Deviant Behavior/Tattoos
SOC 100
May 19, 2013
Beginning from a child we begin to experience different situations and interactions with others. We start getting taught the difference between right and wrong, what may be considered good and what is considered bad, and also taught the things we should and should not do. As we grow older we try to refrain from behavior of which society may disapprove of. Society see’s certain types of behavior as being deviant. First let’s begin by explaining what is a deviant behavior? Deviant behavior can be any behavior that does not conform to what people may consider normal, a behavior that does not meet with many expectations in society. Societies are both social structure and culture. Robert K Merton developed structural strain theory which is a perspective on what is deviance (Crossman, (n.d.)).
There are many variations or meanings of what can be considered a deviant behavior. Merton has five categories in which he classified as conformists, ritualists, innovators, retreatists and rebels. Everyone at some time in their life has done a deviant act, some may have continued on with that behavior. Rebels stands up to their own opinions and disregard what is norm or others opinions. Rebels can be considered deviant because of their choices in life. Tattooed people are considered rebels because they decided to mark the skin with art. For instance are tattoos considered a deviant behavior? There was a study done at the Texas Tech University which its findings stated that the number of tattoos that a person has then the more “deviance” they are involved in (Beck, (n.d.)). Their findings were based off of people who may have one tattoo versus those with four or more tattoos. Some would say that people with tattoos are rebels and deviant. Tattooed people considered risk-takers and non-conforming (Arndt, A., Glassman, M., 2012). Today tattoos have started to become more accepted from work environments to everyday life. Some view tattoos as a form of
May 19, 2013
Beginning from a child we begin to experience different situations and interactions with others. We start getting taught the difference between right and wrong, what may be considered good and what is considered bad, and also taught the things we should and should not do. As we grow older we try to refrain from behavior of which society may disapprove of. Society see’s certain types of behavior as being deviant. First let’s begin by explaining what is a deviant behavior? Deviant behavior can be any behavior that does not conform to what people may consider normal, a behavior that does not meet with many expectations in society. Societies are both social structure and culture. Robert K Merton developed structural strain theory which is a perspective on what is deviance (Crossman, (n.d.)).
There are many variations or meanings of what can be considered a deviant behavior. Merton has five categories in which he classified as conformists, ritualists, innovators, retreatists and rebels. Everyone at some time in their life has done a deviant act, some may have continued on with that behavior. Rebels stands up to their own opinions and disregard what is norm or others opinions. Rebels can be considered deviant because of their choices in life. Tattooed people are considered rebels because they decided to mark the skin with art. For instance are tattoos considered a deviant behavior? There was a study done at the Texas Tech University which its findings stated that the number of tattoos that a person has then the more “deviance” they are involved in (Beck, (n.d.)). Their findings were based off of people who may have one tattoo versus those with four or more tattoos. Some would say that people with tattoos are rebels and deviant. Tattooed people considered risk-takers and non-conforming (Arndt, A., Glassman, M., 2012). Today tattoos have started to become more accepted from work environments to everyday life. Some view tattoos as a form of
References: Beck, L. (n.d). Retrieved May 23, 2013 from Crossman, A. (n.d.). Retrieved May 23, 2013 from http://sociology.about.com/od/Deviance/a/Sociological-Explanations-Of-Deviant-Behavior.htm Arndt, A.,Glassman, M. (2012). “What Tattoos Tell Customers About Salespeople: The Role Of Gender Norm.” Marketing Management Journal 22, no