Understand The Role Of Deviance In Society

Words: 859
Pages: 4
Open Document
Society whether it’s held by a institution or a shoe lace it’s imperative to understand how these societies are formed into what we know today. French sociologist Emile Durkheim believed that people in society had a collective consciousness. Which is the body of beliefs that are common to a community or society that gives people a sense of belonging, and a feeling of moral obligation to its demands and values (Andersen, Taylor, & Logio, 2015, p. 149). According to Durkheim, it is collective consciousness that gives groups social solidarity because it gives members of a group the feeling that they are part of one society (Andersen, Taylor, & Logio, 2015, p. 147). Meaning, society is held by the people who conform to the common sets by social …show more content…
Deviance is behavior that is recognized as violating expected rules and norms.(Andersen, Taylor, & Logio, 2015, p. 146). Main identifying characteristics for deviance are deviance emerges in social context not just behavior of individuals, not all behaviors are judged similarly by all groups, established rules and norms are socially created not just morally decided, and deviance lies not just in behavior itself but also in the social responses of groups (Andersen, Taylor, & Logio, 2015, p. 146). On the micro level, deviance is recognized by these theories social control, rational choice, differential association, and labeling. Deviance is constituted by those in power, and those of social institutions. People in power have created these norms and rules on how one should act in society. Meaning, deviance becomes a self fulfilling prophecy and alienation of those with less power are seen as deviant. We know what is right and what is wrong through the interactions of our peers. Now who considers it to right and wrong is created by high power individuals and social …show more content…
An example of deviance at the institutional level, would the historic persecution of witches during the Middle Ages in Europe (Andersen, Taylor, & Logio, 2015, p. 155). Reason being, it links directly to the conflict theory which is deviance as result of social inequality on the macro level. Not only that elites try to maintain social control in order to save themselves, and the institution they represent. These witches portrayed in the example were women who were healers and midwives. It’s due to those views of authority of the patriarchal hierarchy church institution that created the killings of these women. Another example, would be the corporation and government institutions engaging in deviance of corporate crime costing the public about two hundred billion dollars each year (Andersen, Taylor, & Logio, 2015, p. 163). Enron corporation knew its stock values were declining so its member secretly sold their shares, and then left the company creating economic turmoil. Johnson and Johnson corporation sold a artificial hip joint to consumer knowing it needed to be recalled, but due to greed it caused patients to have metal fragments go into their blood stream creating over ten thousand lawsuits as a result. Social inequalities are when resources in a given society are distributed unevenly (Andersen, Taylor, & Logio, 2015, p. 423). These examples prove
Show More

Related Documents: Understand The Role Of Deviance In Society

Sociology and Deviance Essay

purpose of this essay is to show how this sociological perspective can assist in understanding drug taking in society. In the essay I will discuss the notion of deviance and will demonstrate that people do not become deviants on the strength of their behaviour alone, but by the sanctions of a society whose norms that the offender has deemed to have violated. I will examine approaches to deviance through biological, psychological and sociological methodologies and while the examination of the theories…

Words 2079 - Pages 9

Deviant Behavior Theories In Sociology

other in society. There are many categories that sociologist study such as, “sports, religion, music, medication, even the study of sociology of sociologist”, (Conley, 2015). Sociology is studied at different levels; Microsociology, this is when the study is done in- depth and with minimal amounts of individuals. Macrosociology is a study preformed on a larger scale and is based off a larger group of people. Within Sociology there is social norms and deviant behavior displayed by society. Social norms…

Words 670 - Pages 3

Structural Functionalist Approach In Sociology

sociology are the macro-level sociological view they use. Through this macro-level view, sociologists are able to focus on wide scale societal interactions. While critical sociology believes that the idea of health and medicine relies on the hierarchy of society and the inequalities result from that, both structural functionalists and critical perspectives speculate that there is a type of cooperative relationship between ones’ health and the particular neighborhood or social communities they belong to. For…

Words 655 - Pages 3

Anomie Strain Theory

frustration which leads to deviant behavior, but not all individuals respond to strain with crime and deviance. What types of strain are most likely to lead to deviant behavior and/or crime? The anomie/strain theory explains what causes humans to deviate from the norm; it is an understanding of deviance based on…

Words 1381 - Pages 6

Motion Picture Production Code Analysis

Production Code that was first introduced in the 1930’s. This code set the rules and boundaries that shouldn’t have been overstepped as this could taint the audience’s views or values. This code set a high morale and put an emphasis on strict traditional roles and beliefs such as “No picture shall be produced which will lower the moral standards of those who see it. Hence the sympathy of the audience shall never be thrown to the side of crime, wrongdoing, evil or sin.” (Production Code) This is very important…

Words 992 - Pages 4

crime and deviance table Essay

and deviance: Key theories Key sociologists Key concepts Key ideas Positive evaluation (other theorists who support this theory) Negative evaluation (other theorists who disagree with this theory) FUNCTIONALISM DURKHEIM ROBERT MERTON HIRCHI Collective Sentiment ‘society of saints’ Innovators Normative Organic Societies (restitution) Mechanistic societies (retribution) Utilitariate crime Anomie Functionalist takes a normative approach to crime and deviance. They…

Words 3760 - Pages 16

Sociological View on Deviance and Drug Use Essay

Introduction What can a sociologist tell us about deviance, and drug use that we do not already know? If there is anything distinctive about the sociologist view, it is their emphasis on social context. One of the central ideas of all human experience is meaning. Meaning is something imposed and socially made-up, and has two features: it is both external and internal. Meaning is assigned externally to objects and behavior by social cooperation. But it is also assigned by the individual…

Words 8807 - Pages 36

Essay on Sociology notes

no longer than 1200 words and no shorter than 1000 words, which is approximately 4 pages DOUBLE SPACED. Put your name and student number at the top left corner of each page. Deviance is a negative behavior because it violates norms Social disorganization theory points to broad social factors as the cause of deviance. A person isn’t born a criminal, but becomes one over time, often based on factors in his or her social environment. Research into social disorganization theory can greatly influence…

Words 3287 - Pages 14

The three perspectives Essay

Camalae Thomas Deviance and Social Control 5 April 2011 The Three Perspectives Every interaction that occurs is a product of societal teachings of what is considered deviant. It has a hand in every aspect of a person’s actions and emotions. The teaching of society dictates when it is appropriate to initiate the use of a certain action and express a particular emotion so that no act of deviance occurs. These teachings of deviance are made under this notion to understand people who act different…

Words 3111 - Pages 13

Sociology and Correct Answer Essay

CHAPTER 4 ______ is the process by which people internalize the values, beliefs, and norms of a given society and learn how to function as members of that society. Select one: a. Symbolic interactionism b. Operationalization c. Role conflict d. Socialization Correct Feedback The correct answer is: Socialization Question 2 Correct Mark 1.00 out of 1.00 Not flaggedFlag question Question text The nature versus nurture debate examines the importance of _____ in shaping human behavior.…

Words 5494 - Pages 22