Meaning and Nature of

Deviance

When a certain individual fails to act according to the norms and

expectations of society. he/she is referred to as deviant. Deviance simply
means a violation of social norms. In every society, there are rules to be
observed. According to Kendall (2012), deviance is any behavior, belief, or
condition that violates significant norms in a society or group. These
norms include rules observed and cherished because they are products of a
long period of tradition. A deviant person who goes against conventions
usually receives strong opposition from the society; there are forms of deviant
behavior that carry harsh penalties.

Deviance may almost always have negative connotation; people

usually get annoyed easily by deviant behavior. In a different light, high-
profile personalities who are creative or artistic may be described as
"deviants.” In this case, the term "deviance" is somehow positive.

In order to understand deviance, it is imperative to study norms,

their history, their evolution, a and the changes as society shifts or evolves.

CONSEQUENCES
of Deviance

Deviance has positive and negative effects on individuals and

society. Some of its positive i effects are as follows:

•
 •

It teaches people what acceptable social

behavior is. It strengthens group norms and
values. It is a sign and a source of social
change.

Some of its negative effects are the

following:

It harms group stability. It induces distrust and ill will.

It drains human and economic resources. It
weakens people's faith in and conformity to social
norms. ·
•

Social Tolerance
of Deviance

Why do people deviate from social norms? Reactions to

deviance vary by intensity. Violations of some norms of etiquette, for
instance, may meet with only mild disapproval and sanctions, whereas violations
of the rule of law such as murder, rape, or robbery, may receive strong
condemnation and severe punishment. Each particular norm has a
tolerance limit, the degree to which norm violations are tolerated or
suppressed by a group. As expected, the severity of the sanctions serves as an
index of the seriousness that the society gives to the violations of the norms.
Because some norms are seen as more important or vital than others, more stringent
tolerance limits and more severe sanctions are applied to violations of them.
Deviation, Social Problems, and Control
Deviance As Relative

Deviance is relative in nature. It depends upon the

cultural norms. An individual appears Joviant because
other people see his/her that way. Deviance relies on
how people interpret social hehavior. To some people,
a behavior is deviant; to others, it is not. Judgment as
to whether an act is deviant or not depends on various
factors like culture, situations, place, time, and the doer
of the act. For example, having two wives is immoral for
Christians but it is an acceptable practice
among Muslims.

Lastly, no act is by nature deviant. Even killing may be

justified; incest is part of tradition; or gambling is
tolerated. Not all deviants are immoral or wrong, not all
immoral behaviors are deviant.
After this lesson, the students will be able to:

1. compare and contrast the causes of deviance as

viewed from different sociological
perspectives;

2. evaluate the contributions of different theories to

the understanding of deviant
behavior; and

3. cite examples of deviance based on the sociological

ideas and perspectives.

Overview

Deviance is regarded as the non-observance of various

kinds of norms ranging from simple infractions of
etiquette to the grievous and hateful crimes like rape.
Tracing the root cause of deviance is difficult. Several
sociologists have attempted to Identify various causes
of deviance like social change, interaction, and social
inequality but whenever they raise related questions, a
probable cause always shifts to the micro-level which
points to individual behavior. In a given society, the
deviant behavior of an individual is tolerated and
gradually influences a larger group but not necessarily
the majority of members. Simply put, a deviant act like
the practice of cross-dressing and sex organ transplant
flourishes if it gains support from a certain group.
Theoretical
Explanations of
Deviance

Some of the most familiar theories that explain deviance

are the following:

A. Structural-
Functional View

Under this perspective, people deviate from given social

norms because of the rapid social changes that are taking place. Thus,
the norms of society become unclear and are no longer applicable to current
conditions.

Emile Durkheim, one of the proponents of this perspective,

called this situation as “anomie,” or a breakdown of societal norms.
He believed that it is the major cause of suicide in industrialized
countries.

Nevertheless, structural-functional theorists argue that

without some amount of deviance, society could not exist at all.

Durkheim asserted that there is nothing abnormal about

deviance, since it is an integral part of the society.

