Introduction
This essay will investigate the definition of deviance in society from a sociological perspective. It will then define what it means to be socially deviant. This essay will go onto investigate what impacts deviance has on society. This essay will conclude that for some sociologists, deviance performs a necessary function in society that help establish and reaffirm our social norms, and can help us fix the problems within it
The term deviance in sociology refers to an act that violates the standard social norms in a society (White et al, 2000). Succinctly it is a transgression of any kind form social norms. This can include formal violations such as committing a crime. In addition to this, informal violations that are considered deviant include, the rejection of traditional celebrations, the rejection of the rules, culture, and values of society.
Sociologist William Graham Sumner stated that deviance, “is a violation of established contextual, cultural, or social norms, whether folkways, mores, or codified law” (Little,2004). He stated that folkways are social norms that include cultural customs such as how to use everyday objects like cutlery, and what to wear, how, and when. He stated that mores are serious violations such as, incest. He stated that codified laws are legal rules that are enforced by governing bodies. Therefore, Sumner theorized that deviance includes an act of crime that breaks the social norms, and laws. Adding to White’s explanation of deviance – deviance can include formal and informal violations that can range from dressing inappropriately i.e. wearing a bikini in a shopping mall, to a serious violation such as, car theft.
Adding to the understanding of what it means to be socially deviant sociologist John Hagen has provided some guidelines to help understand the forms and levels of deviance. His guidelines are, consensus crimes, conflict crimes, social deviations, and social diversions.
Consensus crimes are considered as the most serious violations. These violations usually are agreed upon unanimously by society as being very a very serious violation of the law (Hagan, 1994). Examples of consensus crimes include, robbery, murder and sexual assault. These violations are usually subject to extremely harsh penalties, such as the death sentence, or life imprisonment.
Conflict crimes are violations that could be considered as illegal, however, there is a large quantity of disagreement within society as to how serious these violations are (ibid).
Social deviations are considered as acts of violation such as cussing in public, or to the police, addition to substances such as, drugs, or alcohol, and other socially unacceptable behaviours that arise from acute mental illness (ibid). These acts of violation are still considered as serious or harmful to society, but are acts where the majority of people call for an intervention in order to solve the issue. This could take the form of setting up organizations that help deal with the effects of addition, and mental illness institutions.
Social diversions are violations that are considered less serious but are still seen as violating social norms. Social diversion includes, facial piercings, full body tattoos, riding bikes or skateboards on the sidewalks, and generally participating in behavior that might be considered as rebellious, or, even anarchist in nature (ibid).
Overall, the term deviance and what it means to be socially deviance is contested, and is difficult to define because it changes depending on the context in which it is viewed (Little, 2004). However, the impacts that deviance has on society has been documented, and can be better defined by sociologists using the relevant theories that help explain is definitions and what it means to be socially deviant
The impacts that deviance has on society generally include, a rise in crime rates, public outrage, change in laws, public debates on the effectiveness of the established rule of law, public discussions about the prevalent social norms and how the function, and whether, or not they are functioning effectively or not (Erikson, 2015.)
Adding to this, other impacts that deviance has on society also includes something called moral panic. Moral panic is the public’s response, outrage, and anxiety that is stemmed from deviance. Moreover, moral panic can be succinctly described as public anxiety which result from persistent serious acts of deviance within a society (Little, 2004). Furthermore, moral panic is often fueled by the media when it incites public fear, or overreacts to acts of deviance and calls the government to label and repress of deviants in order to solve the issue.
Adding to the understanding of the impacts deviance has upon a society, deviant acts usually result in acts of social control. Social control can be defined as the regulation and the enforcement of norms (Little, 2004). It is intended to change deviant behavior. From this perspective the result of deviance and enforcing of social control results in sanctions these can be formal, informal sanctions, positive, and negative sanctions. Positive sanctions are rewards for acting in a certain manner, negative sanctions are punishments for violating the norms Informal sanctions are like warnings both verbal and no verbal. Formal sanctions include decisive actions taken against those who are considered as deviant, i.e. someone who commits a crime.
