Week9.2(5.3Fri)Introduction to Sociology/Deviance(YANGPEIFU)

 1. Summary

   Deviance encompasses behaviors that violate cultural norms, which are social expectations guiding human conduct. It's categorized into two main types: formal deviance, which involves breaking formally enacted laws like robbery or murder, and informal deviance, which involves violating informal social norms such as nose-picking or loud belching. Cultural norms are relative, meaning what constitutes deviance can vary widely across different cultures. For example, speech restrictions at the Christ Desert Monastery contrast with the general freedom of speech norms in U.S. society, illustrating cultural variation in norms. Sociological interest in deviance includes measuring formal deviance through crime statistics, exploring how individuals and groups define deviance versus normative behavior, and developing theories to explain the role and origins of deviance in society. This chapter will delve into sociological theories of deviance and examine current crime statistics.

2. Project

Psychological and biological explanations of deviance offer insights from disciplines beyond sociology. Recent research in neurology and psychology suggests that differences in brain structure may contribute to deviant behavior, particularly in individuals with conduct disorder. Some biologists propose that the human tendency to follow norms may have evolved to facilitate group cohesion, as deviations from social norms are typically punished within groups. Robert K. Merton's structural-functionalism approach to deviance introduces a typology based on adherence to cultural goals and beliefs about how to achieve them. This typology includes conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion, highlighting how deviance can stem from different relationships with societal goals and means. Structural-functionalism also argues that deviance serves important functions in society, such as clarifying moral boundaries, promoting social unity, and facilitating social change. However, conflict theory suggests that power imbalances influence the reporting and punishment of crimes, with white-collar crimes often receiving less attention and lighter penalties compared to other types of crime. Labeling theory emphasizes how individuals become deviant when they are labeled as such and subsequently adopt the associated behaviors and attitudes. Labels can lead to retrospective labeling, where past actions are reinterpreted in light of the deviant identity, and stigma, which disqualifies individuals from full social acceptance based on past behavior. These theories provide different perspectives on the causes and consequences of deviance in society.

3. Question
 Can you measure how deviant something is?

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