The relativity of deviance is best explained by the. SOC Deviant Behavior Midterm #1 Flashcards 2022-12-09

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sociological theory of social constructionism

Deviance, or the act of deviating from social norms, is a concept that is culturally and socially constructed. In other words, what is considered deviant in one society may not be considered deviant in another. This relativity of deviance can be best explained by the sociological theory of social constructionism.

Social constructionism is the idea that our social world and the meaning we attribute to it are constructed through our interactions and communication with others. According to this perspective, social norms and values are not inherent or universal, but rather they are created and maintained through social interactions and cultural practices.

Therefore, deviance is not a fixed or objective concept, but rather it is defined and constructed by the society in which it occurs. For example, in some societies, tattoos and piercings may be seen as deviant and taboo, while in others they may be a common and accepted form of self-expression. Similarly, in some societies, same-sex relationships may be considered deviant and punishable, while in others they may be accepted and even celebrated.

This relativity of deviance has important implications for how societies respond to and treat those who deviate from social norms. It highlights the importance of understanding and examining the social and cultural context in which deviance occurs, rather than treating it as a universal and inherent characteristic of an individual or group.

Additionally, social constructionism emphasizes the role of power and social structures in shaping and defining deviance. Those who hold positions of power within a society often have the ability to define what is considered deviant and to shape social norms and values. This can result in the stigmatization and marginalization of certain groups or individuals who do not conform to the dominant norms and values of a society.

In conclusion, the relativity of deviance is best explained by the sociological theory of social constructionism. This theory emphasizes the role of social interactions and cultural practices in shaping and defining deviance, and highlights the importance of understanding the social and cultural context in which deviance occurs. It also highlights the role of power and social structures in shaping and defining deviance, and the potential consequences for those who do not conform to dominant norms and values.

Relativity of Social Deviance Essay Example

the relativity of deviance is best explained by the

As we have noted, deviance is generally perceived to be disruptive in society. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. Explain how being homeless can lead to "mental illness. These characteristics include poverty, dilapidation, population density, and population turnover. Simply put, socialization into the male gender role, or masculinity, leads to values such as competitiveness and behavioral patterns such as spending more time away from home that all promote deviance. Social Control Theory d.

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Deviance

the relativity of deviance is best explained by the

In this paper I will answer the question of what exactly is deviance and how is it constructed? Students will reflect upon what factors influence the relativity of deviance. Deviant Subcultures Some sociologists stress that poverty and other community conditions give rise to certain subcultures through which adolescents acquire values that promote deviant behavior. Justice Quarterly, 5, 497—538. As such, the question of whether or not a person is deviant is more of a matter of what factors are involved in the decision, rather than whether or not a person is deviant or not. Here poor people not only reject the goal of success and the means of working but work actively to bring about a new society with a new value system. In the late 1800s, many Americans used cocaine, marijuana, and opium, because they were common components of over-the-counter products for symptoms like depression, insomnia, menstrual cramps, migraines, and toothaches. Formal deviance can be described as a crime, which violates laws in a society.

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soc chapter 6 Flashcards

the relativity of deviance is best explained by the

Code of the street: Decency, violence, and the moral life of the inner city. Several such explanations exist. More than three quarters of all murder victims are male. Yet if a soldier kills someone in wartime, he may be considered a hero. Some of the most persuasive evidence comes from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods directed by sociologist Robert J. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. The acceptance of others culture and behaviors without necessarily proper evaluation can hamper the understanding of social deviance.

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SOC Deviant Behavior Midterm #1 Flashcards

the relativity of deviance is best explained by the

In some societies, incest is only considered when there is a brother- sister relation ship, whereas in others, even a relationship between third cousins is considered incest. Merton calls this third adaptation ritualism. The first thing that comes to mind is that people often eat in certain areas where they feel safest. New York, NY: Free Press. Hortense is following this deviant path a. Meanwhile, you want to meet some law-abiding friends, so you go to a singles bar. I know that specifically in the U.

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The concept of relativity of deviance is best illustrated by which of the following statements?

the relativity of deviance is best explained by the

The state must undertake the political process of criminalizing it. Deviance is closely related to the concept of crime, which is law breaking behaviour. What theory states that deviance is relative? He says that problem behaviors, including crime, are not a sign of mental illness. When Manny used drugs, he forgot about his frustrations. According to Merton, there are five types of deviance based upon these criteria: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism and rebellion. Only a third of victims of rape and sexual assault know their assailants. Explaining such differences, including differences in legality, has been of prime concern to students of deviance because they believe the processes affecting social attributions of deviance are fundamental to the maintenance and operation of social groups.

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the relativity of deviance is most aligned with which sociological perspective?

the relativity of deviance is best explained by the

Who gets to define what deviance is? New York, NY: Free Press. They are neither mental nor illness, he claims. Understand what is meant by the relativity of deviance. Marvin Wolfgang and Franco Ferracuti argued that a subculture of violence in inner-city areas promotes a violent response to insults and other problems. Cohen 1955 , whose Another sociologist, Walter Miller 1958 , said poor boys become delinquent because they live amid a lower-class subculture that includes several A very popular subcultural explanation is the so-called Social Control Theory Travis Hirschi 1969 argued that human nature is basically selfish and thus wondered why people do not commit deviance. While our culture sees the killing of dogs for meals as deviant, other countries may not. Sellers Copyright © 2004 Roxbury Publishing Company, Los Angeles, California Theoretical Approaches to Domestic Violence regarding violence is that it is only possible where there are the powerful and the powerless.

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The Relativity Of Deviance And The Sociological Theory

the relativity of deviance is best explained by the

Abstract A group based activity that challenges students to think about the relativity or degrees of deviance through manipulation of the context in which the deviance occurs. Many sociological theories of deviance exist, and together they offer a more complete understanding of deviance than any one theory offers by itself. Which of these descriptions best summarizes the trend in the number of U. Recently he began hanging out with friends who spend more time playing video games than studying; they routinely earn C's and D's. As adults they either ended up in low-paying jobs or went to prison. These considerations yield several questions that need to be answered in the study of deviance. Émile Durkheim Émile Durkheim, regarded by many as the father of studies of deviance, called attention to a shifting scale of attribution by which societies adjust their conceptions of unacceptable conduct to the volume of specific behaviors that exist and can be managed.

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Relativity of Deviance

the relativity of deviance is best explained by the

Those in power choose to label as deviant anything that is against their interests b. Her husband who stayed home taking care of their child does not know about this. Sutherland argued that criminal behavior is learned by interacting with close friends and family members who teach us how to commit various crimes and also about the values, motives, and rationalizations we need to adopt in order to justify breaking the law. For instance, it is mostly adults who come up with rules that children have to follow and live with. Together they help answer the questions posed earlier: why rates of deviance differ within social categories and across locations, why some behaviors are more likely than others to be considered deviant, and why some kinds of people are more likely than others to be considered deviant and to be punished for deviant behavior.

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7.2 Explaining Deviance

the relativity of deviance is best explained by the

Instead, they are a. This general process has been called "the elasticity of evil" Cohen, 1974 or, when it specifically involves acceptance of things previously thought of as intolerable, "defining deviancy down" Moynihan. He now has unresolved conflicts that he is working out by violating the law. Through the knowledge obtained he constructed a theory of anomie. When it comes to crime, though, it can be more difficult to perceive this point. Relativism: Approach to defining deviance that rests on the assumption that deviance is socially constructed. Structural functionalism argues that deviant behavior plays an active, constructive role in society by ultimately helping cohere different populations within a society.

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