Chapter 6: Deviance

norms

rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of its members

signaling (revealing)

subtle signals/cryptic indications, no direct disclosure of a stigma

positive deviance

A behavior or action that is beyond the socially accepted norms, but it is later deemed the right thing or even heroic.

deviance

A behavior, trait, or belief that departs from social norms and receives a negative reaction in the form of a sanction.

impossible

A society without crime is __________.

anomie

A state in which society's norms fail to regulate behavior.

revealing

A strategy of managing invisible stigmas by making the stigma intentionally visible.

compensatory strategies

A way to manage visible stigmas in which individuals attempt to offset the deviance that is ascribed to them or make people more comfortable with their stigma.

Moral Panic

An exaggerated, widespread fear of the collapse of public morality as spread by moral entrepreneurs. This means that the moral entrepreneur was successful.

rapid social change

Anomie often occurs as a result of . . .

legalistic approach to deviance

Any violation of the law is necessarily deviant.

statistical approach to deviance

Anything that is statistical unusual or improbable is considered deviant. This definition of deviance classifies anything that is unusual or uncommon as deviant.

collective efficacy

At the community level, control theory considers __________ ________.

Relativist perspective on deviance

Behaviors, conditions, and beliefs are deviant only to the extent that cultures regard them as deviant. In this perspective on deviance, deviance is a result of social constructions only.

deviant

Beliefs, conditions, and behaviors can all be considered _______.

obedience

Compliance or following the dictations of someone with the power/authority based on a hierarchal system.

learning theories

Crime and deviance are learned behaviors. This theory falls under the category of motivation perspectives.

self-image, barriers, subgroup

Deviant labels can affect ____-_____ and contribute to the construction of social ________ and can result in identification with a deviant ________.

normalizing (revealing)

Direct disclosure of a stigma that frames it as normal.

concealment (passing)

Does not involve deception; rather, it involves taking steps to keep one's stigmatized identity hidden

An essential characteristic of all societies and can be beneficial.

Emile Durkheim argued that deviance is . . .

conformity

Following group behavior even though those in the group do not have the especial authority to direct our behavior.

social

For a sociologist, deviance is a (social/moral) judgement.

social control

Methods used to prevent deviant behavior within a society. Examples include obeying parents, peer pressure, workplace, public settings, and the law/government.

creators and enforcers

Moral entrepreneurs are composed of rule _______ and rule _________.

public morality, change, enforcement

Moral entrepreneurs are in the business of manufacturing ______ ________ and their profit is _____ and ___________ of new norms

associated

Mores and laws are often __________.

meaning (for both blanks)

Symbolic interactionism considers how social interactions both create _______ and are based in shared _______.

collective efficacy

The ability to collectively work to achieve goals

medicalization of deviance

badness --> madness. This is a trend within society that has increased in recent years. This associates deviant behaviors with a diagnosable condition. (Notice: In recent history the DSM has grown in a manner that is congruent with this trend.)

techniques of neutralization

denial of responsibility, denial of injury, denial of the victim, condemnation of the condemners, appeal to higher authorities. Strategies use by deviants to maintain a positive self-concept.

folkways

norms that are not strictly enforced and severe punishment does not result if violated.

Examples of informal sanctions

Gossip, stigma, strange look, someone giving you the finger

moral entrpreneurs

Groups of individuals who advocate for social change in accordance with their own definitions of morality and deviance.

moral entrepreneurship

How is deviance socially constructed?

Reinarman's "drug scares"

Identifies process by which specific drugs have become the focus of "drug scares" in the U.S. Drug acres are a form of moral panic. The key ingredients for a drug scare include: kernel of truth, media magnification, politico-moral entrepreneurs, professional interest groups, historical context of conflict, linking to a "dangerous class," scapegoating for an array of public problems.

statistical

If someone were to say "everyone does it" to justify their actions, what approach are they taking to the definition of deviance?

visible stigmas

Immediately apparent stigmas. (Ex: physical disability)

the higher the suicide rates are

In Emile Durkheim's view, the more anomic a society is . . .

moral conversion

In creating public morality, this piece has three components: media attention, endorsement from a respected public figure, and forming partnerships with powerful groups and organizations.

normative approach to deviance

In this approach to deviance any violation of a norm (law, folkway, more) is considered deviant. The act, behavior, or condition does not need to be statistically unusual. This approach is centered around other people's reactions to deviance and the sanctions that occur as a result.

