Theory & Deviance: Crash Course Sociology #19

Summary

The script explores the concept of deviance from three sociological paradigms: structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theory. It explains how deviance can serve societal functions, be shaped by labeling, and be linked to power dynamics. The discussion delves into Emile Durkheim's view of deviance as a societal necessity, Robert Merton's strain theory, and the labeling process that can lead to stigmatization. It also touches on how societal responses to deviance are influenced by social status and power structures.

Takeaways

• 😀 Deviance is a common aspect of all societies and can serve various functions according to Emile Durkheim.
• 🔍 Structural functionalism suggests that deviance helps to define cultural values and norms, and clarifies moral boundaries through societal reactions.
• 🤝 Durkheim believed that societal responses to deviance can bring communities together and foster a sense of 'us' versus 'them'.
• 🌐 Deviance can act as a catalyst for social change, as seen in instances like Rosa Parks' civil disobedience during the Civil Rights Movement.
• 🏦 Robert Merton's strain theory posits that the level of deviance in a society is linked to the availability of legitimate means to achieve culturally valued goals.
• 💼 Merton identified different responses to the lack of acceptable means, such as innovation (using deviant means), ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.
• 🏷 Symbolic interactionism, through labeling theory, highlights how deviance and conformity are influenced by how behaviors are labeled and perceived by society.
• 👀 Labeling can lead to the internalization of deviant identities and the creation of stigmas that affect a person's self-concept and social interactions.
• 💊 The perception of deviance, such as drug abuse, is shifting from a moral failing to an illness, changing societal responses from punishment to treatment.
• 🤝 Conflict theory links deviance to social power, suggesting that norms and laws often reflect the interests of the powerful and can be used to maintain their status.
• 💼 Conflict theorists argue that the application of deviant labels and societal responses to deviance are influenced by social power dynamics and can vary significantly across different groups.

Q & A

What do an armed robber and a pacifist have in common according to the script?

Both an armed robber and a pacifist are considered social deviants, as they both deviate from societal norms in different ways.

What are the three major sociological paradigms that offer perspectives on deviance?

The three major sociological paradigms are structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theory.

According to Emile Durkheim, what are the four functions of deviance in society?

Durkheim proposed that deviance serves to define cultural values and norms, clarifies moral boundaries, brings society together, and can encourage social change.

How does Robert Merton's strain theory explain the difference in the amount of deviance in different societies?

Merton's strain theory suggests that the amount of deviance in a society depends on whether the society provides sufficient means for individuals to achieve culturally defined goals.

What does Merton mean by 'conformity' in the context of achieving culturally set goals?

Conformity, in Merton's terms, refers to achieving culturally set goals through conventionally approved means, such as getting an education and working hard to achieve financial stability.

What is 'innovation' in Merton's strain theory and how does it relate to deviance?

Innovation in Merton's theory refers to the use of unacceptable or deviant means to achieve culturally set goals when conventional means are not accessible.

What is labeling theory and how does it relate to the perception of deviance?

Labeling theory is a symbolic interactionist approach that posits deviance and conformity are determined not just by actions, but also by how those actions are labeled or perceived by society.

What is a stigma according to Erving Goffman, and how can it affect a person's self-concept and interactions?

A stigma is a powerfully negative master status that can affect a person's self-concept, social identity, and interactions with others, often leading to more labeling and a negative perception of the individual.

How does differential association theory explain the likelihood of deviance?

Differential association theory suggests that who a person associates with can influence the likelihood of deviance, implying that associating with those who engage in deviant behaviors can increase the likelihood of adopting such behaviors.

What is the main argument of control theory in relation to deviance?

Control theory focuses on an individual's self-control and their ability to anticipate and avoid the consequences of their actions as a means to avoid deviance.

How does conflict theory view the relationship between deviance and social power?

Conflict theory posits that norms and laws often reflect the interests of the powerful, and that deviance is often linked to power and inequality, with the socially deviant often being the most powerless.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Sociological Perspectives on Deviance

The script begins by drawing a parallel between an armed robber and a pacifist, both considered social deviants, yet vastly different in nature. It introduces the theme of deviance from a sociological standpoint, explaining that various theories can shed light on why individuals engage in deviant behavior. The video will explore this through the lens of three major sociological paradigms: structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theory. Emile Durkheim's structural-functionalist approach suggests that deviance is not only inevitable but also functional, serving to define cultural values, clarify moral boundaries, foster social unity, and potentially drive social change. The episode also touches on Robert Merton's strain theory, which links the level of deviance in a society to the availability of legitimate means to achieve societal goals, and how a lack of these means can lead to deviance through various adaptations like innovation, ritualism, retreatism, and rebellion.

