Chapter 7 Deviance
Structural Functional Theory
is a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. Two theorists, Herbert Spencer and Robert Merton, were major contributors to this perspective. Important concepts in functionalism include social structure, social functions, manifest functions and latent functions.
Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) was an English philosopher. Spencer compared society to a human body. In the same way each part of the body works in harmony with other parts, each part of society works in harmony with all other parts. If we want to understand the importance of the heart for helping the body function properly, we need to understand how it relates to other parts of the body.
Symbolic Interactionism
is a major framework of sociological theory. This perspective relies on the symbolic meaning that people develop and rely upon in the process of social interaction.
Social Conflict Theory,
argues that individuals and groups of social classes within society have differing amounts of material and non-material resources and that the more powerful groups use their power in order to exploit groups with less power.
inequality exists because those in control of a disproportionate share of society’s resources actively defend their advantages
Conflict theorists note that “unequal groups usually have conflicting values and agendas, causing them to compete against one another.”
Merton's Strain Theory Of Deviance
Combining a person's view of cutrual goals and the conventional means to obtain them allowed Robert Merton to identify various types of deviants.
Emily Durkheim
Durkheim was a structural functional analysist.
Durkheim told us that "There is nothing abnormal about deviance.In fact it performs essential functions."
1. Deviance affirms cultrual vaules and norms.
2. Responding to deviance clarifies moral boundries.
3. Responding to deviance brings people together.
4.Deviance encourages social change.
Labeling Theory
Sutherlands Differential Association Theory
The central contribution of symbolic-interaction analysis with the idea that deviance and confornity results not so much from what people do as from how others respond to those actions.
Hirschi's Control Theory
Theory Review's
Control theory states that social control depends on peoples anticipating the consequences of their behavior. Hirschi assumes that everyone finds atleast one deviance tempting. He also assumes that one is less likely to be deviant if they could lose their career or have bad reactions from family and friends and that ones with less to lose are more inclined to become and remain rule breakers.
According to Edwin Sutherland, a persons tendency toward conformity or deviance depends on the amount of contact with others who encourage or reject conventional behavior.
