1. Chapter 7
Deviance
and
Conformity
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Slides by Michael Miller

2. Defining Deviance
Norms
Guidelines that govern thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors
Normative Demand
Prescriptive
Proscriptive
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Types of Norms
Folkways
Mores
Laws

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4. Typology of Norms
Locate the following acts…
smoking
yes
Criminal
yes
Deviant
killing another
no
tax evasion
nudism
lying
espionage
public flatulence
jay walking
no
speeding
atheism
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5. Deviance as Relative
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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Time
Place
Situation
Culture
Actors
Audience
Media

6. Deviance and Stigma
• Stigma
•
Characteristic that sets people apart and discredits them
from acceptance and participation
• Goffman’s Stigma Types
–
–
–
Abominations of the body
Blemishes of individual character
Tribal stigma
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7. Crime, Deviance, and Diversity
• Crime
•
Violation of criminal law
•
•
Violent offenses (against person)
Nonviolent offenses (against property)
• Diversity vs. Deviance
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8. Popular Explanations
Demonology to Biology
Medical Model
Medicalization of Society
Deviance - analogous to illness
•
•
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Identify symptoms, diagnosis, treat
Cure, improve, incurable

9. Popular Explanations
The Media
Pornography / Sex crimes
• Media violence / Aggressive behavior
• Heavy metal / Rap music
•
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10. Sociological Explanations
Structural Functionalist
Deviance is both functional and dysfunctional
Durkheim’s Suicide
Strain theories
•
Deviance due to position in social structure
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11. Table 7.1 here
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12. Sociological Explanations
Conflict Theories
• focus on inequality and power that lead
to creation of laws & enforcement
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13. Sociological Explanations
Interactionist Theories
Social Learning
•
•
•
All behavior is learned through social interaction
Differential Association Theory
Differential Reinforcement Theory
Social Control
•
•
•
Deviance is “normal” / conformity must be explained
Social Bond Theory
Containment Theory
Labeling
•
•
•
Deviance / Conformity = labels assigned to people and acts
Primary / Secondary deviance
Deviance as master status
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14. Sociological Explanations
Interactionist Theories
Techniques of Neutralization
•
•
•
•
•
Denial of Responsibility
Denial of Injury
Denial of the Victim
Condemnation of the Condemners
Appeal to Higher Loyalties
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15. Social Control
Voluntary
(Internalized)
Informal
Formal
Criminal Justice System
Technomedia
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