W H Y D O P E O P L E C O M M I T D E V I A N T AC T S ?

THEORIES OF DEVIANCE

1. FUNCTIONALIST THEORIES

• Strain Theory

• Says deviance is caused by incompatible goals and means

• Anomie: norms of society are unclear, causes confusion

• People have 1 of 5 responses to society’s goals (3 modes of adaptation):

• 1. Conformity: Only legitimate way to achieve goal.

• 2. Innovation: Accept goals, but not the way to achieve them• Ex. Shoplifter, drug dealer

1. FUNCTIONALIST THEORIES

• 3. Ritualism: Find it impossible to achieve goals, so abandon goal but continue to behave nicely.• Ex. Pass up opportunity for promotion rather than face failure.

• 4. Retreatism: Reject both cultural goals and acceptable way to meet them; make no effort to achieve• Ex: Drug addicts, beggars

• 5. Rebellion: Substitute a new set of goals for old ones; pose a threat to society

2. CONFLICT THEORIES

• Believe competition and social inequality lead to deviance.

• Upper class uses deviance to keep power.

• Lower classes are deviant because:• Low self-esteem• Feeling of powerlessness

• Our society tends to punish the deviance of the lower class more than that of the upper class

3. INTERACTIONIST THEORIES

• Control Theory• People who have strong ties to their community are less likely

to be deviant.• Communities in which most members have strong social

bonds will have lower rates of deviance.

• Cultural Transmission Theory• Deviance is learned behavior• Differential association – If you hang out with deviants you

are more likely to become one

• Labeling Theory• Looks at how deviants become identified as deviants• Primary (undetected) v. Secondary (labeled) Deviance• Being labeled as deviant may encourage deviant behavior