Deviant Behavior - Research Paper Example

Deviant Behavior Introduction Deviant Behavior (Sociology) Deviant behavior may mean actions that violate social norms in the society. Norms are expectations and rules by which society members are guided. Deviance means failure to practice such norms. Social norms vary from one culture to another. This means that one social norm or virtue in a culture can be a vice in another culture (Pontell & Rosoff, 2011). Sociologists have defined it as feelings, actions, or thoughts that violate the norms of a social group. The communities or societies usually disapprove such thoughts, behaviors or actions. In this paper, I will discuss various theories that describe deviant behavior, types of deviance, and methods of preventing deviant behavior. Deviant Behavior as Reactive Construction Deviant behaviors involve the process by which conditions, actions, and or beliefs are viewed as deviant by others. Others, like copyright infringement, may not be considered as deviant. While acts of racism may attract negative reactions in some societies, it may not do so in other societies. Conditions, such as dwarfism, facial deformities or obesity, may cause individuals to be treated badly depending on the societal beliefs (Humphrey, 2006). Theories Symbolic interaction, structural functionalism, and conflict theory are three broad sociological classes, which describe deviant behavior. Structural Functionalism Social assimilation is the connection to institutions and groups while social ruling is obedience to values and norms in a particular community. The ones highly incorporated fall under the group of selflessness while those who are not extremely incorporated are considered egoistic. Likewise, the regulated ones are considered in the category of fatalism and tolerable ones are in the category of anomie (Humphrey, 2006). Altruistic suicide (demise for the superior of the assembly), egocentric suicide (fall of the elimination of the acceptable connection with other people), anomic (fatality because of confusing of self-interest and norms of the society) are caused by limits (Flick, 2011). Durkheims Basic Insight Durkheim (1858–1915) argued that deviant behavior is an ordinary and necessary element of social institute. He acknowledged that there are four crucial purposes of deviance (Flick, 2011). 1. It is concerned with norms and values of a culture: Evil cannot exist if there is good and integrity without wrong. 2. It explains moral limits, individuals find out what is right from what is wrong by describing others as deviant. 3. Serious deviance makes people unite and respond against it. 4. Deviance encourages moral boundaries of the society, which, in turn brings social transformation. Mertons Strain Theory Robert K. Merton described deviant behavior by defining the objectives in his theory of anomie. He stated that anomie is defying of social norms. He also defines anomie as a condition where social goals and legitimacy are significant in communication. He explained that one’s reaction to the society were useful in considering deviance. Purposely, he studied combined action as provoked by frustration, strain, or stress in a body of people who arise from a detachment amid the goals of the society and the commonly used means to attain that goal. Usually, non-custom group deeds (rebellion, rioting etc.) are reflected on financial constrains. The two scopes dictate the revision to society depending on the cultural goals, which are the perceptions of society about the perfect life, and to the verified means, which are the lawful means by which one may aim to the cultural targets (Flick, 2011). Merton explained five types of deviance by looking at the rejection or acceptance communal achievement and the valid means of attaining them: 1. People Develop Other Means of Acquiring Wealth: There is a reaction because of the tension developed by the emphasis of culture on the inability to attain wealth, which makes individuals turn to thieves and robbers. 2. Conformists accept goals of the society and the communally satisfactory means of attaining them (example monetary achievement is achieved by working hard). 3. Ritualism means the incapability to access the goals of culture thereby implementing conditions to the situation where they forget their superior goals to experience respect. Rituality discards the goals of the society, however, agrees to the institutionalized means of the society. 4. Retreatism is a reaction that indicates the incapability of a person to decline both the cultural objectives and means letting one drop out. Retreatists reject the goals of the society and the rightful means to attain them. Merton views these as real deviants, because they perform deviant acts to get things never go along with values of the society. 