Sociology of Deviance Midterm
Jennifer Nieto-Robinson
Professor McBroom
Sociology of Deviance Midterm 326
1) What do sociologists mean when they describe deviance as being relative? Provide an example of a deviant behavior and identify how it is relative.
Deviance is behavior that a considerable number of people in a society view as reprehensible and beyond the limits of tolerance. In most cases it is both negatively valued and provokes hostile reactions. Deviance does not exist independently of norms. Without norms, and without the application of norms in interpreting behavior, there is no deviance. Society bases their views on what is considered appropriate by the majority of people within that society or culture. So in rural Utah seeing two men hold hands and displaying affection towards each other may seem unnatural and extremely out of the ordinary, the same couple could be living in San Francisco and their behavior may go unnoticed because they are among people of like mind where homosexuality is accepted. This explains how deviant behavior is relative to the population who deem what is socially appropriate. Or we could consider WWII and how being Jewish was considered deviant. The Nazi’s tried to exterminate an entire race due to their beliefs. This behavior was seen as deviant by the rest of the world and spawned WWII.
2) What are deviant places, and how are they associated with deviant acts?
Deviant places are places that sustain deviant acts and behaviors even when the population has changed. This happens when (1) density; (2) poverty; (3) mixed use; (4) transience; and (5) dilapidation are present in the same place. These issues create an environment in which people feel unsafe. Also with poverty comes the stress and anxiety of knowing where the next meal comes from. This leads to crime, such as theft and more aggressive behavior due to living in a stressful environment.
3) Sociologists detail the importance of contextual and social patterns for deviant
Professor McBroom
Sociology of Deviance Midterm 326
1) What do sociologists mean when they describe deviance as being relative? Provide an example of a deviant behavior and identify how it is relative.
Deviance is behavior that a considerable number of people in a society view as reprehensible and beyond the limits of tolerance. In most cases it is both negatively valued and provokes hostile reactions. Deviance does not exist independently of norms. Without norms, and without the application of norms in interpreting behavior, there is no deviance. Society bases their views on what is considered appropriate by the majority of people within that society or culture. So in rural Utah seeing two men hold hands and displaying affection towards each other may seem unnatural and extremely out of the ordinary, the same couple could be living in San Francisco and their behavior may go unnoticed because they are among people of like mind where homosexuality is accepted. This explains how deviant behavior is relative to the population who deem what is socially appropriate. Or we could consider WWII and how being Jewish was considered deviant. The Nazi’s tried to exterminate an entire race due to their beliefs. This behavior was seen as deviant by the rest of the world and spawned WWII.
2) What are deviant places, and how are they associated with deviant acts?
Deviant places are places that sustain deviant acts and behaviors even when the population has changed. This happens when (1) density; (2) poverty; (3) mixed use; (4) transience; and (5) dilapidation are present in the same place. These issues create an environment in which people feel unsafe. Also with poverty comes the stress and anxiety of knowing where the next meal comes from. This leads to crime, such as theft and more aggressive behavior due to living in a stressful environment.
3) Sociologists detail the importance of contextual and social patterns for deviant
References: 1. asnafan.tripod.com/deviantbehaviour.pdf 2. www.us.oup.com/us/pdf/reid/Reid_Chapter5.pdf 3. Adapted from criminology 10th edition (pp80-82)By E.H.Sutherland&D.R.Cressley1978Philidelphia:Lippincott 4. Clinard, B., M., & Meier, F., R. (2011). Sociology: Sociology of Deviant Behavior, (Edition 14). Cengage Learning, Belmont, CA.