Functionalist Theory: The Role Of Deviance In Society

Deviance is a behavior that violates the social norms, in other words, it is a behavior that violates the standard of conduct or expectations of a group or society (Wickham 1991: 85). Though it may be sometimes positive, it is mostly considered in a negative view. The functionalist, interactionist and conflict perspectives seek to explain the concept of deviance.
According to the functionalists, deviance is a common part of human existence with both negative and positive consequences for social stability and thus helps define the limits of proper behavior. Emile Durkheim (1895/1964), according to him, punishments established within a culture define the acceptable behavior and thus ensure stability. He said that deviance was a normal and necessary part of social organization. Durkheim introduced Anomie, which is the loss of direction felt in a society when social control of individual behavior is ineffective. That is, a state of normlessness that usually occurs during a period of profound change and disorder, example, economic collapse.
Another functionalist, Robert Merton(1968) , explained why people accept or reject the goals of a society, that is, the socially approved or proved means of fulfilling their aspirations or both. His reaction to society's emphasis on wealth as a symbol of success is that
Richard Quinney (1970), argue that law-making is often an attempt by the powerful to coerce others into their own morality and explains why there are laws on drug abuse, gambling and prostitution yet they are violated most of the time on a large scale. Thus criminal laws do not represent a consistent application of societal values but instead reflect the competing values and interests. To the conflicts, people who view themselves as victims of unfair treatment tend to strike out not against the powerful so much as against fellow