Deviance: Crash Course Sociology #18

Summary

This script explores the concept of social deviance from a sociological perspective, challenging the notion that deviance is solely about criminality or abnormality. It delves into historical biological and psychological explanations, highlighting their limitations, and introduces the sociological view that deviance is a product of societal structure, cultural norms, and labeling. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding deviance as a social construct, shaped by power dynamics and societal responses.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Deviance is relative and varies according to cultural norms, with what is considered deviant changing over time and across cultures.
• 🍔 Being a vegan in America is considered deviant because it deviates from the mainstream cultural activity of eating meat, illustrating that deviance is not just about numbers but also about deviation from the norm.
• 👀 Deviance is not merely an insult but a sociological term for behavior that is non-normative or different from what is generally accepted as normal.
• 👎 Negative sanctions, like strange looks from strangers, are a form of social control that attempts to regulate thoughts and behaviors to limit or punish deviance.
• 👍 Positive sanctions are affirmative reactions to conformity, contrasting with negative sanctions and serving as a form of social encouragement for adhering to norms.
• 🚫 Formal sanctions are the codification of norms into law, with violations typically resulting in negative sanctions from the criminal justice system.
• 🤔 Biological and psychological explanations for deviance have been historically insufficient, as they focus on individual factors and fail to consider societal structures and norms.
• 🧬 Early biological theories, such as Lombroso's, suggested that criminals had distinct physical characteristics, which has since been debunked.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Psychological approaches emphasize the role of socialization and environment in shaping personality and deviance, with containment theory highlighting the importance of impulse control.
• 👥 Sociological perspectives consider deviance as a result of societal structure, focusing on cultural norms, labeling, and the influence of social power in defining what is considered deviant.
• 🔍 The sociological approach to deviance recognizes that labeling can become a self-fulfilling prophecy and that deviance can be attributed to group membership or societal responses rather than individual action.

Q & A

What is the commonality between a person holding up a convenience store and a pacifist at a protest according to the script?

The script suggests that both individuals are considered social deviants, as they do not conform to societal norms.

What does the term 'deviance' mean in the context of sociology?

In sociology, deviance refers to being non-normative or different from what is considered normal or mainstream, and it is not necessarily an insult.

Why is being vegan in America considered deviant according to the script?

Being vegan in America is considered deviant because it deviates from the traditional 'all-American' cultural activity of eating meat.

What are 'negative sanctions' in the context of social control?

Negative sanctions are negative social reactions to deviance, such as strange looks from strangers, which serve as a form of social control to regulate thoughts and behaviors.

What is the difference between informal and formal sanctions in terms of deviance?

Informal sanctions are social reactions to deviance, like negative or positive reactions from peers, while formal sanctions involve legal consequences for violating codified norms, such as penalties from the criminal justice system.

What is the concept of 'biological essentialism' in explaining deviance?

Biological essentialism is an outdated perspective that suggested certain physical characteristics, like a low forehead or prominent jaw, indicated a predisposition to criminal behavior.

How did William Sheldon's work relate to the idea of biological essentialism?

William Sheldon studied the relationship between body types and criminality, suggesting that more muscular and athletic men were more likely to be criminally deviant, which aligns with biological essentialism.

What is the psychological approach to understanding deviance?

The psychological approach views deviance as a result of improper or failed socialization, focusing on how personality and behavior are shaped by environmental factors.

What is containment theory in the context of deviance?

Containment theory posits that deviance is a matter of impulse control, suggesting that individuals with a strong conscience and ability to cope with frustration are less likely to engage in deviant behavior.

What are the three major sociological ideas for understanding deviance?

The three major sociological ideas are: 1) Deviance varies according to cultural norms, meaning what is deviant can change over time and place; 2) People are deviant because they are labeled as such by society; 3) Defining social norms involves social power, where the powerful can shape what is considered deviant.

Why are biological and psychological explanations insufficient in understanding deviance?

Biological and psychological explanations are insufficient because they focus on individual factors and abnormalities, neglecting social influences and the fact that most deviants are biologically and psychologically typical.