Deviance In Sociology

Sociology 1B Exercise set Due 5pm Monday 10th August

1. Why might some sociologists argue that the sociology of deviance is ‘dead’?
Many sociologists have said that the sociology of deviance is dead, such as Colin Sumner in 1975. It was said that behaviors are not deviant but rather just seen as not normal in society, but the term ‘normal’ cannot exactly be defined. Deviance is a discipline in Sociology that many claim is now ‘dead’. Deviance is an act with refers to ‘norm-breaking’ in our society. A social norm is appropriate behavior for a social group and an appropriate behavior for the environment an individual is in. Deviance is the act of breaking these social norms whether it be your behavior or something you do. Once you break
Durkheim explains that crime in society display to people the difference between right and wrong, and what acts are breaking social-norms. Durkheim also stated that crime encourage group against group, in other words, the good against the bad. As an example in terrorist attacks, the crime of terrorism separates society from the good individuals against the bad people (terrorists) which also has an effect in having them punished and looked down upon. Another theory Durkheim has explained is the fact of being deviant and going against society to reach out for a change, this may be things such as protests. Durkheim has also said that minor law breaking and being deviant every now and then in our lives reduces stress and anger and helps us to lead better and healthier lives. Durkheim is not saying that crime is good, but rather that is serves good in society. Durkheim’s theory is somewhat about a normative theory but mainly it comes from the labeling perspective. The normative theory applies in the way that the social norms provide a guide for what is normal in society and how individuals should act, and why they get broken in society. The labeling perspective is what helps the society regarding crime; the labeling perspective focuses on the social audience and how they react to the crime. Many of Durkheim’s theories relate exactly to this, how crime shows
In Madness and Civiilisation, the seventeen-year-old girl was treated with rationality, which is being very soft, gentle, considerate and placid. After the first treatment the girl being treated was isolated from the rest of the individuals and the second theme was practiced, control. This theme was practiced in a very powerful and authoritive manner, with strictness and a sense of professionalism. After being treated with this theme she confessed all her wrongdoings and admitted to what she had done. The last theme, being diffusion, which helped her and rehabilitated her physically and mentally. This process in the excerpt from Foucault’s Madness and Civilisation written in 1964 was based around the central themes of Focault’s analysis provided by