B. Social Strain
Theory
 Under this theory introduced by Robert Merton, each
society has a primary set of values and goals with corresponding means of
achieving them. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to achieve these goals.
The gap between the desired goals and the means people use in order to
achieve them creates what Merton called the “social strain.” The desired
goals and values in the Philippine society emphasize achieving success
through individual effort. Success is measured in terms of material
possessions, popularity, and social status. The indicators of material success
are income, domicile, luxury cars, pieces of jewelry, and other economic
goods. The universally accepted means of achieving success are hard work,
perseverance, and education. Popular Filipino belief maintains that through hard
work, success may be attained. Failure is regarded as a personal
shortcoming. At present, many citizens are not materially successful
because of the high unemployment rate in the Philippines, as manifested by
living below the poverty line. Merton's
almost 70% of the Filipinos who are
social strain theory maintains that people react to the gap between the
set of values prescribed by society and their own circumstances
through innovation, retreatism, rebellion, and ritualism.

Innovation is a mode in which an individual acknowledges

society's goal, but his/her position within a society hinders him/her
from attaining such goal via legal or legitimate means. The
individual then resorts to unlawful means to attain culturally approved
goals such as economic development, material possessions, and
social status. Expectedly, some resort to creating their own rules,
by committing robbery, engaging in illegal drugs trade, or getting
involved in acts of lawlessness.
A. Structural-Functional
View

Under this perspective, people deviate from given social norms

because of the rapid social changes that are taking place. Thus, the norms
of society become unclear and are no longer applicable to current
conditions.

Emile Durkheim, one of the proponents of this perspective,

called this situation as “anomie." or a breakdown of societal norms. He
believed that it is the major cause of suicide in industrialized countries.

Nevertheless, structural-functional theorists argue that without

some amount of deviance, society could not exist at all.

Durkheim asserted that there is nothing abnormal about

deviance, since it is an integral part of the society.

B. Social Strain
Theory

Under this theory introduced by Robert Merton, each society has a

primary set of values and goals with corresponding means of achieving them.
Unfortunately, not everyone is able to achieve these goals. The gap between the
desired goals and the means people use in order to achieve them creates what
Merton called the “social strain.” The desired goals and values in the Philippine
society emphasize achieving success through individual effort. Success is measured
in terms of material possessions, popularity, and social status. The indicators of
material success are income, domicile, luxury cars, pieces of jewelry, and other
economic goods. The universally accepted means of achieving success are hard
work, perseverance, and education. Popular Filipino belief maintains that through
hard work, success may be attained. Failure is regarded as a personal
shortcoming. At present, many citizens are not materially successful because of
the high unemployment rate in the Philippines, as manifested by almost 70% of the Filipinos
who are living below the poverty line. Merton's social strain theory maintains that
people react to the gap between the set of values prescribed by society and
their own circumstances through innovation, retreatism, rebellion, and ritualism..

•
Innovation is a mode in which an individual acknowledges society's goal,
but his/her position within a society hinders him/her from attaining such
goal via legal or legitimate means. The individual then resorts to
unlawful means to attain culturally approved goals such as economic
development, material possessions, and social status. Expectedly, some resort
to creating their own rules, by committing robbery, engaging in
illegal drugs trade, or getting involved in acts of lawlessness.
Retreatism is a mode in which the individual abandons the
goal and the means of achieving success in life. The individual in this
culture. Usually, this
mode rejects both the goals and the norms of one's
individual likely uses illegal drugs, becomes alcoholic, and
eventually commits suicide.

Rebellion involves rejection of both society's goals and the

expected means of achieving them and the formation of a new
society that has different goals and values. Rebels go further by
promoting radical alternatives to the current social order, advocating new,
non traditional values and norms. Some use political revolution, like
the CPP-NPA, while others promote unconventional religious beliefs
and lifestyle. In their attempt to withdraw from established society
 favoring a counterculture, they are treated as deviant.

Ritualism occurs when people give up on societal goals

but continuously adhere to the socially approved means for
achieving them. It is the opposite of innovation; a person
who cannot afford to acquire luxurious goods may,
nevertheless, seek to preserve his/her reputation by being a
law-abiding, religious, and honest citizen.

Below is a figure simplifying the

social strain theory.

Figure 6 Typology
of
Individual Adaptation

Mode of
Adaptation 1.
Conformity

2. Innovation
Cultural
Goals
Accep
ted
Accept
ed
Rejected
Rejected/Repl
aced
 Rejec
ted
Institutional
Means
Accep
ted
Rejecte
d
Rejected
Rejected/Rep
laced
Acce
pted
3.
Retreatism

4.
Rebellion
5.
Ritualism

C. Symbolic-
Interaction Theory

This paradigm states that deviance is learned through

interaction with other deviant people and involves the development
of a deviant concept. According to this theory, deviance is a product of
specific face-to-face interaction and not a direct product of social
structure.

