What is Deviance - Welcome to Ms. Thrower's Social Studies ...



What is Deviance?

Behavior that violates specific norms is considered deviance. To be considered a “deviant”, the behavior must be recognized and the society must provide a stigma.

Social Functions of Deviance

Unifying the Group, Clarifying Norms, Diffusing Tension, Identifying Social Problems, Providing Jobs

Explaining Deviance

Cultural Transmission Theory: “Learned behavior” or the idea that if the “norms” of your primary group of contacts are engaging in deviant acts, then you will too. At the basis of this is the concept of “differential association.” The more deviance you are surrounded with, the more likely you too will become deviant.

Control Theory: Conformity is a result of social control and deviance is natural. People who have more ties to their community are less likely to turn to deviant acts, and more likely to conform.

Conflict Theory: Competition and social inequality leads to deviance. People WITH power commit deviant acts in order to maintain their power. People WITHOUT power, do it to obtain economic rewards or because they have low self-esteem or feel powerless.

Labeling Theory: All people commit deviant acts, but not everyone is considered deviant. There are two types of deviance: primary and secondary. Primary is something that usually goes undetected, while secondary labels the individual as deviant, and then convinces the person they are a deviant, and they continue the behavior.

Strain Theory: Deviance grows out of the values, norms and structure of society. Not everyone has the means to achieve ALL values or knows ALL norms, and the result of this “anomie” is confusion that leads to deviant behavior. When people are faced with anomie, the respond in one of these 5 ways:

1. Conformity (most common and doesn’t typically lead to deviance)

2. Innovation

3. Ritualism

4. Retreatism

5. Rebellion

Chapter 8 Section 2 page 187: CRIME!

1. What 3 things does it take for something to be considered a crime?

1. Using the pie chart, answer the following questions:

a. Who is more likely to commit crimes, men or women? _____________

b. What age groups are arrested most? ____________________________

c. What race is arrested most? __________________________________

2. After reading about crime statistics, summarize the 4 problems that can skew the accuracy of crime statistics.

3. Beginning on page 189, the book categorizes 5 types of crimes. Read and give examples of these types below.

❖ Violent crime

❖ Crime against property

❖ Victimless crime

❖ White collar crime

❖ Organized crime

4. List the 3 components of the criminal justice system:

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