Social Deviance
Social Deviance Paper
Deviance is defined as the violation of cultural norms. This is an extremely broad definition, and depending on who is explaining it, the above definition can mean a variety of different things. It is, however, generally assumed by the public that anyone who is considered "deviant" is putting a negative hold on society. This is not necessarily true. Deviance is exhibited in many forms throughout society. Deviance is not necessarily negative; sometimes the norms of society need to be violated so that new norms can be formed. Society repeatedly attempts to put many social controls on its’ people. Anyone who does not fit the perfect mold of the perfect-citizen would be considered a deviant (Social Deviance, 2006).
A few of the social groups that are considered to be socially deviant are people with mental illnesses, drug addicts, Anorexics, people who are obese, ethnic groups and people whose sexual orientation does not appeal to society. I have decided to discuss how Social Deviance affects homosexuals (Social Control, 2010).
The sexual deviant is simply an odd fellow who is easily tolerated. Once deviance is defined in moral, legal, or medical terms, it becomes a matter of concern for the church, the courts, or the medical profession. As a result, the deviant is no longer regarded as a harmless non-conformist who has a right to be left alone, but as a sinner who needs to be saved, a criminal who needs to be punished, or a patient who needs to be cured.
How society goes about this is, first, by social control. Social control is the techniques and the strategies for preventing deviant behavior in a society. Social control occurs on all levels of society. Social control leads to conformity and obedience to the rules of a given society, state, or social group (Schaefer, 2006).
Next society forms a prejudice against homosexuals. The prejudices are in the form of making homosexuals feel ashamed, ridiculed, and criticizing them. All of these
Deviance is defined as the violation of cultural norms. This is an extremely broad definition, and depending on who is explaining it, the above definition can mean a variety of different things. It is, however, generally assumed by the public that anyone who is considered "deviant" is putting a negative hold on society. This is not necessarily true. Deviance is exhibited in many forms throughout society. Deviance is not necessarily negative; sometimes the norms of society need to be violated so that new norms can be formed. Society repeatedly attempts to put many social controls on its’ people. Anyone who does not fit the perfect mold of the perfect-citizen would be considered a deviant (Social Deviance, 2006).
A few of the social groups that are considered to be socially deviant are people with mental illnesses, drug addicts, Anorexics, people who are obese, ethnic groups and people whose sexual orientation does not appeal to society. I have decided to discuss how Social Deviance affects homosexuals (Social Control, 2010).
The sexual deviant is simply an odd fellow who is easily tolerated. Once deviance is defined in moral, legal, or medical terms, it becomes a matter of concern for the church, the courts, or the medical profession. As a result, the deviant is no longer regarded as a harmless non-conformist who has a right to be left alone, but as a sinner who needs to be saved, a criminal who needs to be punished, or a patient who needs to be cured.
How society goes about this is, first, by social control. Social control is the techniques and the strategies for preventing deviant behavior in a society. Social control occurs on all levels of society. Social control leads to conformity and obedience to the rules of a given society, state, or social group (Schaefer, 2006).
Next society forms a prejudice against homosexuals. The prejudices are in the form of making homosexuals feel ashamed, ridiculed, and criticizing them. All of these
References: Schaefer, R. T. (2006). Sociology: A Brief Introduction (6th ed.). Retrieved from Social Control. (2010). www.yahooanswers.com Social Deviance. (2006). www.libertarianism.tripod.com Sociology/Social stigma/deviance. (2007). www.Healthlinenetworks.com