05:01

🏷️ The Impact of Labeling in Deviance

This paragraph delves into the concept of labeling theory within symbolic interactionism, positing that deviance is not solely about actions but also about societal labeling. It uses the example of a student skipping school to illustrate how initial minor deviance can escalate into a more significant issue through strong societal reactions, leading to the development of a stigma and a change in self-concept. The paragraph discusses how stigma can result in retrospective and prospective labeling, affecting a person's past and predicted future behavior. It also highlights the evolving perceptions and responses to deviance, such as the shift in understanding drug abuse from a moral failing to an illness, which has led to changes in the professional response and societal judgment. The paragraph concludes by mentioning other symbolic interactionist approaches like differential association and control theory, emphasizing interpersonal dynamics in deviance, and introduces conflict theory, which associates deviance with power structures and inequalities in society.

Keywords

💡Deviance

Deviance refers to behaviors or actions that violate social norms or cultural values. In the video, deviance is explored as a concept that, while seemingly negative, can also serve important functions in society. The script mentions both armed robbers and pacifists as examples of deviants, highlighting the complexity of the concept.

💡Structural Functionalism

Structural functionalism is a sociological paradigm that views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. The video discusses Emile Durkheim’s approach to deviance within this paradigm, suggesting that deviance helps to define cultural values and norms and can lead to social change.

💡Strain Theory

Strain theory, proposed by Robert Merton, posits that the amount of deviance in a society is related to the availability of legitimate means to achieve culturally valued goals. The script uses the example of financial success as a culturally defined goal in the US and discusses how the lack of access to means can lead to deviant behavior.

💡Conformity

Conformity is the adherence to societal norms and the use of conventionally approved means to achieve cultural goals. The script contrasts this with deviance, using the 'American Dream' as an example of conformity where individuals follow societal rules to achieve financial stability.

💡Innovation

In the context of Merton's strain theory, innovation refers to the use of deviant means to achieve culturally valued goals when legitimate means are inaccessible. The script mentions petty thievery and organized crime as examples of innovation, where the goal of financial success is pursued through illegitimate means.

💡Ritualism

Ritualism, as described in the script, is a response to the lack of means where an individual gives up on the cultural goal and instead commits to following societal rules. It represents a deep devotion to the rules for their own sake, even if it means not achieving the cultural goal of economic success.

💡Retreatism

Retreatism is another response to the lack of acceptable means, where an individual rejects both the conventional means and goals of society. The script uses drug addicts and alcoholics as examples, suggesting that these behaviors can be a form of escape from societal pressures.

💡Rebellion

Rebellion, in Merton's strain theory, is a constructive form of rejection where individuals reject the existing goals and means but pursue new goals within a counterculture. The script provides the example of an artist who seeks recognition from peers rather than financial success.

💡Labeling Theory

Labeling theory, from the perspective of symbolic interactionism, suggests that deviance and conformity are determined by how actions are perceived and labeled by others. The script discusses how primary deviance may not affect self-concept, but secondary deviance, resulting from strong societal reactions, can lead to a stigma.

💡Stigma

Stigma, as described in the script, is a negative master status that affects a person's self-concept, social identity, and interactions with others. It is a powerful effect of labeling that can lead to further labeling and a change in how a person is understood in society, as illustrated with the example of a stigmatized student.

💡Conflict Theory

Conflict theory is a sociological perspective that links deviance to social power and inequality. The script explains that norms and laws often reflect the interests of the powerful, who can label actions as deviant to protect their interests, leading to different treatments for the rich and the poor in cases of theft.

Highlights

An armed robber and a pacifist are both considered social deviants, yet their motivations differ significantly.

Sociological theories provide insights into the reasons behind deviant behavior in society.

Structural functionalism suggests that deviance is a natural part of society and serves certain functions.

Emile Durkheim's theory posits that deviance helps define cultural values and norms.

Society's reaction to deviance clarifies moral boundaries and can lead to social cohesion.

Deviance can also act as a catalyst for social change, as seen in the Civil Rights Movement.

Robert Merton's strain theory explains the relationship between societal goals and deviance.

Merton's theory identifies different responses to the lack of acceptable means to achieve societal goals, such as innovation and ritualism.

Labeling theory from symbolic interactionism suggests that deviance is a result of societal labeling.

The process of labeling can lead to the internalization of deviant identities and stigmatization.

