The sociology of deviance

The sociology of deflexionHow important and relevant be Mertons Strain hypothesis and Beckers scoreling supposition in our understanding of optical aberration?In this essay I willing analyse the importance and relevance of a structional functionalist view of departure seen through the lens of pass on system and a symbolic fundamental interactionalist linear perspective through the use of labelling theory. Strain conjecture attempts to explain why wickedness is resolute amongst the lower classes who atomic number 18 subjected to the least opportunities for economic achievement (O Connor 2007). It focuses on the positions that exclusives occupy in a tender system, not on the characteristics of the individual. Labeling theory explains why sustained delinquent doings stems from destructive kindly interactions and encounters (Siegel Welsh 2008). These theories work in harmony as the former theory explains why deviance begins and the latter(prenominal) flips an explan ation as to why deviance continues through the carriagespan. I will be describing and evaluating these theories to further wait on the question of just how important atomic number 18 these two theories for the understanding deviance?The sociology of deviance is the systematic analyse of social norm violation that is subject to social sanction according to (Henry 2009 p.1). Deviant behaviour is behaviour that does not follow common perceptions, when wad are deviant they do not conform to expectations. It is heavy to give an exact definition of deviance as many major theorists pass on cast a vast variety of perspectives on what it really is. Some sociologists retrieve that deviance is the violation of any social traffic pattern, whereas other sociologists argue that deviance does not have to be a real behaviour for it to be labelled deviant (Thio, Calhoun Conyers 2008).Downes Rock (2003) state that deviance is e genuinelywhere and not save that but it leaves traces everyw here. Theories of deviance are rarely catapulted into political settings to be accepted or rejected in their entirety quite a they trickle in from many outsets. The influence of ideas is always changing due to the instability of political plenty (Downs Rock 2003).The increase in deviance may be due to the fact that passel are conf utilize about the correct values and morals to hold. As a result of this ever evolving knowledge base there are new variations of deviant behaviour occurring on a daily basis, ranging from minor violations of the lawfulness such(prenominal) as not paying a television licence to major deviance comparable abuse scandals in regard to the Catholic Church. These acts are considered to be deviant as they are acts which the residue of clubhouse deems as unacceptable (Tierney 2006). Traditional values such as religious views have been shattered to pieces be courting of ongoing scandals in the Catholic Church. Individual pursuits drive people religion ha s no impact on the expected standards of people in directlys materialist driven decree, which in turn leads to an increase in deviant behaviours.The Functionalist perspective stems from the work of Durkheim who believed that peoples social roles or functions hold club in concert (Flynn 2009). In contrast to this is the Symbolic interaction approach where the emphasis is on the way people construct the meaning of others acts (Becker McCall 1990). Durkheim believed that offense is not only if functional but it is necessary, it only become dysfunctional if the rates are either too noble or too low (Covington 1999). The functionalist analysis of deviance begins with nightclub as a whole it looks for the source of deviance in the nature of society rather than in the psychological nature of the individual. Durkheim believes society is held together by shared values, and if these values are not constantly reaffirmed through the generations it may signify the afford of society.One m ay put forward the argument that shared values are not a fundamental part of society today. It shews difficult to reaffirm values through generations when the family when parents are working bulky hours. Parental influence over children has declined due to this children seek values from available sources such as the television or internet, resulting in the promotion of materialistic values which are in turn the norms today.If the community collapsed, and the joint conscience failed the result was a state of anomie (Covington 1999). In essence anomie represents the problems in society caused by social deregulation. Merton unquestionable an anomie theory based on Durkheims earlier work which referred to a deinstitutionalization of norms that happens when there is a disjunction amidst the importance of heathenish goals and institutional message (Featherst iodin Deflem 2003).Mertons exsert theory argues that structures in society may encourage deviance and crime, it is a struct ural functionalist explanation. Functionalist theories offers the basis for policies that are large in their scope (Downes Rock 2003), however Gouldner (1970) believes that Functionalism thinks of systems as mutually interacting variables rather than in terms of cause and military issue, and then peerless may infer that it is impossible to implement policy to stop a special(prenominal)(prenominal) effect if the cause is not noblelighted.Theories of deviance are extremely important as Downes Rock (2003) believe that all theories of deviance have implications for policy do. That said however the ease of implementation of polices may prove difficult. For example doing something about anomie would be far more difficult than tackling vandalism by technical means (Downes Rock p. 317 2003) However, Mertons anomie theory is of great relevance to the realm of policy as it infers a definite cause and effect statement relating to the disjunction between goals and means (Downes Roc k 2003).The main prescript of Social Strain Theory is that some social structures exert a definite pressure upon received persons in society to engage in non-conforming rather than conforming conduct (Thio, Calhoun Conyers 2008 p.33). This is not to say that veritable social structures leave the individual with no other choice but to turn to crime, rather piteous regulation leaves the individual with a different perspective on means to financial gain. I