Under this perspective, there are four sub-theories

producing forms of deviance:
1. Differential Association Theory - This theory states that "the
more contact a person
has with people who commit deviant acts, the more likely that person is to
engage in deviant activities.” Edwin Sutherland (1961) suggested
that all human behavior, including deviance, is learned through
association with others, especially in primary groups
(subcultures). Thus, to a certain degree, individuals pattern their
thinking, acting, and
feeling to the norms, values, and beliefs
characteristic of these subcultures. A person's
tendency in engaging in criminal activity depends on
his/her frequency of association with those who
encourage violation of norms compared with those
who encourage conformity.

2. Self-esteem Theory - This theory states that people

choose deviance or conformity
depending on which will do the most to enhance their
self-esteem (Kaplan, et al., 1986). Example: People
who do not get reward for their efforts usually resort to
deviant behavior to attract attention. In Filipino, this is
termed as “kulang sa pansin (KSP) or nagpapapansin.”

3. Control Theory - This theory, developed by Travis

Hirschi (1969), suggests that deviance
arises from particular social arrangements, specifically
the inability of society to control adequately the
activities of its members. Deviance occurs when
individuals lack the ties to conventional society
(family, school, church, peer) that are necessary to
curb their normal tendency to deviance. Hirschi
suggests that conformity is a function of four types of
social controls. These are:

a. Attachment - Strong social attachments to other

people enhance conformity; weak
relationships within the family, peer group, and school,
leave people freer to engage in deviance.

b. Commitment - The higher one's commitment to

legitimate opportunity, the greater
the advantages of conformity. A young person, who
seems bound for college and likely to end up with a
good job, has a high stake in conformity. In contrast,
someone with little confidence in future success has a
low investment in conformity and is a likely candidate to
engage in deviance.

C. Involvement - Extensive involvement in legitimate

activities such as working on a
job, going to school, and completing homework or
hobbies inhibits deviance. People with little legitimate
involvement who simply "hangs out” or waits for
something to happen 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.

Hirchi's analysis is widely viewed as one of the most

useful for explaining many kina of deviant behavior,
and it has gained support from subsequent researches
(Wiatrows Griswold, & Roberts, 1981).

4. Labeling Theory - According to this theory, deviance

is a result of being labeled by Socio
Howard Becker (1973), popularized this theory by
stating that social groups Ch deviance by making the
rules whose infraction constitutes deviance, and by
applyin rules to particular people and labeling them as
outsiders. Becker claims that devid
 by applying these that deviance is
nothing more than behavior that people so label. Examples: A woman
takes an article of clothing from a roommate; and a member of Congress
drives home intoxicated after a party. The reality of these situations depends
on the response of people. Consequently, some people may regard the first case
as borrowing or theft. In the second case is the official
may be labeled as either
an active socialite or a dangerous drunk. Reality, then, is socially
created according to a variable process of detection, definition, and
response.

People may also be labeled for involvement in situations

completely beyond their control. For example, victims of violent rape are
sometimes subjected to deviant labeling because of the misguided
assumption that they might have encouraged the offender by wearing a
seductive dress or in some other way..

D. Conflict
Theory

According to this theory, social inequality is the root of numerous

social problems such as deviance and crime. It starts when an influential group
imposes their norms and values on less powerful groups. Usually, these norms favor
the powerful group, their own interests, and standards of morality. Those who are
regarded as deviant are subjected to punishment by authorities that represent
and enforce the views and norms of the strong or powerful group.

Macionis (2007) cited three ways of explaining the social conflict theory of
deviance.

First, it is the interests of those in charge, the rich and powerful, which are
reflected in any society's laws and norms. Those who threaten their wealth or power
are labeled as criminals or radicals. The justice system is designed by the ruling
class to work for the ruling class, and against the working class and the poor.
 Second, the ruling class has enough power to keep themselves from
being labeled as deviant; those involved in scandals are rarely arrested or
sent to jail.

Third, there is a widespread belief that all laws and norms are good and
natural. People tend to be concerned over the fact that laws are not applied equally to
all members of society. However, most people rarely consider whether the laws
themselves are even fair.

