Defining Deviance

(from Goode, 4th-8th, 1994-2008 chapters 2 and 3. See the disclaimer)

Essentialism (Positivism) versus Constructionism

Essentialism: phenomena have distinct and consistent essences. True, real, objective and universal.

Constructionism: categories/essences are social vs. natural.

• Change, variation based on perspective and interests of the observer.
• Definitions do not equal absolute reality. Categories have meaning only within the context of the criteria of the classification scheme that has been socially constructed.
• Moderate Constructionism--there are limits. Categories have elements of arbitrariness and are fuzzy, but they are based on something "objective." i.e. define "alcoholic"

Constructionist Approaches to Deviance

Marco-Level v. Micro-Level
    units of analysis for examining phenomena

1. Macro-Level - (big, broad, structural)

• Macro-Level theorists look at society through broad lenses, to  see the  "big picture".
• Macro-Level theorists look at how large-scale structural conditions, i.e. economic and political institutions,  structure the patterns and significance of daily life for people in a given social system.
  • Karl Marx  is a macro-level theorist because he studied the larger structural units, economic systems, to understand how economic structures influence behavior and belief in other social structures, and across different types of societies.
  • See also: Durkheim-Anomie. 

2. Micro-Level - (small, face-to- face interactions)

• Micro-Level theorists focuses on individual processes such as face-to-face encounters people have.
• All "types of person" theories are Micro-Level theories.  See: Labeling theory.

Definitions of Deviance

Problematic, yet "taken-for-granted" definitions:

• Absolutist: pure essentialism. Certain behaviors, identities, and modes of thought are "naturally" deviant; everywhere, and across time. Deviance is conceptualized as an objectively real characteristic found in "things," and can be located and studied through a positivist approach.
• Statistical--relevant, but not sufficient. The idea here is that those
behaviors, identities, and modes of thought which rarely occur are deviant (based on the statistical conception of the "normal curve").
• Harm--relevant, but not sufficient. Are all harmful behaviors and thoughts deviant? Are there forms of deviance that aren't harmful?
• Criminal--relevant, but not sufficient. Are there criminal acts that wouldn't be defined as deviant? Are there forms of deviance that are criminal?
• Positive Deviance? This is an extrapolation of the statistical definition, and shares elements of the "harm" criteria. If we use the idea that deviance entails a negative reaction, and consequences for the deviant, then is positive deviance a useful concept?

Useful, Sociological Definitions of Deviance:

Normative: essentialism, but relativity

• Deviance equals norm violation. Norms do vary.
• Assumes--objective reality of norms, they exist "out there" and have a force over us (socialization and internalization).
• Assumes--Consensus within a given society
• Assumes--smooth operation and uniform application of norms
• Problems: exceptions and contingencies

Reactive: constructionism and relativity

• Deviance equals a judgment, application of a sanction, entails consequences.
• Defining norm violation as a social construction.
• Not the act per se, not simple norm violation, but specific individuals engaged in specific acts seen by specific others--and condemnation.
• Problems--secret deviance, i.e. is there some consensus?==>Discredited vs. Discreditable, predictability to social responses==>Stigma. Also, need to take the Victim into account.

"Soft" (modified) Reactive

• Probability
• Norms as inference; their existence is gleaned from social response.
• Societal versus Situational deviance
• Self-Labeling
• Process: Negotiated Reality

So, We need to focus on:

1. Actor: who is it, status violations
2. Audience: Actor, Victim, Peers, Subculture, Official Agents of Social Control, Wider Society, Other Societies, Historical Societies.
3. Situation: Temporal and Spatial

Contingencies

• "A contingency is a seemingly incidental or accidental feature of an event or a phenomenon that nonetheless exerts a significant impact;  it is anything that logically shouldn't influence the labeling process, but actually does. i.e. the distance one lives from a mental hospital." (Goode, 1997, page 111)
• The issues of relativity (above) all exert influence (and variation) on who is considered deviant for doing (or being) whatever it may be that they do (or are)
• Ancillary or Auxiliary Characteristics: power and status, age, sex, race, appearance, and socioeconomic status. The relative degree of prestige and power associated with these characteristics influence who and what we define as deviant.

"In sum, by deviance I mean one thing and one thing only: behavior or characteristics that some people in a society find offensive or reprehensible and that generates--or would generate if discovered--in these people disapproval, punishment, condemnation of, or hostility toward, the actor or possessor....What we have to know is, deviant to whom?" (Goode, 1994, page 29)

Deviance is a label attached to people and acts

Deviance entails a type of social relationship

Deviance is a non-evaluative term

Nuts, Sluts and Preverts ?

• Acts vs process
• Biased Sample?
• Theory and Politics (atheoretical and unstrategic)
• Micro/Macro
• Question of "True Deviance?"
• Too reprehensible ( and those who study are too.)

Deviance and Social Control

Deviance and Crime

Deviance and Social Problems

• Definitions of what is deviant are not ready made, they are  fought over.
• Categories, groups, or strata  fight through social movement organizations  to institutionalize their own views of  right and wrong into the criminal and civil law, the media, the school, the political process and religion.
• If a group is successful, it informs members of the society that their interpretation is valid and legitimate. Thus, actors who deviate should be stigmatized or criminalized.

    Examples:

• Anti-abortion or "right-to-life"  activists
• Women Against Pornography
• Members of the Creationist movement
• Animal Rights groups 

Deviance: Process

Society and Social definitions are eternally changing, dynamic affairs. Origins of ideas, definitions, meanings must be critically examined.

Facts:

• Change is a reality.
• Reality is structured out of our definitions and interpretations.
• Definitions of Deviance come from a variety of Sources.
• The study of deviance entails developing an understanding of the processes of change and developing an awareness of how definitions of reality are negotiated in everyday life situations.

1. For a Kazakh version see: http://theworkscited.com/defining-deviance/, translated by Alana Kerinova, August 2018.
2. For a French version see: http://stripeswebservices.com/definir-la-deviance.html, translated by Laura Beoschat, January 2019.
3. For a Thai version see: http://eduindexcode.com/defining-deviance/, translated by Ashna Bhatt, Octorber 2019.

URL: http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/200/defdev.html
Owner: Robert O. Keel rok@umsl.edu
References and Credits for this Page of Notes
Last Updated: Friday, October 11, 2019 10:20 AM