SOC 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Anomie, Cultural Learning, Labeling Theory
Document Summary
Deviance is behavior that violates expected rules and norms. How is deviance explained using the functionalist, interactionist, conflict, and feminist. Our reaction to deviance helps to maintain social stability and order. The loss of direction felt in a society when social control over indivdiaul behavior has become ineffective. Robert merton, functionalist, developed the strain theory of deviance. This theory elaborated on how tensions caused by the gap between cultural goals, and the means people have available to achieve those goals, leads to deviant behavior. Merton proposed that people conform to the social expectation when the goals and the means of reaching them are in balance. Conflict: people with power protect their interests and define deviance to suit their needs. An example: using cocaine in its powder form was punished at a much less rate than using cocaine in the form of crack. Cultural transmission: one learns criminal behavior by interacting with others.