Functions of
Deviance

1. Deviance promotes social unity. It tells what most

people expect. 2. It affirms cultural values and norms. 3. It
clarifies moral boundaries. 4. It encourages social change.
5. It provides jobs for people (policemen, lawyers, psychologists,
etc.). 6. It provides a safety valve for society.
Dysfunctions of Deviance

1. Deviance is a source of harm, injuries, and

deaths. 2. It endangers social norms. 3. It is
expensive (a need to secure the services of
policemen, lawyers, psychologists et 4. It creates
disorder in the society. 5. Deviance may lead to
another deviant act.
Definition of
Deviance

Deviance is the violation of rules/norms, regardless of

seriousness According to Howard S. Becker. It is not the act itself that makes
an action deviant, rather how society reacts to it. Erving Goffman used "stigma” to refer to
attributes that discredit one's claim to a “normal” identity; a stigma (e.g., physical
deformities, skin color) defines a person's master status, superseding all
other statuses the person occupies.
: From sociological context, deviance does not mean perversion or depravity.
Sociologists preferred the term deviance over the concept abnormal behavior because of
the latter's connotation of psychological illness rather than social maladjustment or
conflict. Deviance is behavior that violates the standards of conducts or expectations of
a group of a society. (Wickman 1991) Deviance is a common phenomenon in the
life of every human being, even the so called simple societies. It is always defined from
the point of view of a particular normative structure, and in a complex society where
there are multiplicities of groups and conflicting normative standards, each member of
the society is at some time liable to be considered deviant by one standard or another.
(Dictionary of Sociology)

Deviance involves the violation of group norms which may or may not be
formalized into law. Deviance can be understood only within its social context. A nude
photograph of a woman or man may be perfectly appropriate in an art museum but
would be regarded as out of context in an elementary school classroom.

Standards of deviance vary from one group or subculture to another. Hence, it is

a highly relative
matter.

Explanation of
Deviance
Why does deviance occur? Why do people go against the social norms? We have
learned that deviant acts are subject to both formal and informal sanctions of social control. Those
who do not conform or disobey the norm may face disapproval, loss of friends, fines or even
imprisonment. According to sociologist Howard S. Becker, it is not the act itself that makes an action
deviant, but rather how society reacts to it. What is deviant to some is not deviant to others. Deviants are
people who violate rules, whether the interaction is minor (jaywalking) or serious (murder).
Sociologists maintain that all people are deviants: everyone violates rules from time to time.
 a. . Psychologists and socio-biologists explain deviance by looking "WITHIN”
an individual; sociologists
look “OUTSIDE” the individual

b. Biological explanations focus on genetic predisposition factors such as

intelligence, "XXY” theory
(an extra Y chromosome in men leads to crime) or body type ( squarish, muscular persons
more likely to commit street crimes); however, none of these helps us.

C. Psychological explanations focus on “personality disorders” (e.g. bad

toilet training, suffocating
mothers" etc). Yet, these do not necessarily result in the presence or
absence of deviance in a person.

d. Sociological explanations search outside to individual; crime is a

violation of norms written into law,
and each society has its own laws against certain types of behavior, but
social influences-such as sub-cultural group memberships or social
class (people's relative standing in terms of education, occupation,
income and wealth) may recruit to some people to break norms.
Symbolic Interactionist
Perspective
The basic principle of symbolic interactionism is that each of us
interprets social life through the symbols that we learn from the groups to which
we belong. As we examine symbolic interaction, it will become more evident why
sociologists are not satisfied with explanations noted in biology and personality.

A. Differential Association
Sociologist Edwin Sutherland located the source of deviant behavior in socialization, or
social learning. He coined the term "Differential Association” to indicate that whether
people deviate or conform is influenced most by the group with which they
associate. Those who associate with group oriented toward deviant activities learn
an "excess of definitions” of deviance, and thus, are more likely to engage in deviant
activities.
 B. Control
Theory
Control theory is the theory that two control systems are at work: inner controls are
one's capacity to withstand “pushes” and “pulls” (temptations) toward
deviance, and include internalized morality, integrity, fear of punishment, and
desire to be good; while outer controls involve groups (e.g., family, friends, the
police) that influence a person to stay away from crime.

Sociologist Travis Hirschi noted that bonding to society affects inner controls;
bonds are based on attachments, commitments, involvements, and beliefs.