retard that this system is a great source of inequality and subsequent deviance in our society today that the less decently groups are labelled so negatively and punished severely. Every crime should be treated in the same manner, regardless of whether they are from an underprivileged area or a high flying business person.An impact of cycle of deficient regulation may also be seen in Beckers Labelling theory. This theory was greatly influenced by the symbolic interaction approach as it is people who determine and give meaning to labels. The justice system operates on behalf of powerful groups in society hence one has to necessitate the question what behaviours are criminal?The two strands of this theory are a concern to address how a particular behaviour comes to be labelled as deviant and secondly what is the impact of this label. (Becker p.9 1963) states that The deviant is one whom that label has been advantagefully applied deviant behaviour is behaviour that people so label. In relation to deviance Labelling theory discovers the importance on the reaction to behaviour not the behaviour itself (Macionis Plummer 2007). It was this belief that leads Becker to conduct labels on types of behaviour, but who are the people labelled as deviant in society. To put it simply, labelling theory is concerned with what happens to criminals after they have been labelled, also suggesting that actual crime rates may be heightened by criminal sanctions.Un worry the Functionalist perspective, Symbolic Interaction is concerned with the process that underline social life and thus the mechanisms by which meanings are tending(p) to those processes. It centres on the creativity capacity of humans and their ability to share interactions with others (Walklate 2007). In relation to deviance it is concerned with how certain behaviours come to be understood as deviant.Becker argued that behaviours of less powerful groups for example the poor, or disadvantaged are more presumable to be criminalized than those who are privileged such as the white and wealthy. This happens because there is an assumption that crime is a social label along with the macrocosm of law which are made by people in positions of power and enforced on people without power (Hopkins Burke 2002). The judicial system criminalizes less dominant and less powerful member of society, thus Becker argues that some rules may be cynically designed to keep the less powerful in their transport (Hopkins Burke p.137 2002).Becker (1963) disa greed with the notion that those who offend the law will be labelled as a criminal. He brought our attention to the fact that in many cases the innocent are accused, along with this only some of those who break the law are punished and brought through the system (Hopkins Burke 2002). Becker used a opinion developed by Merton called the self fulfilling prophecy which is what labelling theory is most widely known for. When a situation is given a false definition it evokes a new behaviour in the person which as a result receives the false assumption comes through (Hopkins Burke p.142 2002). Becker felt that most criminals were in the first place falsely defined as a criminal, not only are their actions defined by society as deviant, the label is then extended to them as a person (Hopkins Burke 2002).Mertons concept of render refers to pressure the lower economic classes feel when they try to achieve societys goals of monetary success (Flynn 2009). Merton felt that in society, peopl e were focused on achieving high financial success which although exceptionally productive on one hand, on the other was a direct source of stress and strain for the individual (Cohen 1966). In effect there is a overrefinement between culturally induced aspirations for economic success and structurally distributed possibilities of achievement. This is in accordance with labeling theory view where the people who commit deviant acts are probably under strain from society to achieve monetary success. An example of this would be in relation to higher education, people without the means or cultural knowledge to aspire to paying attentioned professions are more likely to engage in deviant behaviour than those with access to achieving their goals (Flynn 2009).Within labelling theory there are two important concepts, those of chief(a) deviance and secondary deviance. Merton thinks that the sense of strain that men feel is an accumulation of frustration, despair and injustice (Cohen 1966). geomorphologic and Individual strain are the two main types of strain in society that promote deviance and crime. The former refers to the cycle of deficient regulation in society that has a negative impact on how an individual evaluates their needs, means and opportunities (Flynn 2009). The latter concept is defined by OConnor (2007) as frictions and pains experienced by the individual as they look for ways to meet their needs. Primary deviance in labeling theory involves acts attached by someone without a criminal identity such as an underage drinker. This act provokes weeny reaction from others around us, therefore it does not have any impact on the persons self concept (Macionis Plummer 2007). Secondary deviance develops through peoples actions towards the person committing the deviant act they may be pushed away and stigmatized making the crime worse, it is caused by the criminal label (Hopkins Burke 2002). It evolves from primary deviance being labelled, which is more likel y to happen if you are from a less powerful group (Macionis Plummer 2007), thus mirrors Mertons argument about distortion between economic success and possibility of achievement (Flynn 2009).Merton noted that there were five possible responses or adaptations to strain that happen when people are not in a position to legally come through internalised social goals (Hopkins Burke p.107 2002). This is a perfect example of how labels are the cause of further deviant behaviour. Durkheim and Merton are one in believing that strain results in deviant behaviour, however Durkheim felt the main causes of strain were changes in society. Adapting through conformity is a self explanatory explanation whereby people both the cultural gaols of society and the means of achieving them (Burke 2002), this ensures the continuality and stability of society (Thio, Calhoun Conyers 2008), people do not break laws