Differential association theory emphasizes the influence of social associations on the likelihood of deviance.

Control theory highlights the importance of self-control and the anticipation of consequences in avoiding deviance.

Conflict theory links deviance to social power, suggesting that norms and laws often reflect the interests of the powerful.

Deviant actions by the powerful may not lead to deviant labels due to their ability to defend against such labels.

Conflict theory also points out the political nature of norms and the potential for inequality in their application.

The three major sociological paradigms provide different perspectives on understanding deviance.

Crash Course Sociology explores these paradigms in the context of crime in the following episode.

Transcripts

As we noted last week, an armed robber and a pacifist have something in common:

They're both social deviants.

But they're obviously also really different.

It's hard to imagine that some people resort to armed robbery for some of the same reasons that other people reject violence.

That’s why there are many different theories of deviance that can give us some perspective on how and why both the armed robber and the pacifist become deviant.

Through sociology, we can explore how the deviance of these two very different people relates to society at large.

[Theme Music]

To understand where deviance comes from, we have to go back to the three major sociological paradigms.

And, as you might expect, structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theories each offer a different perspective on the matter.

Way back in episode 5, we touched on Emile Durkheim’s structural-functionalist approach to deviance.

His basic insight was that, since deviance is found in every society, it must serve some function.

And Durkheim argued that deviance serves four functions in particular:

First, he said, deviance helps define cultural values and norms.

Basically, we can only know what’s good by also understanding what’s not good.

He also argued that society's response to deviance clarifies moral boundaries.

This means that when society reacts to deviance, it’s drawing a line,

saying that when behaviors cross a certain moral threshold, they can be sanctioned, either formally or informally.

So this can range from a bank robber being sent to jail, to someone being made fun of for the way they dress.

Durkheim also said that these reactions bring society together.

By reacting in similar ways to something that seems not-normative, we’re basically affirming to each other that we’re an “us,” and the deviants are “them.”

And this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

In the more serious instances of deviance – like, school shootings, for example –

you see people uniting around that moral boundary that’s been breached, and supporting each other.

The spontaneous outpourings of outrage, grief, and charity that you see in response to school shootings are all examples of this pattern in action.

And finally, Durkheim pointed out that deviance can actually encourage social change.

We talked in episode 5 about Rosa Parks’ civil disobedience, which was by definition deviant,

and it was a factor setting off major changes in American society, in the form of the Civil Rights Movement.

Now, while deviance might be necessary, some societies can have more or less of it than others.

To help explain the difference, American sociologist Robert Merton proposed, in the 1930s and ‘40s, what he called strain theory.

Merton argued that the amount of deviance in a society depends on whether that society has provided sufficient means to achieve culturally defined goals.

In the US, financial success is one of the strongest culturally defined goals.

And the means of achieving it include things like getting an education.

So what we call “the American Dream” – the idea of working hard to achieve financial stability –

is a prime example of what Merton called conformity: achieving culturally set goals by way of conventionally approved means.

Go to school, get good grades, graduate, get a good job. Work hard. Get rich. Success.

Right? Well, of course, even if wealth is your goal, this approach isn't an option for a lot of people.

Many who are raised in poverty, for instance, lack a realistic path to prosperity.

And if you don’t have access to the means – like money for an education or good-paying job opportunities – then the goal will be elusive, too.

So one response to the lack of acceptable means is to use unacceptable means – that is, deviant ones.

Merton called this innovation, but here, innovation means something a little different from what you’re used to.

Merton used it to describe deviant solutions that people come up with to reach their goals.

In this case, it could include everything from petty thievery to organized crime.

The goal is still financial success, but the illegitimate means used to get there make it deviant.

Now, you might also respond in the opposite way, by giving up on the goal – in this case, economic success –

and instead committing totally to following the rules.

You might decide that you may never be rich, but at least you’re not going to be deviant.

Merton called this ritualism, a deep devotion to the rules because they are the rules.

Of course, your other option is to reject the whole system altogether – the means, the goals, all of it.

In this kind of response, which Merton labeled retreatism, a person basically “drops out” of society, rejecting both the conventional means and goals.

Merton classed drug addicts and alcoholics in this group, because he saw these addictions as a way of escaping the pressures of the goals and means.

But rejection can also be constructive:

Rebellion is a rejection of goals and means, but in the context of a counterculture – one that supports the pursuit of new goals according to new means.

The artist who doesn’t want financial success, but instead pursues recognition from their peers is an example of this.

