Deviance and Criminology: Understanding the Impact of Social Norms - Essay Sample

Introduction

Deviance is behavior that violates a society's social norm, .and is adequate to permit condemnation from the majority of the people (Anderson 27). It may be non-criminal or criminal. Criminology is the sociological field that deals with behavior that defies the law. At present, the American society considers activities such as excessive gambling, alcoholism, nudity in public spaces, stealing, not taking a bath, lying, cross-dressing, and seeking the services of commercial sex workers as deviant. Those who participate in deviant behavior are regarded as deviants. Thus, this concept is complicated since norms differ significantly across places, groups, and times (Anderson 71). In other words, what is acceptable to a certain group may be considered deviant in others. For example, Muslim Africa, Indonesia, and Malaysia circumcise women, a process that comprises cutting off the clitoris and shutting the labia commonly devoid of anesthesia.

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In the US, the idea of clitoridectomy is unimaginable. The act is deliberately cruel to preclude women from getting sexual satisfaction and is done in unhygienic conditions that frequently lead to infections. As such, many theories have been developed that relate to deviance behavior and crime. In this quest, we will evaluate deviance behavior and the functionalism, Anomie, and general strain theory.

The web quest assignment found that the functionalism perspective by Emile Durkheim posits that deviance assists to develop social stability by giving explanations of normative and non-normative behaviors (Ziyanak and James 2). Deviance performs two central roles in establishing social stability for the structural-functionalist. First, to punish deviance systems of identifying it create norms and guide people on how to behave by laying out models of tolerable and intolerable behavior ((Ziyanak and James 3). In addition, these social constraints create boundaries between populations and facilitate a sense of belonging within various groups. On the one side, deviance permits the majority to unite around their normativity, at the disadvantage of those who are seen as deviant. On the other hand, being stigmatized as deviant can improve solidity within the marked community as members take ownership and pride in their stigmatized identity creating cohesive groups of their own such as the LGBT members.

Robert Merton is credited with developing the Anomie theory of deviance in the 1960s. He argues that deviance is as a result of confusion, which arises due to the social norms that do not exist or conflict (Fabauer 146). The term explains the variations between goals that are socially accepted and the existence of the means to achieve them. For instance, the theory can be employed to stress on wealth acquirement as a primary goal for the US general public. The country's citizens strive for economic success, which is regarded as essential in having a positive identity in a consumerist and capitalist economy (Crossman para.4). Handwork and quality education may assist them in attaining middle or upper-class status.

However, not all the population in the US possess the means to attain wealth, more so the members of the disadvantaged groups and the minority. Besides, not everyone has schools to access quality education, leading to employment. A person's race, class, cultural capital, sexual orientation, and gender impacts an individual's prospect of climbing the socioeconomic ladder (Crossman para.6). Therefore, community members who are unable to pursue their goal of amassing wealth encounter anomie since a hindrance has obstructed their quest of a socially approved goal. In essence, the individuals might use deviant behaviors to accomplish their objectives, make a point, or retaliate against society. They feel a strain that may lead them in engaging in crime, including selling goods in the black market, embezzlement, and theft to acquire wealth.

Marginalized people mostly by classism and racism are the most probable to encounter strain since they have the same goals as other Americans but do not possess the means due to systematic inequalities (Crossman para.7). As such, they are more likely to employ deviant ways to acquire economic success. The class learned that the discussion beyond the anomie theory extends beyond acquisition crimes. Protests by African Americans against police violence is an example of a rebellion induced by strain. They presently and in the past, protested against social injustice to get the lawmakers to pass a statute that distributes a country's resources more evenly. Hence, economic empowerment is one of the affirmative action, and laws prohibit discrimination based on gender, religion, disability, and race.

The anomie theory can explain various types of deviance. It is also sociological in its focus on the role of social forces in creating deviance. Nevertheless, the approach has been criticized due to its generality. Opponents of the theory cite the lack of statements that describe the learning process of deviant behaviors encompassing the motivators of such actions. Further, the argument is not based on detailed scientific studies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, through the web quest assignment, the class learned how functionalism, anomie, and strain theory relates to deviance. Functionalism creates social stability since people punished for their deviance help others internalize what is acceptable in society. The marked and stigmatized groups are empowered and attain solidarity. Anime and strain theory posit that deviant behaviors are as a result of lacking the means to acquire a socially accepted goal such as wealth. The web quest sharpened the students' critical thinking skills by teaching these forces of society beyond their control and helping them better understand their behaviors and those of others.

Works Cited

Crossman, Ashley. "Deviance and Strain Theory in Sociology." ThoughtCo, Feb. 11, 2020, thoughtco.com/structural-strain-theory-3026632. https://www.thoughtco.com/structural-strain-theory-3026632

Fassauer, Gabriele. "Anomie-Driven Dynamics of Deviance." Self-Reinforcing Processes in and among Organizations. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2013. 145-161. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9780230392830_8

Ziyanak, Sebahattin, and James L. Williams. "Functionalist perspective on deviance." Journal of Human Sciences 11.2 (2014): 1-9. http://www.j-humansciences.com/ojs/index.php/ijhs/article/view/2791

Anderson, Tammy L. Understanding deviance: Connecting classical and contemporary perspectives. Routledge, 2014.