when achieving their means. Retreatism is considered the most erratic adaptation by Merton, they reject social goals and the means to attain them (Hopkins Burke 2002), their behaviour is not convention and are considered true aliens (Thio, Calhoun Conyers p.37 2008).Ritualism is similar to conforming behaviour they adhere to rules for their own sake with an emphasis on means of achievement rather than outcome goals (Hopkins Burke 2002). Innovation is a response to the pressure put on the individual for success. The innovator embarks on novel routes to achieve success due to barriers for them to achieve success by socially approved means. They have the potential to be seen as deviant (Hopkins Burke 2002), as they engage in illegal means to achieve success. The final response is rebellion, whereby people not only reject but also want to change the existing social system and its goals (Hopkins Burke 2002). The very word rebellion connotes negative meaning thus showing the existence of labeling and stigma as used by Merton. People are stereotyped as being incapable of follo wing normal behaviour and the general population treats them differently, resulting in discrimination in employment, and in many other areas of social life The internalization of labels by offenders may very well produce a career in guilt because of the negative reactions they receive (Hopkins Burke 2002). However, in contrast as Merton argued Cohen agreed that the root cause of the captain emergence of delinquent behaviour was the economic pursuit of money success (Downes Rock 2003).A chew of labels come about through the stigmatization of a particular behaviour. Stigma is powerful negative label that has the potential to radically change a persons self concept (Macionis Plummer 2007), thus it is an influential force in the field of labelling. Slattery (2003) notes that a stigma can either be ascribed or achieved, you can be born(p) with one or earn one. Similar to this is strain theories focus on negative relations between people, focusing on how the individual is not treat ed as they would like to be treated (Agnew 2002).Labelling theory has several point of accumulations firstly because labelling is very relative it does not take into account some behaviour like murder which is condemned virtually everywhere. Consequently it is most useful to apply to less serious behaviours like juvenility vandalism. Secondly, labelling may be seen in two ways- it could encourage more criminal behaviour of it could curb it because of people do not like to have a stigma attached to them. (Macionis Plummer 2007). Finally another limitation of labelling theory is that it does not tell us what are the root causes of primary deviance so how do these people become deviant in the first place? They cannot be labelled deviant if they have not engaged in that type of behaviour. Both labeling and strain theory emphasize the role society has to play in crime. divergence is shaped in its transactions with events and people around it. Labelling theorists in particular have o ccupied themselves with the workings of the social reaction to deviance (Downes Rock 2003). Dissimilar to this is Durkheims perspective of deviance as performing functions that are essential to society through, encouraging social change, promoting social unity by responding to deviance, clarifying moral boundaries and affirming cultural norms and values (Macionis Plummer 2007). Sumner (1994) argued that deviance is not applicable to sociology today. He believes that the sociology of deviance died in 1975. Similarly Miller, Wright and Dannels (2001) claim to find empirical support for it and signify the death of deviance in respect to the world today. However, on the other hand Goode (2002) claims that at a certain stage in its history, the sociology of deviance developed a large number of ideas, concepts, and theories that influenced related fields. These ideas included stigma which influenced disability and transgender studies, anomie in social theory, labelling in ethnic studies and the sociology of the underdog in queer theory. Regardless of the fact that sociology of deviance did not name these concepts, the field did help project them onto the intellectual map.Goode concludes that The social construction of deviance is once again controversial, relevant, of import to our screws, and fundamental to our understanding of todays world (Goode 2002). I must agree with this statement as not a day goes by without some type of crime or deviant behaviour brought to our attention.Cohen (1966) believes that rules in perfunctory life provide a blueprint for every human gesture consequently every rule then creates potentiality for deviance. However, as mentioned previously- are we really all aware of societal norms and values? I believe that society today has failed to provide a blueprint or clear rules for people to live by, hence leading to the unprecedented rates of crime and social deviance. Strain theory and labelling theory do not pay much attention to psyc hological factors involved in deviant behaviour, this is a limitation to both I feel. I would question the generalizability of strain theory as it emphasises the focus of materialism for society today. However, much crime is committed by people who simply want to get by in life, to survive. They feel they have no other option but to commit crime to put intellectual nourishment on the table. Crime may not necessarily be about reaching the top in society, it may just be about getting by. Labeling theory is a lot more individual in its focus it is more concerned with peoples reactions when placed in a designated role by society.ReferencesMiller, J, M., Wright, A., Dannels, D. (2001) Is Deviance Dead? The Decline of a Sociological Research Specialization. The American Sociologist, Volume 32 43-59.Sumner, C. (1994). The Sociology of Deviance An Obituary. Buckingham, UK commit University Press.Downes, D. Rock, P. (4th Ed.) (2003). Understanding Deviance. raw York Oxford University Pr ess.Henry, S. (2009). Short Introductions Social Deviance. Cambridge, UK Polity Press.Goode, E (2002). Does the death of the sociology of deviance claim make sense? The American Sociologist. Volume 33 107-118.Thio, A., Calhoun, T., C., Conyers, A. (5th Ed.) (2008) Readings in Deviant Behaviour. 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