Theorizing Deviance
Focus on positivist theories of deviance
Trace changes to positivist understnanding
- How we respond to deviance effect millions
-Dominance
- Justification
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Pre 18th Century Theories of Deviance
Theories of deviance by religious beliefs and superstitions:
- Belief in evil spirits and demons
- People ascribe unusual phenomena of nature to the activities of evil spirits
- Belief that any pathology in human behaviour must be due to evil spirits
What do Judeo-Christian teachings offer for the role of evil spirits and sinful behaviour?
Temptation
- the devil tempts us and tries to overcome us
Possession
- being possessed by evil spirits
What were the objectives of blaming social problems on the devil and other evil spirits?
1) it diverted attention from the failing of elites and placed blame on individuals who were possessed by the devil
2) Those in power made themselves indispensable by saying only they could stop the devil
Distinction between sin and crime was blurred
What happens when people challenge the status quo
They are branded as heretics and subject to extreme punishment
Inquisition
Witches became scapegoats for anger
Witch hunts
Burning witches alive
Death by hanging
Accused mostly women
Witch hunts reinforced the power of existing social hierarchy
What is the enlightenment?
Focus on systematic doubt, empirical and sensory verification of ideas
Ideas shifted away from fanaticism and religious superstitions to naturalistic explanation based on reason and scientific method
Who is Lombroso and the positive school?
Observed physical differences between criminals and non-criminals
Applied Darwins evolutionary theory to criminals who were deemed atavists (less evolved)
They are born criminals who can be disadvantaged by stigmata the physical signs of their atavism
Different types of offenders had different stigmata
Women had fewer stigmata then men and were closer to their primitive origins
According to Lombroso how could offenders be grouped into different categories?
Criminally insane
Criminals of passion
Habitual criminals
Criminaloids (passion + habitual)
What are three types of positivists theories?
Functionalist theories
Learning Theories
Social Control Theories
What are functionalist theories?
It argues social structure creates deviance
- Anomie theory
- Strain theory
- Differential opportunity theory
- Status frustration theory
What are Learning theories?
People learn to be deviant. They are not born deviant. They associate with deviants
- Differential association theory
- Neutralization theory
- Social learning theory
What are social control theories?
What restrains us from being deviant. Why do most of us conform?
- Social bonds theory
- Self-control theory
What is the anomie theory?
When society changes too quickly they develop chaos and normlessness
1) A certain level of deviance is functional
- increase social solidarity
- helps determine moral boundaries
- tests society’s boundaries
- reduces social tensions
2) Beyond a certain point it is dysfunctional
Functionalist theories defined
The social structure creates deviance Core assumptions - social structures fulfil functions - society is based on consensus - concern with maintaining the social order
What is Durkheim’s Anomie?
Social solidarity is essential
Without norms, society functions poorly
Rapid change = solidarity breakdown
Social isolation is great, society loses its traditional social control mechanisms
Two factors influence suicide: 1) integration 2) regulation
What is anomic suicide?
Society justifies the social order –> each person has appropriate needs/ desires for their class -> low suicide rates
Society that no longer justifies social order–> no restraints upon peoples aspirations and desires –> high suicide rates
How does integration effect suicide rates?
Integration is the degree to which a person feels apart of a community
Increase integration = lots of value given to human existence = low suicide
Decrease integration = low value given to human life, lack of collective = high suicide rates
How does regulation effect suicide rates?
Regulation is the degree to which a person’s actions are controlled by society
Not acting out= regulation
Don’t want people to feel oppressed or to feel like free for all
What is egoistic suicide?
Society with high integration –> High value to life –> low suicide rates
Society with low integration –> low value to life –> high suicide rates
Excessive individualism. Detachment from society will result in detachment from oneself
What is altruistic suicide?
When society is too regulated
Committed for the benefit of others. Self-sacrifice during war.
Primary consideration is others lives
What is fatalistic suicide?
Too much regulation in society. Too much oppression. exessive oppression
People feel doomed by their fate
What is Merton’s Anomie and strain theories?
Institutionalized goals + legitimate means
Anomie= dysfunction between goals and means
- goals are more important than means
- deinstitutionalization of the means
- relative deprivation
Strain = normative social order creates unequal access to legitimate means
What is the gap between aspirations and means?
Culturally prescribed aspirations are defined by culture and transmitted to members of the society Legitimate means of achieving the aspirations are socially constructed Specific Individuals are anomic (micro- anomie) Relative deprivation ( deprived compared to others) Absolute deprivations ( can't make ends meet)
