Deviance Flashcards
(34 cards)
What is formal deviance?
Laws.
What is informal deviance?
Folkways, mores, values
What are laws?
Formal written rules that are usually based on values or mores.
What are folkways?
Informal norms that are considered customs or habits. While they are expected behaviours there are no serious consequences if they’re broken.
What are mores?
Behaviours that are considered morally wright or wrong.
What are values?
Ideas that are important to our society.
What is functionalism?
Viewing society as a system (interconnected parts which together form a whole). All the parts work together, therefore there is a relationship between them, and they all contribute to the stability and functionality of society as a whole.
What are the functions of society according to Durkheim?
Affirmation, clarification, unification, and encouraging od social change.
What is affirmation?
The affirmation of social norms (socialisation) occurs when deviant actions give society opportunities to affirm and reinforce right/wrong behaviour.
What is clarification?
The clarification of moral boundaries (punishment) occurs when deviant acts allow society to clarify ‘the line’ (boundary). This is done through formal and informal punishment.
What is unification?
Society unifies against deviance and around agreed norms, acting to condemn the deviant and bring people together. This reinforces conformity.
What is the encouragement of social change?
Deviance causes society to reevaluate/discuss its social norms and question whether they are still relevant. Old norms may be reinforced, or new norms created.
What is the Social Bonds theory?
Travis Hirschi proposed that deviance occurs when a person lacks social bonds, but that a person will avoid deviance if they have strong bonds. This is because deviance threatens social bonds.
What are the four social bonds according to Hirschi?
Attachment to relationships, commitment to goals, involvement in community approved activities and belief in moral or religious systems.
Explain attachment as a social bond.
If we have people we care about (friends, family), we want to avoid hurting or disappointing them, so we avoid deviance.
Explain commitment as a social bond.
We will avoid deviance if it threatens our goals in work or education. Lacking these goals makes us more likely to be deviant.
Explain involvement in community approved activites as a social bond.
If our time is taken up by, we will be less deviant. Community activities give us a sense of purpose and connection to those around us. Purposelessness leads to increased opportunities for deviance.
Explain belief in moral or religious systems as a social bond.
Strong ethics, morality or religious beliefs give us ‘inner’ or personal reasons (a conscience!) to follow rules and do the right thing.
What is the labelling theory?
Howard Becker, sociologist, saw society as a set of ‘symbols’ or behaviours that society assigns meaning to (labels).
Some ‘symbols’ are seen differently depending on perspective. This suggests that deviance is created by society, rather than symbols (behaviours) being ‘naturally deviant’.
Give an example of the labelling theory.
The label ‘Karen’ groups deviant behaviours (entitlement and oppression) together with middle aged white women in order to discourage them.
What is positive deviance?
Positive acts of deviance occur when an individual or a group behaves or performs above the expected norms set by a society or culture.
What is altruism?
Helping others without expecting any reward or recognition.
What is charisma?
Natural leaders who have personal characteristics that set them apart and inspire followers.
What is innovation?
The creation of new ideas that change society and the way people view an issue or problem.