So the structural functionalist perspective on deviance provides some useful ways of thinking about how deviance works on a macro scale.

But it works on the assumption that everyone who does deviant things will be treated as deviant.

The other paradigms of sociology call this into question:

They point out that social status impacts how deviance is punished.

Or whether it’s punished at all.

For example, a symbolic interactionist understands deviance through what’s known as labeling theory –

the idea that things like deviance and conformity are not so much a matter of what you do, but how people label it.

Let’s go to the Thought Bubble to see how labels can make a deviant.

Imagine a student skipping school.

This is an example of primary, or minor, deviance.

On its own, the transgression isn’t going to affect the student’s self-concept.

That is, it’s not going to cause her to think of herself, or label herself, as a deviant.

And if she’s an otherwise good student, then her teacher might just write it off as a one time thing,

and the fact that she cut classes would just remain a minor, primary deviance.

But if the teacher responds more strongly, and punishes her, then that same infraction of the rules can escalate into secondary deviance.

In this case, a strong sanction could make the student start to think of herself as a truant.

And this can lead to what Erving Goffman called a stigma:

a powerfully negative sort of master status that affects a person’s self-concept, social identity, and interactions with others.

One of the most powerful effects of stigma is that it leads to more labeling, especially of what a person has done, or might still do.

For example, a stigmatized student could be the subject of retrospective labeling,

where her past is reinterpreted, so that she’s suddenly understood as having always been irresponsible.

Likewise, she could be subjected to prospective labeling, which looks forward in time, predicting her future behavior based on her stigma.

Thanks Thought Bubble.

As you can see, the whole process of labeling can be extremely consequential.

And it affects not only how we think of ourselves, but also who responds to deviance, as well

as how they respond, and how the deviant person is understood in society.

Drug abuse, for instance, has largely been understood as a moral failing.

But it’s increasingly being seen as an illness.

And as that perception has changed, so too have the people who respond to drug abuse.

Instead of just being a job for law enforcement, today, instances of drug abuse often involve both police and medical professionals.

And instead of getting jail time, in some places, violators are given medical and psychological treatment.

In other words, how people respond is beginning to change.

And finally, instead of being judged as personally culpable for some moral failing,

addicts are increasingly seen as suffering from a disease, freeing them, in part, from some degree of personal responsibility for their behaviors.

So the very way in which they’re understood is also evolving.

There are a couple other symbolic interactionist approaches to deviance that don’t focus on the power of labels.

Differential association, for example, argues that who you associate with makes deviance more or less likely.

And control theory focuses on a person’s self-control as a way of avoiding deviance,

as well as their ability to anticipate and avoid the consequences of their actions.

All of these symbolic interactionist approaches highlight the interpersonal responses to deviance.

But a Conflict Theory approach links deviance to social power.

If we look at society, we find that the socially deviant are not necessarily the most dangerous.

Rather, a conflict-theory perspective points out that they are often the most powerless.

Conflict theory can explain why this is so in a few different ways:

For one thing, conflict theory posits that norms and laws reflect the interests of the powerful.

So the powerful can defend their power by labeling as deviant anything that threatens that power.

For instance, in capitalist societies, deviant labels are often applied to those who interfere with the way capitalism functions.

And since capitalism is based on the private control of wealth, stealing is clearly labeled as deviant.

But there are also different rules for when the rich target the poor:

Petty thieves are treated as deviant in a way that corporate criminals are not, even though they both steal from other people.

An employee taking goods out of the backroom is hauled in by the police, while the boss who withholds overtime pay often doesn’t even pay a fine.

And this is the case, according to conflict theory, because the powerful are able to defend themselves against labels of deviance,

so deviant actions are less likely to lead to a deviant label and thus reactions to that deviance.

Finally, conflict theory points out that norms have an inherently political nature,

but the politics tend to be masked by the general belief that if something is normative, it must be right and good.

So while we may take issue with how a law is applied, we much more rarely ask whether the laws themselves are just or not.

Conflict theorists see these explanations at work wherever the inequality of social power can be found –

across gender, among races, and between groups of different socioeconomic status.

Ultimately, structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theory all give us useful tools for understanding deviance.

Each of these paradigms is powerful, and we'll be making use of all three next week, when we look specifically at crime.

Today we learned about how the three major paradigms in sociology approach deviance.

We talked about structural functionalism and how deviance can fulfill a function in society.

Then we turned to symbolic interactionism and looked at how deviance is constructed.

Finally, we discussed conflict theory and how deviance is connected to power and inequality.

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