NAME- AASTHA CHANAKYA

CLASS & SECTION – 1st SEMESTER ‘C’

ROLL NO – 03
SUBJECT – SOCIOLOGY
SUBJECT TEACHER – MR. UTTAM
KUMAR PANDA

Social Construct Deviance

The word “deviance” sometimes suggests strange or inappropriate behaviour, in sociological

contexts, the term refers to any transgression of social standards. Deviance can take many
different forms, from infractions on the road like a traffic ticket to more serious crimes like
murder. Every civilization has its own concept of what constitutes deviation and what does not,
and these definitions vary greatly throughout societies. Deviance is defined as any behaviour that
goes against widely recognized social norms and is viewed negatively by a certain group. Put
another way, it’s behaviour that goes against what is considered appropriate in a certain culture
or group. It involves behaviours that result in negative outcomes as well as social constraints. It
also covers offenses against the community.
In order to examine current sociological and criminological perspectives on deviance, a literature
review technique was used. Along with more recent research pieces, the review features
foundational works by researchers including Émile Durkheim, Robert Merton, and Howard
Becker. To determine the main components and theoretical frameworks that explain aberrant
conduct, a conceptual analysis was done.
This study’s conceptual framework is based on three main theoretical stances:
1.Structural- Functionalism: One of the founders of structural functionalism, Émile Durkheim,
argued that deviation is a necessary component of society and has a functional role. No society
can function without some degree of deviance, in Durkheim’s view, since imperfect adherence to
social standards will always occur. Therefore, deviation is both inevitable and natural. Deviance
aids in establishing and upholding the moral limits of society. Deviant behaviour is punished,
reinforcing social norms about what is and is not acceptable. Deviance has the power to
encourage social transformation. Society may revaluate its ideals and establish new norms when
a sufficient number of individuals question the ones that already exist or when abnormal
behaviour becomes normal.
2.Strain theory: Every community, according to Merton, has culturally sanctioned objectives that
members are supposed to meet, such as achieving monetary achievement, wealth, or social
standing. Simultaneously, society offers structured ways to accomplish these ends, such as work,
education, and entrepreneurship. There is tension that can lead people to engage in deviant
behaviour when there is a gap between their objectives and the appropriate ways to achieve
them. According to Merton, people’s reactions to stress vary based on their capacity to use
legitimate means for accomplishing social objectives. He listed the following five adaptation
modes: Conformity, Innovation, Ritualism, Retreatism, Rebellion. The focus of strain theory is
on the relationship between structural inequality in society—especially economic inequality—
and abnormal behaviour. If they are unable to take advantage of legal chances, people may resort
to crime or other deviant behaviour in an attempt to succeed. This is especially true in high-
income inequality cultures, where there is a great deal of pressure to succeed by unethical means
due to the wealth difference between the rich and the poor. Lower socioeconomic groups are the
main focus of strain theory since they are more likely to feel strain because they have fewer
access to opportunities that are legal. People from underprivileged origins, for example, might
not have as many educational or career prospects, thus in order to succeed financially, they might
turn to criminal activities like drug trafficking, theft, or fraud.
3.Labeling theory: Labelling theory states that deviance is a social construct that changes based
on the individuals involved, the situation, and the response of the community. The definition of
deviance is set by the powerful, who frequently use it as an intermediary for wider social
injustices. There are two types of deviance under this theory. Primary Deviance is the term used
to describe the first instance of disobeying the rules, which may or may not lead to the person
being classified as deviant. It might be something as simple as breaching a social norm or
committing a small-time crime. When someone adopts the label of deviant as a part of who they
are, it’s known as secondary deviation. This happens frequently as a result of other people’s
reactions (e.g., police, society, peers). The term turns into a “master status” or a defining feature
of the individual’s identity, which encourages them to carry on with their abnormal behaviour.
When someone is deemed abnormal by society, they frequently face discrimination and viewed
as a stranger or someone with lower moral standards. The effects of stigma on social
relationships and self-perception are elaborated in Erving Goffman’s work. Stigmatization can
restrict a person’s access to social, professional, or educational possibilities, which could lead to
an increase in deviant conduct. The significance of social responses to abnormal conduct is the
main emphasis of labelling theory. Social control organizations, such as the media, courts, and
police, frequently exaggerate deviance by designating particular people or groups as abnormal.
Racial minorities and those from lower socioeconomic classes, for instance, are more likely to be
classified as criminals, which perpetuates prejudice and social injustices. The overrepresentation