Control theory is a functional theory (when outer controls operate, person conforms to
social norms), but since symbols and meanings are central, it has been adopted
by symbolic interactionists.

C. Labeling
Theory
Labeling theory is the view that labels people are given affect their own and
others' perceptions of them, thus channeling their behavior either into
deviance or conformity.

Functionalist
Perspective

According to functionalists, deviance is a common part of human

existence, with positive (as well as negative) consequences for social stability.

A. Emile Durkheim stated that deviance, including crime, is functional, for

it contributes to social
order, performing four
functions:

1.
It clarifies moral boundaries (a group's ideas about how people should act and
think). A group's ideas about how people should act and think mark its moral
boundaries. Deviant acts challenge those boundaries. To call a deviant a
member to account, saying in effect, "you broke a valuable rule, and we
 cannot tolerate that,” affirms the group's norms and clarifies the distinction
between conforming and deviating behavior. To deal with deviants is to assert
what it means to be a member of the group.

•
2. It promotes social unity – to affirm the group's moral boundaries
by reacting to deviants
develops a “we” feeling among the group's members. In saying,
“you can't get with that,”
the group collectively affirms the rightness of its own ways. 3. It
promotes social change (if boundary violations gain enough support,
they become new,
acceptable behavior). Groups do not always agree on what to do
with people who push beyond their acceptable ways of doing things.
Some group members may even approve the behavior. Boundary
violations that gain enough support become new, acceptable behaviors. Thus,
deviance may force group to rethink and redefine its moral boundaries,
helping groups, and whole societies, to change their customary ways.

158
Sociology: Theory and
Practice
B. Strain Theory is the term coined by Rober Merton for the strain
resulting from socializing people
to desire a goal but denying many the means to reach it. Merton used
"anomie” (Durkheim's term) to refer to the strain people experience
when they are blocked in their attempts to achieve those goals. He
identified five types of responses to anomie:

1. Conformity (using lawful means to seek goals of society) 2.

Innovation (using illegitimate means to achieve them) 3. Ritualism (giving
up on achieving cultural goals but clinging to conventional rules of
conduct) 4. Retreatism (rejecting cultural
goals, dropping out) 5. Rebellion
(seeking to replace society's
 goals)

FIGURE 9-1 MERTON'S TYPOLOGY OF INDIVIDUAL

ADAPTATION TO ANOMIE

Modes of
Adaptation
Culture
Goals
Institutionalize
d
Means
+
+
+
Conformity
Innovation
Ritualism
Retreatism
Rebellion
i+
I
+

(+ indicates acceptance, - indicates rejection, + / - rejection of prevailing values

and substitution of new values)

Reactions to Deviants

Whether it be cheating on a sociology examination or holding up a liquor store, any

violation of norms invites reaction. Reactions to deviance consist both of the responses of
others (with sanctions, labeling, degradation ceremonies, or imprisonment) and of people's
reaction to their own deviant behaviors.

nt

A. Sanctions are either negative sanctions (punishment ranging from frowns and gossip to
imprisonment, exile, and capital punishment) or positive sanctions (rewards for desired
 behavior, ranging from smiles to awards).

3. B. Labeling theory adheres into the principle that labels given to people
affect how others perceive
them and how they perceive themselves, thus, channeling their
behavior.
CIV

C. Degradation Ceremonies are rituals designed to strip an individual of his or her identity as a
group member. Typically, an individual is called before a group and denounced; when
pronounced guilty, steps are taken to strip the individual of his or her identity as a
group member. Sociologist Harold Garfinkel called such formal attempts to mark an
individual with the status of outsider degradation ceremonies. In Nathaniel Hawthorne's
Scarlet Letter, for example, Hester Prynnie was forced to stand on a platform in public
wearing a scarlet sewn on her dress to mark her as an adulteress. Furthermore, she
was expected by the community to wear this badge of shame everyday for
the rest of her life.

D. Imprisonment, which follows the degradation ceremony (public

trial/pronouncement that the
person is unfit to live among law-abiding people), is an increasingly
popular reaction to crime but fails to teach inmates to stay away from
crimes. The recidivism rate (the proportion of person who is rearrested) is
very high and those on probation do no better. The high recidivism
rate may result from not agreeing on purpose of imprisonment, which may
be: