Essay Deviance is Relative - 1566 Words

â€Å"Deviance is Relative† is a controversial topic that has caused intrigued sociologists to have debates in order to come to a conclusion. Because there is no absolute standard application towards deviating behavior, we can only gain knowledge through practical implications, main ideas, and concepts processes. Practical Implications of â€Å"Deviance is Relative† There is no absolute way of defining deviating acts. Deviance can only be defined in a relation to certain norms, but no standards are permanent. Norms can involve being within stereotypical viewpoints. Counter-stereotypical behavior may be viewed as acts of deviance; Phelan and Rudman defined backlash effects as â€Å"social and economic penalties for counter-stereotypical behavior†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more content†¦If society does not have any means of enforcing its norms, then that means anyone can do anything he/she wants. Without laws, society will become anarchy. An example is a murderer breaking the law and killing another human being for religious purposes. He will experience negative sanctions. He will either be on the run, in detention, or facing capital punishment. Because of possible circumstances, sanctions are necessary. Medicalization of deviance means to make deviance a medical matter; a symptom of some u nderlying illness that needs to be treated by physicians. Certain acts of deviance can be a sign of mental illness: Rape, murder, stealing, cheating and so on. Mental illness can stand for illogical thinking process. Thomas Szasz argues that â€Å"mental illnesses are neither mental nor illnesses. They are simply problem behaviors.† The problem with his theory is behavior results from thinking. Before a person is raped, the rapist contemplates about the most efficient way to rape someone. His contemplation or thinking process happened before his behavior. Another example is adultery. Whenever someone commits adultery, the person is aroused by sexual thoughts first. Subsequently, the act or behavior of adultery proceeds after the thoughts. My own analyses of stories that had been told to me helped lead me to this conclusion. The thoughts are the causes which lead to the effects: the behavior. White collar crime is crime committed byShow MoreRelatedDeviance : Deviance And De viance1335 Words   |  6 Pages Deviance is defined as the fact or state of departing from usual or accepted standards, especially in social or sexual behavior. There are many different forms of deviance in today s society. Something that is viewed as being deviant in one culture might be seen as normal in another. There are many different types and theories in which define deviance, however their are 3 broad categories, these 3 categories are positivist, relativist, and critical conceptions of deviance. These 3 categories areRead MoreCity of God Analysis954 Words   |  4 Pagestheories of crime and deviance. Some of the major theories I noticed throughout the movie were the functionalist theory, including examples of relative depravation, as well as the interactionist theory, including differential association and labeling. There was also evidence of the conflict theory and the control theory throughout the film. The functionalist theory states that hard work leads to rewards, and when these rewards are not sufficient, deviance arises. Crime and deviance result from â€Å"structuralRead More‚Äà ²Marxism Is No Longer Relevant to Our Understanding of Crime Deviance in Society‚Äà ´1269 Words   |  6 PagesIn order to answer the question, the terms Crime Deviance must firstly be defined. Crime is an act against the Law (robbery, murder etc), thus the act is known as illegal, whereas Deviance is an act that is not against the Law but an act seen as ‘abnormal’ and going against the norms values o f Society, such as cross-dressing etc. Marx developed the idea of Marxism (a conflict theory between Upper and Lower social classes) in the 18th Century, when social classes were very clearly defined-Read MoreTaking a Look at the Labeling Theory909 Words   |  4 Pagesare defining deviance based on primary deviance through implementing a label on the offender, discrimination by formal institutions, as well as the public based on what is defined as deviance, and continued deviance based on the label placed on offenders, which is known as secondary deviance in the labeling theory. Unlike traditional theories of deviance that use an absolute definition of deviance, labeling theory is centered on a relative definition of deviance. Using this relative definition ofRead MoreI Am A White, Cisgender, Colorado1007 Words   |  5 PagesGod and the teachings of the Bible. Where it is acceptable to display your emotions in one setting it may not be acceptable in another. It is often questioned what determines deviance, or what norms are people complying to that determines what is deviant and what is not. I have noted that the norms that determine deviance change depending on the particular setting, but which person determines these norms? Is the person that is deemed the most powerful the one that establishes these norms? Such asRead MoreWhat is Deviance? Essay1646 Words   |  7 Pages Deviance can be defined as an absence of conformity to the social norm. Not all deviant behavior is necessarily illegal or harmful to individuals, these behaviors can range from standing in another’s personal space to murdering another individual. In some cases, it can be looked upon as a positive change or a unique and favorable act. Although, considered deviant because it is not the social norm, it still can have a very positive social aspect or lead to social change. Culture and the societiesRead MoreEffects Of Labelling On Deviant Behaviour1502 Words à ‚  |  7 Pages What is defined as deviance can be dependent on one’s subjective views which can be influence the study of crime and reliability of crime statistics. Within my essay I’ll be exploring the effects of labelling on deviant behaviour, and the ways in which views differ due to the influence of various groups within society and the influence of the media on societies interpretation of deviance. Deviance is understood to be behaviour which deviates from what is seen as the norm or what is socially acceptableRead MoreSocial Deviance951 Words   |  4 PagesSocial Deviance Compiled by Parul Parihar As Young and Mack have pointed out, â€Å"No norm is always obeyed; no individual always conforms to every set of expectations†. Hence, deviance, that is, the act of going against the rules or norms is there everywhere. Deviant Behaviour such as knavery, cheating, adultery, unfairness, crime, malingering, immorality, dishonesty, betrayal, burglary, corruption, cunningness, sneakiness, wickednessRead MoreOutline and assess the view that crime and deviance are socially constructed1021 Words   |  5 Pagesand assess the view that crime and deviance are socially constructed There has been a pleather of research regarding the issue of crime and deviance. A definition of crime and deviance can be explained in relative terms which are dependant on any particular society’s interpretation of crime and deviance. Cultures differ from one society to another and the general consensus of right and wrong can also evolve throughout time. Definitions of crime and deviance can evolve with factors such as timeRead MoreEssay on Deviance and Society969 Words   |  4 Pages Determining Deviance The dictionary defines deviance as the breakdown or diversion from the accepted norm or expected standards of behaviour of a society. The concept of deviance however has no standard definition, it is deemed to be culturally relative. That is to say that your culture (norms, values and morals) determine what you as an individual or your society deems deviant behaviour. Functionalist Findings on Deviance The functionalist sociologist would