Anomie theory states that deviance is caused by the notion that the goals in society is closed to the person wanting to obtain them. Therefore, deviance occurs in the pursuit of societies goals. This can include, earning a certain type of income to afford a certain level of lifestyle such as, obtaining a vehicle, T.V, and other possessions.
Control theory states that deviance exists in society because of incomplete socialization that results in the lack of self-control, therefore leading to crime.
Differential association theory states that people learn deviant behaviors from others around them in their social circle who are also deviant. This theory states that the path to deviance is a process that is learned.
Labelling theory states that the definition of deviant behavior changes depending on the person that is trying to define it. It goes onto state that the people responsible for defining deviance are people in positions of power. Adding to this, the definition of crime is also a contested term because it changes depending on the social context.
In addition to this, theories that help define deviance and explain the function of crime in society are called functionalist theories. Functionalist theories come from something called structural functionalism that looks at society from a macro perspective, and sees society as a variety of complex structures that add to the whole (Little 2004). Each theory is based on foundational ideas that come from philosophy and politics (Downes et al, 2011). This means that theories of deviance and crime are tied to whatever political position is prevalent at the time, as are the formal methods for solving it.
Functionalist theories are important in sociology when defining deviance and studying the role it plays in society because, it states that deviance is the tool that can help us understand what has contributed to the breakdown of a society, or what is presents that contributed to the dysfunctional parts of a society. Therefore, this approach is designed to help recalibrate the functions of society (ibid).
Sociologist E. Durkheim theorized that society devoid of deviance is impossible because it performs a necessary social function (Little, 2004). Durkheim added that social change is necessary and inevitable to the growth of a healthy society (Haralambos et al, 1995). Because social change begins with a form of deviance, and social change is necessary, so deviance is too a necessary function that contributes to the healthy functioning of a society (ibid).
Adding to this, Durkheim also saw deviance as a social fact that reflected something more about the society than it does the individuals (Thompson, 2009). Durkheim also theorized that deviance is something normal and that it functions as an integral part of society (Cook, 2012). However, Durkheim also stated that too much, or too little deviance in a society could lead to the breakdown of that society (White et al, 2000).
Moreover, Durkheim argued that deviance re-affirms social norms, because when it is punished it proves to society that their values, and rules are valid. Therefore, Durkheim argued that the act and subsequent punishment of deviance, “promotes the established rule of law, and creates solidarity between those who oppose that behavior” (Hammond et al, 2014).
Conclusion
This essay has found that defining deviance is a difficult concept because the definition changes over time, and through various social contexts. However, deviance is generally considered to be acts that violate social norms. Deviant behavior can range from small acts such as wearing a bikini in a shopping mall, swearing in public, riding a skateboard on the sidewalk, to more serious violations such as, murder, sexual assault, incest and so forth.
Moreover, this essay has found that to be considered socially deviant one must violate social norms and practices. These can take the form of consensus crimes, conflict crimes, social deviations, and social diversions. All of these help explain the levels of social deviance in society.
In addition to thus, the impacts that deviance has on society can help explain what it is and what it means to be socially deviant. This essay has found that there are a wide range of impacts that deviance has on society. They include, moral panic, law changes, public debates, media-fueled debates. Further impacts of deviance include new forms of social control, and sanctions that either reward or punish individuals for their acts.
The main types of theories that help explain deviance, it’s role, and impacts on society are, anomie theory, control theory, differential association theory, and labelling theory. Overall, all these the theories that have been studied by sociologist over the last 50 years can help give us a better understanding of deviance, how it functions, whether or not it serves a necessary role, whether, or not it is a healthy fact of society, and how to deal with it when it occurs within our society.
References
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Little, W. (2004). Chapter 7. Deviance, Crime, and Social Control | Introduction to Sociology – 1st Canadian Edition. Opentextbc.ca. Retrieved 11 April 2016, from https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontosociology/chapter/chapter7-deviance-crime-and-social-control/
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