Deviance (sociology)
Deviance in sociology refers to behaviors, beliefs, or appearances that diverge from societal norms or expectations. These actions may range from criminal activities to nonviolent acts like incivility, or even alternative thoughts such as atheism or anarchism. Deviance is perceived as a threat to social order, prompting society to label and respond to individuals deemed "deviant" with various forms of social control, such as public shaming or legal penalties. The understanding of deviance can differ significantly across cultures and subcultures; what is considered deviant in one context may be accepted or even celebrated in another.
The responses to deviant behavior are deeply influenced by societal values and the power dynamics at play, often reflecting the perspectives of those in authority. Theories surrounding deviance draw from multiple disciplines, suggesting that the understanding and management of deviance are not only shaped by scientific insights but also by cultural, political, and economic factors. Historical methods of controlling deviance have varied widely, evolving from punitive measures to more rehabilitative approaches. As societies continue to change, so too will the definitions and methods of addressing deviance, highlighting the fluid nature of social norms.
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Deviance (sociology)
Deviance, a sociological term, refers to the actions of a deviant, a person who does not conform to social norms or social expectations. While often considered predatory offenses, acts of deviance may also be either prosocial behaviors or nonviolent common offenses such as incivility. Deviance may also extend to a person's thoughts or beliefs, such as anarchism or atheism, and to a person's physical appearance, such as having visible scars, piercings, or tattoos. Whether deviance is positive or negative, it is perceived as threatening the social order.
Functioning societies require a shared sense of order and predictability. When some people’s actions, thoughts, or presence cause society’s members to question the values and norms of the dominant majority, discomfort ensues. As a result of this discomfort, and in an attempt to reduce the perceived power of the people who cause it, these individuals are labeled “deviant.” Other labels, such as “evil,” “dangerous,” “dirty” or “crazy,” also help authorities identify and control deviants and their actions.
Overview
Everyday social rituals contribute to the forces of deviance. For better or worse, violators of social norms, persons labeled as deviant, have been influenced by their familial norms, religion, education, or public opinion. Whether the norm violation is prosocial, such as the work of Martin Luther King, Jr., who was considered deviant in his time for challenging the status quo, or dysfunctional, such as the violent actions of criminal gangs, the ensuing social discomfort leads to a perceived need for correction or containment.
As a means of containing deviants and attempting to reduce the social discomfort they cause, various social control mechanisms may be employed, ranging from public shaming and fines to incarceration, hospitalization, and execution. Determining which form of social control is best utilized to control the situation is subjective and largely determined by the perspective of those who have decision-making authority. As theorist H. Becker noted in the 1960s, the ability for a person to judge another "deviant" and thus mete out consequences for that perceived rule-breaking depends largely on the individuals' power differential. Further, the existence of subcultures within a single culture and of myriad cultures worldwide means that what might be considered taboo among one group would be accepted and encouraged within another.
Theoretical perspectives guide the way people think and act, and experts provide opinions about the causes, consequences, and cures of being deviant based on these theories. Deviance perspectives are derived from a number of disciplines, including sociology, theology, anthropology, social work, law, medicine, psychology, and education. The perspective utilized in containing deviance will influence the agents of containment and control, be they police and law enforcement, doctors, religious authorities, or therapists. Perspectives are not judged only on their scientific merit, but also on their place within their respective political, economic, cultural, and social contexts.
While the contemporary focus on deviance in the United States is largely legalistic and punitive, this was not always the case. Past control measures have included rehabilitation and pharmaceutical intervention, to public shaming, flagellation, and exorcism. Assimilation of minority group members into the dominant culture is another means by which members of the mainstream society have sought to diminish or eradicate deviance. While societies will continue to attempt to control and contain deviance, the theories and methods used will continue to evolve as a culture and its norms and laws evolve.
Bibliography
Berzano, Luigi, and Carlo Genova. Lifestyles and Subcultures: History and a New Perspective. Routledge, 2015.
Conyers, Addrain, and Thomas C. Calhoun. Deviance Today. 2nd ed., Routledge, 2020. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=2415725&site=ehost-live&scope=site. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
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McKinzie, Ashleigh E., and Mindy S. Bradley. “Deviance and Social Control in an Alternative Community: The Unique Case of the Rainbow Family of Living Light.” Deviant Behavior, vol. 34, no. 8, 2013, pp. 599–617.
Pascale, Richard, Jerry Sternin, and Monique Sternin. The Power of Positive Deviance: How Unlikely Innovators Solve the World’s Toughest Problems. Harvard Business Review P, 2010.
Pfohl, Stephen. Images of Deviance and Social Control: A Sociological History. 2nd ed., Waveland Press, 2009.
Smith, Philip, and Ryan D. King. “From Road Rage to Everyday Automobile Incivility: A Routine Activities Approach to Low-Level Deviance.” Sociological Quarterly, vol. 54, no. 3, 2013, pp. 476–500.