![]() Émile Durkheim is often hailed as one of the founding fathers of sociology, with contributions that have shaped the way we study society today.īorn in France in 1858, Durkheim made waves in the academic world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And trust us, we're all a bit deviant in some way or another. ![]() So why study deviance? Because understanding deviance helps us understand society itself-the rules it makes, who gets to make them, and what happens when we break them. Society's rules change, and what was once deviant can become normal-or vice versa. ![]() Similarly, fashion styles that were once considered rebellious or deviant, like miniskirts or dyed hair, have found their way into mainstream culture. Nowadays, rock and roll is a widely accepted genre. Parents and authority figures were concerned that it would corrupt the youth. In the 1950s, rock and roll was considered a deviant form of music. The norms that define deviance aren't set in stone they evolve over time and vary across cultures. These are considered deviant because they go against the norms of respectful and lawful behavior on digital platforms. In the digital age, new forms of deviance have emerged, like cyberbullying and online piracy. While considered deviant at the time, these actions led to significant transformations in laws and societal norms. In more recent history, the Civil Rights Movement in the United States turned acts of civil disobedience into tools for social change. Fast forward to the present, and witchcraft is either seen as a form of entertainment or a subculture of a benign spiritual practice by most people. In the Middle Ages, for instance, witchcraft was considered highly deviant and punishable by death. Studying the past helps us understand the ever-changing nature of deviance. Through our interactions, we learn what is considered deviant within our close circles, and this varies from group to group. Have you ever done something just because your friends were doing it, even if you knew it was wrong? That's symbolic interactionism in action. Symbolic Interactionism ( Herbert Blumer): This theory takes us into the small-scale, day-to-day interactions that shape our understanding of deviance.For example, not paying taxes is deviant because it goes against the rules set by those who benefit from tax collection-the government. Often, those in power decide what's deviant, usually in a way that protects their own interests. In a society, different groups have different levels of power, wealth, and influence. Conflict Theory ( Karl Marx): This theory dives into the unequal distribution of power.Just like a teacher lays down rules for what you can or can't do in a classroom, deviance helps us understand the boundaries in society. It helps define the limits of acceptable behavior. Structural Functionalism ( Émile Durkheim): Durkheim was one of the first to say, "Hey, deviance is not all bad!" According to him, deviance serves a purpose in society.To better understand deviance, sociologists have created a range of theories, each offering a unique lens through which we can study human behavior. Gossiping might be considered morally wrong or deviant but you won't be arrested for it (unless it turns into defamation, then that's a different story). On the other hand, theft is both deviant and illegal.ĭeviance could also be things that are socially frowned upon but not punishable by law. In some societies, especially older generations, tattoos are seen as deviant but they are not illegal. ![]() While all crimes are forms of deviance, not all deviance is criminal. ![]() You might be thinking, "Isn't deviance just a fancy word for crime?" Well, not really. In different cultures, something that's deviant in one place might be completely normal in another.įor example, eating insects is considered deviant in many Western cultures but is a common practice in some other parts of the world. It's a social construct, meaning society decides what's deviant and what's not. Now, it's important to remember that deviance isn't universally bad or good. That's because your attire is deviant-it doesn't match what's typically expected in that setting. You'd definitely get some looks, maybe even some comments. Imagine a simple example: most kids in school wear casual clothes, but one day you decide to show up in a tuxedo or a ball gown. Deviance is any action, belief, or condition that goes against societal norms or expectations. First, let's break down what deviance really means in sociology. ![]()
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