Deviance: Violation Of Social Norms
Introduction
Groups, as we have seen constantly try to enforce conformity on their members through the use of sanctions-- both positive and negative; formal and informal. In this section of the course, we'll address how and why people deviate from social norms.
Deviance is the violation of a social norm. Generally, "deviance" is regarded in a negative light, but there are many "positive" sides to deviance. For example, ice cream lovers in the United States have come to regard "Ben and Jerry's" ice cream as one of the best brands on the market. But the founders of this product, Ben and Jerry, are generally regarded as "deviants" in the minds of the "established" corporate society. This is because they ran their highly successful business …show more content…
It seems that in every society murder is a crime-- (But there are a very wide set of circumstances under which killing is permitted. What one society considers to be murder, another will consider to be justifiable homocide. For example, in one society in the middle east a woman can be beheaded for adultery. What American court would levy this sentence?!)
But there are some laws on the books that large numbers of people don't recognize or pay any attention to. While Americans would consider it both a crime and deviant to murder someone, many don't think that a person should be arrested for smoking marajuana. (It's not the smoking that he or she will be arrested for, it's the possession of the illegal substance, itself). They don't consider it deviant. It doesn't violate norms, in their opinion. (The same can be said for many of the old "blue laws" still on the books). If the public no longer considers an act to be seriously deviant, chances are that it will be removed from the law books. We can still consider people who claim to be witches "deviant" (or weird) for example, but practicing witch craft is no longer unlawful (as it once was in Salem, Massachusetts). Another example is prohibition in the 1920's. Although the 18th Ammendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed on December 18, 1917 prohibiting the sale, manufacture, transportation, and importation of intoxicating liquor, many (it seems) continued to drink and public sentiment was against prohibition which was repealed by the 21st Ammendment in
Groups, as we have seen constantly try to enforce conformity on their members through the use of sanctions-- both positive and negative; formal and informal. In this section of the course, we'll address how and why people deviate from social norms.
Deviance is the violation of a social norm. Generally, "deviance" is regarded in a negative light, but there are many "positive" sides to deviance. For example, ice cream lovers in the United States have come to regard "Ben and Jerry's" ice cream as one of the best brands on the market. But the founders of this product, Ben and Jerry, are generally regarded as "deviants" in the minds of the "established" corporate society. This is because they ran their highly successful business …show more content…
It seems that in every society murder is a crime-- (But there are a very wide set of circumstances under which killing is permitted. What one society considers to be murder, another will consider to be justifiable homocide. For example, in one society in the middle east a woman can be beheaded for adultery. What American court would levy this sentence?!)
But there are some laws on the books that large numbers of people don't recognize or pay any attention to. While Americans would consider it both a crime and deviant to murder someone, many don't think that a person should be arrested for smoking marajuana. (It's not the smoking that he or she will be arrested for, it's the possession of the illegal substance, itself). They don't consider it deviant. It doesn't violate norms, in their opinion. (The same can be said for many of the old "blue laws" still on the books). If the public no longer considers an act to be seriously deviant, chances are that it will be removed from the law books. We can still consider people who claim to be witches "deviant" (or weird) for example, but practicing witch craft is no longer unlawful (as it once was in Salem, Massachusetts). Another example is prohibition in the 1920's. Although the 18th Ammendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed on December 18, 1917 prohibiting the sale, manufacture, transportation, and importation of intoxicating liquor, many (it seems) continued to drink and public sentiment was against prohibition which was repealed by the 21st Ammendment in