s Delinquency and Drift then you will more likely to commit crime
David Matza (2018) attacked some of the assumptions ▪ Rational Choice Theory: Within this category,
on which subcultural theories of crime are based by the Rational Choice Theory is a prominent
claiming that delinquents have similar values to those example. It posits that individuals weigh the
who are not delinquent, and even voice similar feelings potential benefits and costs of criminal behavior
of outrage about crime as those in the rest of before deciding to engage in such activities.
society. ❖ Rationalize first, what to gain and what will
be the consequences. (Potential benefits and
- Matza’s theory also accounts for the way that
Potential costs.)
behavior is adaptable and flexible, involving
➢ Historical or Development
dimensions of choice and free will.
▪ Focus on Long-Term Influences: Historical or
Charles Murray’s Underclass Theory of Crime developmental explanations of criminal
- Created the underclass theory of crime. This behavior concentrate on the long-term
underclass refers to a group of people in America influences and life experiences that contribute to
who were unemployed over the long-term and the development of criminal tendencies over
effectively dependent on government assistance. time.
- Murray believed that the children of this underclass ❖ Look at the past and influenced by it
would be essentially cut off from ordinary social ❖ Become criminal because of the experience
life, and thus not constrained by the ordinary norms from the past
and values of workers. Murray believed that ▪ Life Course Perspective: This perspective
participation in the underclass is lifestyle choice and considers the influence of various life events,
pathological. experiences, and transitions, from childhood
through adolescence and adulthood. It examines
how factors such as family background,
DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION THEORY education, peer associations, and personal
This theory propose that through interaction with others, experiences contribute to the trajectory of
individuals learn the values, attitudes, techniques, and criminal behavior.
motives for criminal behavior. ❖ Trajectory> event in life that can make you commit a
criminal act. More likely a revenge
Charles Murray’s Underclass Theory Of Crime ▪ Criminogenic Pathways: Researchers in this
• The Differential Association Theory, proposed by field often identify specific criminogenic
Edwin Sutherland in 1939, is a criminological pathways or life trajectories that are associated
concept that seeks to explain the acquisition of with an increased likelihood of criminal
criminal behavior through social interaction. involvement. For example, Glueck's
• The theory posits that individuals learn criminal longitudinal studies explored the relationship
behavior from their interactions with others, between early childhood experiences and later
primarily within intimate social groups. These criminal behavior.
groups serve as the primary context for the ❖ Predict path either to success or failure
transmission of values, norms, and techniques ❖ Depends on the status ex. If you were raised good
related to criminal conduct. then more likely you’ll be expected to be successful
DEVELOPMENTAL EXPLANATION OF ❖ refers to ways in which a society tries to prevent and
CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR sanction behavior that violates norms.

