Introduction
Hypothesis
Groups will tend to resist whichever trend toward alienation of a society member who has deviant behavior that poses no threat to its solidarity.
Independent variable
Deviant behavior
Responses categories are various behaviors that a society considerers deviant.
Dependent variable
Alienation
Does society estrange members who engage in deviant behaviors with possible categories of either yes or no.
Theory
Structural functionalism- Social integration refers to attachment to institution and groups, whereas social regulation is adherence to society values and norms. According to this theory, deviance is a necessary and normal part of any social organization (Macionis 2004).
As a result, deviance performs some fundamental functions in the society. First, it defines the moral boundaries meaning that society members learn the right from the wrong through defining individuals as deviant. In addition, deviance affirms cultural norms and values meaning that there can be no justice without a committed crime. Moreover, a form of deviance that is strong forces individuals to join and react in a similar way against it. Finally, deviance pushes the moral values in the society and this in results to social change (Macionis 2004).
This theory would therefore explain the above hypothesis by suggesting that unless the deviant behavior that a society member engages himself or herself in is a real threat to the group solidarity, the group will retain that deviant and deal with it. Thus, groups will oppose society alienation of a member with deviant behavior.
References
Macionis, J. J. (2004). Society: The basics. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall.
