Devian
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Definition
Horton and Hunt
“Any behavior defined as a violation of the norms of a group or society is called deviance”
J.J. Macionis
“Deviance is the recognized violation of cultural norms.”
D.M. Newman
“Deviance is the violation of some agreed-upon norms that prevail in a community or in society at large.”
M.B. Clinard
“When human behavior is in disapproved direction and exceeds limit of community’s toleration is called a deviant behavior”
Robert Merten
“Deviance is a mean by which some people adapt to the dominant culture.”
David Popenoe
“Behavior that violates the social norms of a group or society is called deviance.”
John M. Shepard
“Behavior that violates the social norms is called deviance.”
R.S. Denisoff
“Conduct which violates accepted standards of behavior valued by the group or society.”
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Types of
deviance
1. Primary deviance
Primary deviance is a deviance in which deviants are not being treated as deviant because people are unaware of it.
2. Secondary deviance
In this type of deviant behavior, people are labeled and treated as deviant. Deviance becomes an important part of their lives.
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Forms of
deviance
1. Drug addiction
2. Suicide
3. Family conflicts
4. Discrimination against minorities
5. Womanizing
6. Homosexuality
7. Child abuse
8. Delinquency
9. Crimes
Causes of deviance
(theories of deviance)
Individual and society both can be the cause of deviance.
1. Individual as a cause
There are many sociologists who believe that an individual can be the cause of deviance.
1) Biological theory
Cesare Lombroso, William Sheldon, Hooton, Hentig are the sociologists, who have given such type of theory.
According to them, criminals could be identified by physical traits having low foreheads, prominent jaws and cheekbones, big ears, lots of body hair, and usually long arms. According to them, the body structure of the people may become the reason for deviance.
2) Chromosome theory
A normal man has an XY chromosome pattern, a normal woman XX pattern. Occasionally, males are born with an extra Y chromosome, giving them XYY pattern that predisposes them to violent behavior. So, the individual is responsible for deviance.
3) Religious theory
Walter Reckless and Simon Dinitz have presented this theory. According to them, mental illness and personality mal-adjustment are associated with some kinds of deviant behavior. One is diagnosed as mentally ill because of one’s deviant behavior, and then their deviant behavior is attributed to the mental illness. It goes like this:
“He is deviant because he is mentally ill.”
“What makes you think he is mentally ill?”
“His deviant behavior.”
2. Society as cause
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Socialization theory
There are three theories of deviance which are related to socialization.
(a) Cultural transmission theory
This version of socialization theory notes that people usually, internalize the values of those with whom they associate comfortably.
(b) Deviant
subcultures
Shaw and McKay have introduced this theory. According to them, if most of one’s associates are deviants, one will probably become deviant. Thus, youths learn deviant values and behaviors which become fixated in their personalities.
(c) Differential association
Sutherland has introduced this theory. According to him, criminal behavior is learned through contact with criminal patterns which are present, are acceptable and are rewarded in one’s physical and social environment. Thus a person becomes deviant if the deviant patterns are more common or more commonly rewarded, in the social world in which the persons move.
II.
Anomie
Theory
The concept of anomie was developed by Durkheim. The term translates roughly as “normlessness”. According to him, it is a state of harmlessness or rootlessness that results when cultural expectations are inconsistent with social realities.
Merton has listed four types of deviant behavior that may emerge if anomie is present.
(a) Innovation
It occurs when people accept the cultural goals of a society but reject the actually accepted means of achieving the goals.
(b) Ritualism
It takes place when a person accepts the culturally approved means but reject the goals.
(c) Retreatism
When a person rejects both culturally accepted goals and the means of achieving those goals.
(d) Rebellion
When the individual tries to overthrow the existing system and replace them with new goals and means.
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