Transcript Theories of Deviance

Theories of
Deviance
Cultural
Transmission
• Sociologist:
Edwin Sutherland
Cultural
Transmission
• Deviance is learned,
mainly from other
deviants
Cultural
Transmission
• The more time one
spends around
deviant people, the
more likely they are
to become deviant
Cultural
Transmission
• “differential association”
-- the amount of time
one spends around
deviants
Structural Strain
•Sociologist:
Robert K. Merton
Emile Durkeim
Structural Strain
•Every society has
culturally defined
“legitimate” goals
Structural Strain
•Every society has
culturally defined
“legitimate” means of
achieving goals
Structural Strain
•Society places a high
value on the goals, but
some people lack
access to the means
(thus the strain)
Structural Strain
•Responses to this
vary...
Structural Strain
Means Goals
Conformity + +
Innovation
+
Ritualism
+
Retreatism
Rebellion
+/- +/-
Control Theory
•Sociologist:
Travis Hirschi
Emile Durkheim
Control Theory
•Deviance is a natural
occurrence
Control Theory
•Conformity is the result
of social control
Control Theory
•The social bond:
–Attachment
–Commitment
–Involvement
Control Theory
•Summary -- people
with strong social
bonds will be less likely
to commit deviance,
and vice versa
Conflict Theory
• Karl Marx
Conflict Theory
• Competition and
social inequality lead
to deviance
Conflict Theory
• The “Haves” commit
deviance to maintain
their power and to
alleviate boredom
Conflict Theory
•The “Have-nots”
commit deviance to
obtain power and due
to low self-esteem
Labeling Theory
• Sociologists:
Edwin Lemert
&
Howard Becker
Labeling Theory
• Differentiation
–appearance
–cultural
–being caught and
labeled “deviant”
Labeling Theory
• Primary deviance:
minor deviance that
everyone commits
that does not result
in being labeled
Labeling Theory
• Secondary deviance:
deviance that results
in being caught and
labeled “deviant”
Labeling Theory
• “Career Deviance” -“deviant” or some
deviant label
becomes one’s
master status
Labeling Theory
• Summary:
–Everyone commits
some acts of deviance
Labeling Theory
• Summary:
–Once one is caught
and labeled, their life
changes, other
opportunities are lost