Deviance Theories Flashcards
To summarise explain the major theories surrounding deviance and how they can be applied to criminal behaviour in Contemporary Australian Society (CAS). (43 cards)
What is Deviance?
Behaviour that misaligns with established societal norms, resulting in social or legal punishment depending on severity.
What is Conformity?
Behavioural alignment with what is deemed societally acceptable.
Who Proposed the Structural Strain Theory?
Robert Merton (1957).
What is the Structural Strain Theory?
The theory that deviant behaviour is the result of an individual’s failure to achieve societally encouraged goals via appropriate means.
What Theoretical Perspective does the Structural Strain Theory Link To?
Functionalism.
How Does Structural Strain Link to Functionalism?
Merton (1957) believed that deviance was a dysfunction of the societal system, caused by individuals lacking the resources to conform.
What Did Merton (1957) Believe Were the Potential Outcomes One Could Achieve in Society in Relation to Deviance?
- Conformity
- Innovation
- Ritualism
- Retreatism
- Rebellion
What is ‘Conformity’ in the Context of the Structural Stain Theory?
The achievement and pursuit of societally acceptable goals via societally acceptable means.
What is ‘Innovation’ in the Context of the Structural Stain Theory?
Achievement of societally acceptable goals via societally unacceptable means.
What is ‘Ritualism’ in the Context of the Structural Stain Theory?
The continued compliance with societal expectations despite failure to achieve or pursue societally encouraged goals.
What is ‘Retreatism’ in the Context of the Structural Stain Theory?
Resignation from society following failure to achieve societally encouraged goals.
What is ‘Rebellion’ in the Context of the Structural Stain Theory?
The pursuit of societally discouraged goals and means of achievement.
What does the term ‘Anomie’ mean in the context of the Structural Strain Theory?
The term anomie refers to confusion brought upon when societally encouraged goals are not achievable by societally encouraged means.
What is the primary strength of the Structural Strain Theory?
It explains finance related crimes and crimes committed by individuals from lower social-economic backgrounds.
What is the primary weakness of the Structural Strain Theory?
It does not account for crimes committed by individuals with the means to conform and succeed within society.
Who is the main proponent of the Cultural Transmission/Differential Association Theory?
Edwin Sutherland (1939)
What is the Cultural Transmission Theory?
That criminal behaviour is encouraged and normalised through interaction, namely with criminals.
What Theoretical Perspective does the Cultural Transmission Theory Link To?
Interactionism.
How does the Cultural Transmission Theory Link to Interactionism?
Sutherland (1939) believed that interaction was the primary way in which criminal attitudes and behaviours were formed.
What did Sutherland (1939) propose as factors of Differential Association in the Influence of interaction on future criminal behaviour?
- Age of the individual being influenced
- Intensity (importance) of the interaction or influencer
- Ratio (frequency) of the interaction.
What is the primary strength of the Cultural Transmission theory?
It explains how deviance is brewed within criminal sub-cultures.
What is the primary weakness of the Cultural Transmission theory?
It does not account for people who conform or deviate regardless of prior interaction.
Who proposed the Labelling theory?
Edwin Lemert (1951) and Howard Becker (1963).
What is the Labelling theory?
Deviant behaviour is only recognised as such once it is labelled, and the way in which ‘deviants’ operate in society is a result of them carrying the label.