1. Criminal behavior is learned. SANCTION

2. Criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other POSITIVE- More on rewards
persons in a process of communication. NEGATIVE- Punishments
3. The principal part of learning of criminal behavior INFORMAL- Indirect control. (grounded) not widely
occurs within intimate personal groups. known - makita ang reaction Face2face
4. When criminal behavior is learned, the learning FORMAL- Recognized regulations created by the
includes institutions
a.) Techniques of committing the crime, which are
sometimes very complicated, sometimes simple. BONDS FOUR ELEMENTS
b.) The specific direction of motives, drives, • ATTACHMENT. Denotes the degree of
rationalizations, and attitudes emotional connection one feels towards
5. The specific direction of motives and drives is learned benevolent individuals and establishments.
from definitions of the legal codes as favorable or • COMMITMENT. Hirschi cited the
unfavorable. importance of the social relationships that
6. A person becomes delinquent because of an excess of people value, which they would not want to risk
definitions favorable to violation of law over definitions jeopardizing by committing criminal or deviant
of unfavorable to violation of law. acts.
7. Differential association may vary in frequency, • INVOLVEMENT. which relates to the
duration, priority, and industry. opportunity costs associated with how people
8. The process of learning criminal behavior by spend their time. Specifically, Hirschi tapped
association with criminal and anti- criminal patterns into the old philosophy that “idle hands are the
involves all of the mechanisms that are involved in any devil’s workshop” in that if people are spending
other learning. their time engaged in some form of prosocial
9. While criminal is an expression of general needs and activity.
values it is not explained by those explained by those • BELIEF. Refers to the degree to which one
general needs and values, since noncriminal behavior adheres to the values associated with behaviors
expression is an expression of the same needs and that conform to the law; the assumption being
values. that the more important such values are to a
person, the less likely he or she is to engage in
SOCIAL CONTROL THEORY (Travis Hirschi) criminal/deviant behavior.
➢ The social control theory proposes that individuals
are naturally inclined to deviate from societal norms DIRECT CONTROL- Individuals directly influenced
and engage in criminal behavior unless they are Ex. Family, Church then there will be rules. Same sa
effectively restrained by social bonds and controls. attachment.
➢ This theory assumes that crime occurs when such
bonds are weakened or are not well established. STAKE IN CONFORMITY- Dili gusto mawala ang
➢ also posits that an individual's bonds to society mga stake. Less likely mo commit ug crime because of
serve as a deterrent to engaging in deviant behavior. reputation. Same sa commitment.
➢ The strength of an individual’s social bonds INTERNAL CONTROL- (own) High internalized of
decreases the propensity for criminal or deviant what’s right and wrong, guilt and conscience, morality.
behavior. Same sa belief.
➢ When an individual’s bonds to society are strong,
they prevent or limit crime and other deviant
behavior. When bonds are weak, they increase the DETTERENCE THEORY
probability of deviance. Weak or broken bonds do ➢ The view that if the probability of arrest, conviction
not “cause” delinquency, but rather allow it to and sanctioning increases, crime rates should
happen (Whitehead and Lab 2009: 89) decline.
➢ Deterrence is the theory that criminal penalties do
SOCIAL CONTROL not just punish violators, but also discourage other
❖ Refers to rules, regulations and sanctions applied in people from committing similar offenses.
order to encourage socially acceptable behaviors
and discourage deviance. TYPES OF DETTERENCE
 • Specific deterrence - acts on a specific social nature of the self, highlighting how our
individual interactions with others play a crucial role in shaping
• General deterrence - is designed to deter our self-concept and identity.
the public from committing the same crimes
Interactionist Perspective Examples
as those already convicted of such offence.
- Performing Gender. individuals may perform
gender roles differently depending on the social
Components of the deterrent theory: context they are in, such as at home, at work, or
❖ Certainty: A person must know that the online.
punishment will be imposed. - Identity Formation. individuals may develop their
- Individuals must have a clear understanding that if sense of self through feedback from others and
they engage in a particular behavior or commit a through comparisons with social norms and
crime, punishment will be imposed. expectations.
❖ Celerity: The punishment must be imposed - Online Presentation. individuals use online
quickly so that it is not too late to avoid the platforms to present themselves to others and
consequences. construct their identities.
- Punishment must be swift and prompt. ❖ Situated
❖ Severity: The punishment must be severe enough ❖ Personal
to deter people from committing the crime in the ❖ Social
first place. - Social Roles. expected behaviors, rights,
- Punishment must be proportionate to the obligations, and responsibilities associated with a
seriousness of the crime committed. It should be particular position or status within a social group or
sufficiently harsh to discourage individuals from society.
engaging in the prohibited behavior or crime. - Role Making. involves the active process through
which individuals shape, negotiate, and redefine the
Some major drawbacks of deterrence theory: roles they enact within social interactions and
- Punishment does not create fear in the criminal’s groups.
mind once the punishment is over. > Once the
punishment is served, individuals may no longer
LABELING THEORY
fear the consequences, especially if the punishment
The labeling theory of deviance states that individuals
is not severe or swift.
become deviants as a result of the labels imposed on
- This type of punishment does not create fear in the
them by society.
hardened offenders’ minds. > Individuals who are
habitual or "hardened" offenders may be less George Herbert Mead (1863-1931), about the social
deterred by punishment since they might have construction of the self.
already normalized or become desensitized to the
threat of punishment. “Deviance is not a quality of the act the person commits,
- Arouse sympathy in the minds of the public for but rather a consequence of the application by others of
criminals. > This sympathy can undermine support rules and sanctions to an ‘offender’. The deviant is one
for the deterrence approach, as some may argue to whom that label has been successfully applied;
that it is too punitive or unfair. deviant behavior is behavior that people so label”
(Becker, 1963)

Primary deviance- refers to those acts which receive a

INTERACTIONIST PERSPECTIVE little reaction from the society and do not have long term
Herbert Blumer defined the interactionist perspective as consequences. refers to initial acts of rule-breaking that
a framework that “emphasizes the subjective meaning may not attract significant societal reactions
of social action as the basis for understanding life”
Secondary deviance- occurs after the subject has been
(1969). The “subjective meaning” emerge through
labelled a deviant, and they begin to construct their self-
social interaction.
image from their understanding of how others perceive
them. occurs when individuals internalize deviant
Ex. Looking Glass Self: Cooley’s “looking glass self”
labels and incorporate them into their self-identity,
concept explains how our sense of self is intimately
leading to more frequent and serious deviant behavior.
linked to our interactions with others.
Formal labels- are labels ascribed to an individual by
someone who has the formal status and ability to discern
deviant behavior.
- Examples of formal labels include criminal records,
diagnoses of mental illness by medical
professionals, or disciplinary actions imposed by
educational institutions or employers.

Informal labels- labels can also be ascribed to someone

by groups of people who do not have the official
authority to label someone as deviant.
- Examples of informal labels include being labeled
as a "troublemaker" by peers, being perceived as
"weird" or "antisocial" by classmates, or being
labeled as a "slacker" by coworkers.

CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE
➢ This theory was proposed by Karl Marx. It argues
that various groups in the society are pertuallt
fighting and competing for resources and power.
➢ The conflict perspective describes the inequalities
that exist in all societies globally, and considers
aspects of society as ways for those with power and
status to maintain control over scare resources.
➢ Conflict theory emphasizes the role of social
inequality in the creation and enforcement of
deviant labels and behaviors. Those in power, such
as the ruling class or dominant social groups, often
use deviance labels to control and marginalize
subordinate groups or individuals who challenge
the status quo.