THEORETICAL EXPLANATIONS OF DEVIANCE

A. Structural-Functional View

People deviate from given social norms because of the rapid social
change that is taking place.

Emile Durkheim called this situation as anomic breakdown of

social norms

B. Strain Theory (Robert Merton)

People deviate from social norms because of their inability to reach
cultural goals through legitimate means.
4 Types of Deviant Behavior (Strain Theory) / Modes of
Adaptation
1. Innovation individuals accept the cultural goals, but their
position within society prevents adequate access to legitimate
means.
2. Ritualism the individual gives up or abandons the goals, but
follows or conforms to, in strict fashion, the legitimate means
3. Retreatism the individual abandons the goal and the means
to attain such a goal
4. Rebellion the individual not only abandons, but also creates
new goals & means
Mode of Adaptation
Conformity
Innovation
Ritualism
Retreatism
Rebellion

Cultural Goals
Accepted
Accepted
Rejected
Rejected
Rejected/Replaced

C. Symbolic-Interaction Theory

Institutional Means
Accepted
Rejected
Accepted
Rejected
Rejected/Replaced

This paradigm states that deviance is learned through interaction

with others, and involves development of a deviant concept.

Deviance is a product of specific face-to-face interaction, not a

direct product of social structure.

4 Forms of Deviance (Symbolic-Interaction Theory)

1. Differential Association Theory people learn to be deviant
when their associates favor deviance more than conformity.
2. Self-Esteem Theory people become deviant in order to
increase self-esteem
3. Control Theory (Travis Hirschi, 1969)
Suggests that deviance arises from particular social
arrangements, specifically the inability of society to control
adequately the activities of its members
Conformity is a function of 4 types of social control
a) Attachment strong social attachment to others
enhance conformity; weak relationships within the
family/group leave people freer to engage deviance.
b) Commitment the higher the commitment to
legitimate opportunity, the greater the advantages of
conformity.
c) Involvement Extensive involvement in legitimate
activities such as job, going to school, and completing
homework or hobbies inhibits deviance; people with
legitimate involvement have time and energy for
deviant activity
d) Belief Strong belief in conventional morality and
respect for authority figures also control tendencies
toward deviance; people with weak beliefs are more
vulnerable to whatever temptation deviance presents.
4. Labeling Theory

Asserts that deviance and conformity result from the

response of others

Social groups create deviance by making the rules whose

infractions constitute deviance

Deviance is relative

Society creates deviance by identifying particular members

as deviant.

D. Conflict Theory
Links deviance to social inequality, central to the ideas of
dominance and power.

Dominant groups in society have the power to decide which

norms and laws govern the society and to ensure that these
norms favor their own values, interests, and standards of
morality

Conflict theory explains this pattern in three ways:

1. The norms, including laws of any society, generally reflect the
interests of the rich and powerful
2. The powerful have the resources to resist deviant labels
3. The political character of norms and laws is obscured by the
widespread belief that such standards are natural and good. For
this reason, while the unequal application of the law may be
seen as unjust, little thought is usually given to the fact that the
laws themselves may be inherently unfair.