5. Rebellion is almost the same as retreatism, since rebellions refuse the goals of culture and means; however, they take a step further and counterculture that chains other social instructions that already exist. Symbolic Interaction People often gain their opinions and ideas concerning the extent and nature of offense through the media. In Canada, numerous explicit, experiences with crime in youth are filtered through the media. Television news, principally is inclined on the edge between fiction and fact and, and is extremely breathtaking, discriminative to place and time, primarily focuses on the negative (Humphrey, 2006). Primary and Secondary Deviation Edwin Lemert invented the idea of primary and secondary deviation in Behaviors to explain the labeling process. Primary deviance in behavior describes any common deviation before the labeling the deviant. Secondary deviance in behavior is any act that occurs after primary deviance as a response to the recognition of the individual as a deviant (Flick, 2011). When an individual commits offense, even if it is soft, the society will forward social punishment down on the offender. Despite this, sentence does not essentially end crime, so the offender might entrust the primary deviance again, bringing harsher reflections from the institutions. In this situation, the offender will begin to dislike the institution, while the institution brings harsher suppression. Ultimately, the entire society will stigmatize the offender to be deviant, and the offender will be intolerable this. The offender will eventually acknowledge his duty as an unlawful (Humphrey, 2006). Secondary and Primary Deviation is the source of harder criminals. Primary deviance is the period when an individual is considered deviant by admitting or reporting. Secondary deviance occurs before and after the primary deviance (Pontell & Rosoff, 2011). Control Theory Control theory further explains the suggestion that feeble bonds between the society and individual liberate individuals to deviate. Contrary, tough bonds make deviance to be abundant. This theory questions individuals why they desist from criminal or deviant behavior, instead of why individuals commit deviant or criminal behavior, as per Travis Hirschi. This theory developed when norms surfaced to put off deviant behavior (Humphrey, 2006). Without the control, deviant behavior would often occur. If a well-built connection is achieved, there will be less chance of deviant behavior than if a weak bond has occurred. The connection is made up of related factors namely attachment, involvement, belief, and opportunity. If any of the connections are destroyed, one is more likely to cause defiance in behavior. This theory concludes that fraud and acts of force are considered in self-control. A deviant act means criminals act on self-control. Michael Jordan brings new light into the theory by suggesting that experience in the labor market not only affect attitudes but can also affect their children’s development. This study is continuing because he established significant relationship delinquency in children and parental labor market. Functions of Deviance Deviant behavior is often rebellious against norms of the dominant culture and favors subculture. Deviant behavior affirms norms and cultural values. Deviant behaviors also clarify ethical boundaries, promote social unity by giving them dichotomy, support communal change, and offer jobs to control deviance. Located in the male and deviance text, this article studies the male sex worker, and presents the methods men who are involved in sex work cope with the job. Cross-cultural Communication as Deviance Cross-cultural communication is a study that examines how people from different cultural backgrounds attempt to communicate. All cultures use the nonverbal communication; however, its meaning varies from one culture to another. In one country, the nonverbal sign may mean a different thing to another country. In cross-cultural communication, a sign may offend one culture, while it may, please another culture. The gestures below may be offensive in one country and may not be offensive in another country. Head shaving after death of a family member is a common practice in some African cultures. The Southern culture theory holds that violent behavior, which would be criminal in the United States, may be an acceptable response to abuse in a Southern culture. Types of Deviance Many societies consider taboo as deviant behavior. Such societies condemn speaking publicly of the taboos. Some communities prohibit taboo under transgressions, and law and offenders are severely punished. Taboos can result in disrespect, shame, and humiliation. Taboo is not recognized worldwide; however, it occurs in the numerous societies. Some examples of taboo include incest, murder, rape, or child molestation. A labeling theorist called Howard Becker put into consideration different types of deviant behaviors. These fell into four different categories. One of them falsely accuses a person who falls beneath others perceiving others as obedient or deviant behaviors. Pure deviance falls under the perception of one to contribute in deviance and behaviors that break the rules. Conforming, may not be considered deviant but only participate in the social norms that are spread inside societies, can also be located into the group with clean deviance and falsely accused. Finally, secret deviance occurs when an individual does not seem to be deviant. The Criminal Justice System Police: The police uphold public order by maintaining the law. The Police use individual judgment to decide how handle a case. The police are likely to arrest someone if it is a serious offence. Courts: Courts depend on a process where attorneys-one represents the defendant. Practically, courts decide nearly all cases through bargaining of plea. This technique puts less authoritative people in a shortcoming. Punishment: these include deterrence, retribution, societal protection, and rehabilitation. These programs reduce the rate of supervision of convicted people. References Flick, G. L. (2011). Understanding and managing emotional and behavior disorders in the classroom. Boston: Pearson. Humphrey, J. A. (2006). Deviant behavior. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall. Pontell. H. N., & Rosoff. S. M. (2011). Social deviance: Readings in theory and research. 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