Folk devils

Individuals and groups singled out for special attention and blame because they are seen to represent a challenge or threat to the existing moral order. This blame can be false or imaginary.

official labels

Labels applied by an authority such as the state, school, hospital, or military. (Ex: dishonorable discharge)

transformative

Labels have _____________ powers. "He who is treated as deviant, becomes deviant."

Examples of formal sanctions

Law, financial penalty, grade penalty

stigma

Mark of disgrace and interactions that communicate that one is disgraced, dishonorable, or otherwise deviant.

denial of victim

Offenders acknowledge that their actions cause herm, but do not identify a legitimate victim by way of rationalizing that the victim deserved it or that the victim is unknown or abstract.

condemning the condemners

Offenders argue that those labeling them as deviant have no right to do so because of the judgers own negative atributes (i.e. hypocrite or deviants in disguise or they are impelled by personal spite)

appeal to higher authorities

Offenders claim that their actions were justified under a moral obligation to group loyalties. This is often a result of competing loyalties.

denial of injury

Offenders claim that they did not do anything wrong be cause little to no harm was caused or they had no intention to cause harm. This is typical of individuals who partake in victimless crimes or crimes that can be portrayed as such.

resources, remove

Official labels impact one's ability to use societal _________ and are difficult to ______.

social location

One's position in a system of social stratification. This position is linked to one's ability to label others and avoid being labeled themselves.

self-fulfilling prophecy

Our preconceived notions of people shape our reaction to their deviant behavior and how they are treated. As a result, people are molded into the image we have of them.

Self-control theory

People who do not possess self-control are more prone to deviance.

fabrication (passing)

Presentation of a false identity

passing

Presenting yourself as a member of a different group than the stigmatized group you belong to. This includes methods such as fabrication and concealment.

sanctions

Punishments or penalties for deviant behavior. This can also include the threat of penalty. This has two types: formal and informal.

individuating information

Revealing information about oneself so others won't rely on stereotypes to characterize the stigmatized individual. (Compensatory strategies)

positive deviance

Rosa Parks behavior in the civil rights movement could be considered what?

primary deviance

Rule breaking that occurs in the absence of a deviant label.

public issues

Rule enforcers advocate for social change such that personal troubles transform into ______ _______ through the creation of new norms.

anyone

Rule enforcers can be ______ that seeks to maintain social norms within society and ensure that rules are not violated.

secondary deviance

Rule-breaking behaviors that is the RESULT of a deviant label.

Thomas theorem

Situations that are defined as real are real in their consequences

stigma management

Skills and techniques used to manage or live with a deviant identity while minimizing the negative impact

Control theory at the individual level

Social connections can prevent deviant behaviors

control theory of deviance

Social connections motivate conformity to norms.

Absolutist perspective on deviance

Some behaviors, conditions, and beliefs are inherently, objectively deviant. This means that even if a given culture does not define something as deviant, it still is.

invisible stigmas

Stigmas that can be hidden. (Ex: mental illness)

General Strain Theory

Stressful experiences and conditions can motivate deviant and criminal behavior. Examples of strain include economic struggles, discrimination, and criminal victimization, among others.

denial of responsibility

The deviant claims that they are not to blame. This reduces the social stigma and relieves feelings of guilt.

acknowledgement

The individual directly addresses their stigma to ease tensions. (Compensatory strategies)

subjective

The relativist perspective is (objective/subjective)

probability

The statistical approach considers ___________.

conflict/critical perspective

The work "The Rich get Richer and the Poor get Prison" is most closely related to which perspective on deviance?

mores

These are associated with moral issues. Harsh punishment results in the violation of this type of norm. (Ex: theft)

informal labels

These are labels that are assigned by family members, coworkers, teachers, and neighbors.

laws

These are norms that are formalized by the state and formal punishments such as prison time result from violating them.

master status

This can be preceded by role engulfment and is when a spoiled identity becomes the primary basis for interaction. (Ex: the label "disabled" has this affect)

Generation awareness

This component of creating public morality consists of the spreading of danger messages and is most effective when the use of expert testimonials are used and data is presented in a compelling manner (sometimes misleadingly so). This can also include personal stories that stimulate an emotional response. The negative behavior could also be presented in a pathological light, meaning that it is seen as almost like a medical condition.

strain theory

This is Merton's understanding of anomie and it is defined as the disjunction in the U.S. between the focus on outcome goals or success and lack of emphasis on the means to achieve the goal/success.

differentiating (revealing)

This is a method of managing stigmas that falls under the umbrella term of revealing. This is when a stigma is directly disclosed with the explicit goal of setting oneself apart from the non-stigmatized group. As a result, the revealer rejects stigmatized labeling and challenges the perceptions of others.

conflict/critical perspective

This is a sub-type of the relativist approach that considers how deviance is defined to maintain social, economic, and political dominance of powerful groups. Using this perspective, deviance is socially constructed as a weapon to use against vulnerable groups.

increased positivity

This is also called "emotion work." A stigmatized individual intentionally tries to become more likable to counter the negative impact of the stigma associated with them. (Compensatory strategies)

labeling

This is how some individuals and groups come to be considered deviant.

