Theories Of Deviance

Based on a certain person’s perspective, deviance can be viewed in many different ways. Some might deem piercings as deviance, while others believe getting a speeding ticket is deviant. Consider even being late to class as an aberrant behavior. Deviance, stated very simply, is a violation of a norm (Schaefer). Based on the sociological definition, we have all been divergent from time to time. From a functionalist perspective, deviance is a normal part of human existence that has positive and negative consequences for social stability. Émile Durkheim believes that punishments are accepted within a culture to help define acceptable behavior and contribute to stability. He had introduced the anomie theory to describe one’s loss of direction when social control of individual behavior has become ineffective (Schaefer). Robert Merton then later on adapted Durkheim’s idea of anomie to describe why people accept or reject goals of a community (Schaefer). For example, one significant goal in the US is success that is measured based on how much money one has. Merton accepts the idea that people choose to either modify themselves into accepting or deviating from cultural expectations.
For instance, family, friends, and peers can influence us on the norms of our culture. Travis Hirschi believes that childhood years are the key to developing self-control. This is the period where many children tend to pick up habits of close members. Children who lack self-control may grow up to commit crimes and deviant behaviors (“Theories of Deviance”). The influence and the way a child is raised will affect how they accept certain norms and maybe even perform aberrant behaviors in the