Defining Deviance

1. behavioral codes/prescriptions that guide people into actions and self presentations that conform to social acceptability
2. 3 types or norms

   Annotations:

   • conceptualized by William Sumner (1906)
   1. laws

      Annotations:

      • strongest norms because supported by social sanctions
      • if violated, arrested and punished (fines, imprisonment or death)
      • regarded as necessary to maintain social order
      1. strongest norms because supported by social sanctions
      2. if violated, arrested and punished (fines, imprisonment or death)
      3. regarded as necessary to maintain social order
   2. mores

      Annotations:

      • norms based on broad societal morals whose infraction would generate more serious social condemnation
      • upholding these norms is seen as critical to the fabric of society & violation threatens social order
      • Violators viewed as bad or wicked
      • examples: interracial marriage, illegitimate childbearing, drug addiction
      1. norms based on broad societal morals whose infraction would generate more serious social condemnation
      2. upholding these norms is seen as critical to the fabric of society & violation threatens social order
      3. Violators viewed as bad or wicked
      4. examples: interracial marriage, illegitimate childbearing, drug addiction
   3. Folways

      Annotations:

      • simple everyday norms based on custom, tradition or etiquette
      • violations do not generate serious outrage or arrest
      • Violators will be considered odd or peculiar
      • examples: standards of dress, demeanor, physical closeness or distance, eating behaviors
      1. simple everyday norms based on custom, tradition or etiquette
      2. violations do not generate serious outrage or arrest
      3. Violators will be considered odd or peculiar
      4. examples: standards of dress, demeanor, physical closeness or distance, eating behaviors

Annotations:

• conceptualized by Smith and Pollack (1976)

1. Crime or criminal acts viewed as unacceptable to societal majority
   1. murder, rape, assault, robbery, arson
2. sin (acts of) defined in relation to religious proscriptions
   1. promiscuity, lewdness, extramarital or homosexual sex, gambling, drinking and abortion
3. poor taste (acts of) challenge existing standards of fashion, manners or traditions, violate social norms & unregulated by law

1. violent crimes-murder, assault, property crimes, theft arson, vandalism-are deviant & illegal
2. noncriminal deviance-obesity, stuttering, physical handicaps, racial intermarriage, unwed pregnancy
3. non deviant crimes-white collar, minor traffic offenses, civil disobedience-don't violate norms or bring moral censure

1. People can be labeled deviant for alternative sets of attitudes or belief system (religion, atheism, extreme political views)
2. behavioral deviance due to outward actions, can be intentional or inadvertent, achieved deviant status (kinky sex behavior, smoking pot, committing murder, violating dress or speech conventions)

   Annotations:

   • Achieved deviant status earned by what a person has done
3. condition (extreme poverty, ultra rich, racial status/only person of different race, congenital physical disability, height, weight) can be ascribed or achieved

   Annotations:

   • Ascribed deviant status - when has been done to become deviant or nothing they can do to undo deviant status

1. sin
   1. during middle ages and earlier times when religious paradigms prevailed
   2. Nonnormative ABC's considered satanic and cured using exorcisms, afflicted considered contagious & condemned
   3. religious leaders were official morality leaders, made judgments, issued sanctions
2. sickness

   Annotations:

   • Conrad & Snyder (1980)
   1. the process of medicalization begins when a behavior or condition defined as deviant is prospected to gain rewards
   2. DSM-V