of marginalized groups in jails and social control systems is a result of this selective
classification.
Deviant behaviour can have a variety of particular origins, and each person's motivation for
acting in a deviant manner is unique. They can, nevertheless, be categorized and arranged into
three main categories.
1.Psychological causes of deviance: A person’s mind and thinking may be influenced by the
environment in which they are raised. Deviance in both individuals and communities can also be
encouraged by frequent exposure to deviant behaviour. When vices like substance abuse, drug
and alcohol abuse, smoking, and gambling are practiced in close proximity to one another, a
similar pattern appears. People’s mindsets are negatively impacted psychologically by social
media abuse and overuse, which can result in the emergence of rebellious or unusual attitudes,
negative attitudes, and feelings of unfairness, desperation, and retaliation. Anomie or cultural
discontent could be another significant contributing reason to departure.
2.Biological behaviour of deviance: When it comes to biological variables that contribute to
deviance, an individual’s health, physical attributes, heredity, and the development and
functioning of their brain and mental aptitude all play major roles. Cesare Lombroso, an Italian
physician, further characterized deviance in criminals by characterizing them as born criminals
because of a particular trait or set of traits in their behaviour. Historically, one of the earliest
discoveries and theories supporting the understanding of the concept of deviant behaviour was
the biological basis for deviance. It takes into account an individual’s innate traits, physical
makeup, and instincts as scientific evidence for deviance and criminal behaviour. However, there
are no such conclusive data indicating that genetics or biological characteristics contribute to
deviance. This idea also emphasizes the existence of an additional chromosome in people who
typically turn to crime. Despite this, most sociologists disagree with this hypothesis because it is
impractical.
3.Sociological behaviour of deviance: The social environment in which people are raised has a
big role in how deviance develops. A person’s social background, upbringing, socialization,
family dynamics, experiences with social rejection, social and religious convictions, and poverty
can all have an impact on deviant behaviour. People experience a spectrum of emotions in
response to the labels and judgments that society places on them. . Some of the social goals that
society sets are having a nice career, a respectable house, and a luxury car. Time constraints are
also established across generations to accomplish these goals. There is pressure to reach these
goals by a certain age, and there is inequality in the methods and means of doing so within
society, which can occasionally result in aggression. Deviant behaviour does not come naturally
to people; rather, it develops as a result of social environments and events.
Social Control and Deviance: The term “social control” refers to the procedures that society uses
to enforce rules and keep the peace. These procedures can be formal (such as laws and law
enforcement) or informal (such as peer pressure and social norms). Deviance is the management,
deterrence, and punishment of behaviour that deviates from social norms. While control theory
emphasizes strong social relationships as essential to conformity, theories such as Durkheim’s
functionalism regard deviation as vital for establishing cohesion and reinforcing norms.
According to conflict theory, deviance is seen through the prism of power, with the powerful
defining and controlling what is deemed deviant. Labelling theory emphasizes how social
responses can reinforce deviant conduct. Deviance and social control work together to create a
balance in society between change and conformity.
Cultural relativity of deviance: Since deviation is determined by society norms and values, the
cultural relativity of deviance highlights how what constitutes deviant behaviour differs among
societies, cultures, and historical times. Examples of behaviours that are considered abnormal in
one culture but normal in another include polygamy, cannabis use, and homosexuality. As
demonstrated by the growing acceptability of same-sex marriage and divorce, norms can also
shift over time. Furthermore, power dynamics play a part in designating some actions as deviant,
and subcultures may contest conventional definitions of deviance. Deviance is ultimately
determined by social and cultural settings rather than being absolute.
In conclusion, deviation is a broad term with numerous aspects that differs between societies,
cultures, and historical eras. It is determined by the standards and ideals of a certain community
rather than being an inherent trait of behaviour. Different theoretical perspectives, such as
structural functionalism, strain theory, and labelling theory, offer lenses through which to view
the origins, purposes, and effects of aberrant behaviour. Formal and informal social control
mechanisms govern behaviour and preserve order, although the definition of what is considered
abnormal is frequently influenced by power relations. The concept of cultural relativity of
deviance highlights how social norms are flexible and shows how actions that are considered
abnormal in one setting may not be in another. In the end, social control and deviation work
together to influence society transformation, cohesion, and conformity.