Relativity of deviance Flashcards
(41 cards)
(intro) what is deviance
Deviance refers to behaviours that violate societal norms, often resulting in social sanctions.
What is key about it
essential in understanding how societies maintain order, but the concept itself is far from static.
what is it rletive too
Deviance is fluid, shifting with context— time, place, culture, age, gender, or class. What is deemed deviant in one society may be accepted elsewhere
what is the solutuoin
viewing deviant behaviours as simply differences a more accurate, context-sensitive way to understanding social behaviour.
what is teh best way to udnersadn it
analysed through Labelling Theory, showing how deviance is constructed through social reactions, and Social Control Theory, explaining deviance in terms of weakening social bonds.
(DiR) what are the postive roles
He suggested that a certain level of deviance is necessary for;
1. social functioning, as it clarifies moral boundaries,
2. reinforces social cohesion, and
3. promotes social change.
(DiR) what is an kiekens defintion
Deviance, commonly defined as norm or rule-breaking behaviour (Van Krieken, 2000), is a concept shaped by societal context
(DiR) how does it connect to a ider soical conetxt
Historical examples, such as civil rights movements once labelled deviant, later became new societal norms.
(DiR) whar are its negative functions
excessive deviance could lead to dysfunction and a state of ‘anomie,’ where the breakdown of social standards causes instability and disrupts the social equilibrium.
(DiR) what is the aboslute definition
viewing deviance as any rule-breaking behaviour, suggests that norms and deviance are based on externally defined, unchanging standards of right and wrong.
(DiR) what is the funcionlism takeaway
deviance is not static; it evolves as society changes, reflecting the adaptability of norms over time.
(DiR) what is wrong iwth the absolute definition
this rigid approach is problematic, as it fails to account for the diversity and dynamism of societal values.
If deviance is framed as an absolute, it could lead to
1. intolerance,
2. persecution,
3. resistance to social change, as societal norms are constantly evolving.
(DiR) what is the relative definition
acknowledges its dependence on time, place, culture, and social factors like gender and age (Van Krieken, 2000). For instance, behaviours deemed deviant in one society may be accepted in another, such as the shifting global attitudes toward homosexuality.
(DiR) evalauate the relative definition
As argued by Van Krieken, defining deviance exclusively in relative terms risks;
1. denying the moral evaluation of any behaviour,
2. making it difficult to distinguish between deviant and conformist actions.
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Robertson (1989) critiques this view, suggesting that the relative nature of deviance means “anything goes”
(LT) how does labelling theory relate to RoD
The relativity of deviance is central to Labelling Theory. For any act to be considered deviant, it must be labelled as such, and this label must be accepted and internalised.
(DiR) what are other possiblitues
instead of labelling behaviours as deviant—which carries negative connotations—it may be more accurate to frame them as ‘differences.’ This shift acknowledges the fluidity and diversity of norms across cultures.
(DiR) whats an illustratuve example of difference
practices like communal living in many Indigenous cultures diverge from Western norms but are not inherently deviant. Reframing deviance as difference allows for a more nuanced understanding of cultural diversity without the stigma often associated with deviance.
(LT) how are certain gorups/actions assined as deviant
Those in authority have the power to define and apply deviant labels, often reinforcing dominant ideologies and maintaining social control.
(LT) what is a key quote you can you to illustrate your point
“deviance is not a quality of the act [a] person commits, but rather a consequence of the application by others of the rules and sanctions to an ‘offender’.
(LT) What is labelling theory
explained by Howard Becker (1963) and expanded by symbolic interactionist Edwin Lemert (1967), argues that deviance is not inherent in any behaviour but arises when society successfully labels an individual or behaviour as deviant.
(LT) what is pirmary and sceondary deviance
Lemert distinguished between two stages of deviance:
1. Primary deviance refers to minor norm violations that might not result in a deviant identity.
2. Secondary deviance, however, occurs when the deviant label is applied, leading individuals to internalise this identity and behave in ways that align with the label.
(LT) what is labels relative too
1.. social context in which the labelling occurs, making deviance relative to a range of factors, such as
a. culture,
b. time,
c. social power structures.
(LT) how will you connect to to an emo stimulas
subcultures like “emos” or “Scene kids” may be labelled deviant because they defy mainstream norms, but within their communities, these behaviours are conformist.
(LT) why is it difficult to excape a label
Garfinkel’s degradation ceremony illustrates how public stigmatisation reinforces deviant labels, making it difficult for individuals to escape these identities.