Alexander Liazos (1972)

This person argued against using the term deviance because it cause deviance to be treated as a distinct behaviors. They offered terms such a oppression, victimization, and persecution as alternative descriptors.

labeling theory

This theory on deviance is based in definitions and what is defined as deviant is based in how people react to certain behaviors. This theory does not require that the deviant behavior break actual rules to be considered deviant. Deviance that results from the judgement of others.

informal sanctions

This type of sanction is casually enforce to maintain social norms. The source of this type of sanction is non-official sources.

formal sanctions

This type of sanction is enacted by a official agents of the state.

False. Rule breaking activity can increase as a result of labeling. Consider someone who is labeled a felon. Without access to many of societies resources, including job opportunities, this label has essentially limited them to continue with criminal activity.

True or false: A label has no affect on future rule breaking activity.

False. Deviance can also be applied to beliefs and conditions. For example, someone with a medical condition that affects their appearance could be considered deviant.

True or false: Behavior is the only thing that can be termed deviant.

False. Deviant behavior is in no way a component of one's biology.

True or false: Deviance is, in part, biologically determined.

True

True or false: Emile Durkheim encouraged a look a suicide from a macro/societal level.

True

True or false: Forms of deviance, including suicide, are related to the characteristics of societies.

False. From a structural functionalist perspective, punishment for deviance is for asserting shared values, NOT to reduce crime. This is seen in the fact that another component of the structural functionalist perspective is the belief that deviance serves a vital purpose in the construction of society.

True or false: The purpose of punishment, from the structural functionalist perspective, is to reduce crime within a society.

True (Ex: the Greensboro four during the civil rights movement)

True or false: There can e positive deviance, which is defined as actions that are perceived deviant at the time, but are later found to have a positive affect or even be heroic.

changes to self-concepts and the way others respond to a person

What are the results of labels? (Think: labeling theory)

statistical, legalistic, and normative

What are the three approaches to defining deviance?

folkways, mores, laws

What are the three types of norms?

passing and revealing

What are the two categories of methods to manage invisible stigmas?

1. Generating awareness 2. Moral conversion

What are the two steps to creating public morality?

anomie

What are these features of? - Bond between the community and the individual breaks down - Moral force lost - Personal and societal norms begin to fail

Howard Becker's typology of deviance

What does this image represent?

Using the statistical approach to deviance, certain things that are statistically unusual may not fit the conventional definition of deviance as accepted by most sociologists. Most sociologists look at deviance using norms. (Ex: height or shoe size)

What is the caveat of the statistical definition of deviance?

Who benefits from this definition of deviance?

What is the central question of the conflict/critical perspective regarding deviance?

Obedience relates to following the rules set forth by an authority figure, whereas conformity is following behaviors of a group that *does not necessarily have the right to any control over us.*

What is the difference between obedience and conformity?

Structural Functionalism

What perspective is this statement most congruent with? "The existence of deviance and crime within a society must mean these things provide necessary contributions to society."

How do people interactionally define deviance? What are the social consequences to defining deviance in a certain way?

What questions are central to symbolic interactionism as it relates to deviance? (2)

Are some groups of people more harshly punished for the same or similar crimes?

What questions is central to conflict perspective as it relates to deviance?

role engulfment

When a deviant label consumes all other social roles one occupies because people treat them according to that label. (Ex: employers who won't hire a felon)

rises (i.e. the bar rises)

When deviance increases, the standard for what is defined as deviant _____.

absolutist, relativist

When doing research one could have a (absolutist/relativist) perspective personally, but still have an (absolutist/relativist).

The upper and middle classes have a better ability to avoid deviant labels than lower class or less powerful individuals. (Ex: How would white teenage boys in the suburbs be treated if they sold drugs compared to mildly deviant black teenage boys?

Which social class(es) are better able to avoid deviant labeling? Which social class(es) have more difficulty with this?

symbolic interactionism

Which theory is most closely related to the idea that human action is motivated by the meaning we ascribe to something?

individual level

Why do some individuals engage in deviance?

structural level

Why do some places, groups, or time periods engage in deviance (level of analysis)?