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Sociology

SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO DEVIANCE

Functionalist Perspective

Emile Durkheim – holds that deviance is anatural part of all sceties and serves important functions.
- there is a desirable normative structure, but in times of rapid social chage, a variety of
conflicting norms give rise to a conditio which he calls anomie.

anomie – state of normlessness

Robert K. Merton – according to him, the inconsisties and differences or even contradictions result into
deviant behavior.

Walter Recklessness – developed a control theory which explains that the occurence of deviance but is
largely applicable to delinquency, youth crime, and suicide.

Conflict Theory

Conflict Theory – focuses on the heterogeneous nature of society and the differential distribution and
social power.
- the conflict between the powerful and the weak affects the creation of deviance and
society’s response to it.
- states that what is criminal an what is not are defined by those in power; their
definitions reflect the ruling class.

Symbolic Interactionism

Symbolic interactionism – fouses on the importance of definitions, labels, and the social meaning
associated with the deviant act.

Edwin Sutherland – reinforced the notion of cultural transmission theory and the concept of differential
association (explains formation of urban youth gangs).
- affirmed that deviant behavior is learned through interaction with others in small
intimate groups.

Labeling theory – focuses on how crime and deviance become defined and labeled, and its effect on a
person being so labeled.

Feminist Approach to Deviance

Kendall – points out that there is no single feminist perspective on deviance....