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Lecture synopsis:
28 August 2006:
Serial killing is considered deviant behaviour and well it should
because society does not permit it, but going through a stop sign is
also deviant behaviour because society does not permit it! For both
violations there are penalties that are on a continuum depending on how
the social order views the offense. Obviously our example would have
penalties on both ends of the continuum. Violating the norms and roles of accepted
society is deviance, but most deviant texts will discuss crime and
bazaar behaviour exclusively. It is felt that if the study of deviancy
entails all forms of social violations, then it is getting into the
minutiae of experience and says little. There is some truth here, but
this course will discuss all forms of deviancy with the codicil that
there is a pattern common not only to the serial killer, but also to the
person who comes late to class. Both are deviant and both share a common
pattern of behaviour. It is suggested this approach greatly enlightens
the student not only to the relative nature of deviancy, but also gives
them a wider and more realistic perspective that deviancy is really a
part of everyone's lives and often considered "normal". THAT is important to remember.
Consider at one time smoking was "in",
now it is considered deviant in terms of one's health patterns.
There are many ways to investigate
deviancy - statistical, "medical model" and dysfunctional. We will look
at all these and ultimately use an eclectic approach. Always, the
problem with deviancy is "who is doing the defining?" The beginning
student has to think 3-dimenaionally in the very difficult subject.
Every time you see some thing that you believe is "deviant", there is
sure to be someone else that thinks the opposite way.
Society defines the proper rules of
behaviour, but so too do individuals in the recesses of their own minds
often guided by fantasy, malice or evil. Each of us creates our own
continuum of value judgments about how we act and how others should act.
Often the distinction between what we believe and what others accept as
normal does not coincide. Just think about how many "just right sexual
partners" you have chosen in your own mind and how many actually came
true. Yea, OK, I know! 'nuff said!
So we are going
to look at many forms of deviancy - some bazaar, some not. Keep also in
mind that the contemporary social order of the United States, especially
the mass movies and entertainment media, emphasize the extremes of
behaviour. Believe me, Electra does not exist, but that is a feminist
fantasy perpetuated for the aggrandizement of executive's monetary
coffers. Many argue that diversity in the 21st century is a basis for
skepticism and divisiveness within the American culture that separates
people and leads to gross misunderstandings furthering gaps and
increasing the possibility of deviancy between peoples. This is an
interesting contention and will be discussed in depth shortly. We will
also discuss the impact of labels on individuals and groups.
Nevertheless, society must always have rules and roles for order and
security. Once these rules are established there are always those who
will not or inadvertently do not follw them or, in a word, deviants.
30 August 2006:
One of the curious things about the deviancy continuum is that the
closer one gets to the extreme end, the clearer the punishment. On the
other hand, the closer one gets to the mild end, the vaguer the
punishment if at all. Avoiding deviance is important to all of us. The
further one gets from deviance, the better their chances are of
obtaining their desired goals. Again, staying away from labeling does
the same thing. The rules and regulations governing deviance are
important and society will show that it means business in these areas.
6 September 2006:
Deviance is a judgment concerning what behaviour does not offer security
and solidarity to the social order. This judgment is purposely meant to
set the individual offender apart from society and in a state of anomie.
Society wants the deviant to know that they are serious about what is
correct behaviour and also to let them know that there are severe
punishments for the lack of proper understanding on what to do in the
human experience. The collective society does not like deviants because
they remind everyone that chaos may be just around the corner and it is
something to be avoided at all costs - including the ostracizing of an
individual. Again, deviancy is about social control and those that need
more control than others. Sometimes just the hint of moving beyond the
norm of that which is accepted can get one in difficulty as the lady and
the dogs in the car indicate. On the other hand, deviancy can be used as
a social criticism in the "Watch Children Poop!" example. The
example also introduces us to Strain Theory. The "poop" person is using
deviance to make a point concerning the neighborhood. (probably) Why? In
some way they have been alienated from the general social order. it may
be a person or the strata the neighborhood is in, but they are making
about about something that they are uncomfortable with. This is Strain
Theory because they find themselves strained and are going into a
disengagement with the others. This estrangement leads them into anomie
and they combat the feeling by criticizing others thus keeping them in
the area of ASB.
Note also the ways in which deviancy can be used from the "salesperson"
and "poop" examples. One way is that the group punishes a person for
perceived deviancy, while a singular person releases their frustrations
concerning the group through deviancy!
11 September 2006:
Dr Jack's Model is the generic pattern
for all deviance, but remember that if one chooses to abide by X2 to
solve their goal problems and remain in ASB, they also may be bringing
down the social disapproval of another audience that has another X1.
Nevertheless, X1 is oftem established by moral entrepreneurs whose
motives may not be in the best interests of total society.
13 September 2006:
Again, deviance depends on who is doing
the defining. Although one understands that a deviant act leads to a
social problem, the deviant is also one that sees a social problem in
those that define their behaviour. This points out the complexity and
multiple levels of reality involved. Deviance is about social control
and often who is the controller and the controlled is not clear.
18 September 2006:
Exam 1.
20 September 2006:
The structure and process of deviance is
clear by Dr Jack's Model, but what are the triggers for making or
persuading a person to move from the barrier of X2 into the world of ~ASB.
There are three theories believed
responsible: 1. Labeling finds one in a situation whereby they are set
apart from others in such a manner that to foster and continue the label
is more satisfying than the hostility and trying to quell it. 2. Anomie
estranges a person from the social order producing mental, and sometimes
physical strain, so that the person becomes angry and pressures
themselves into ~ASB. 3. Conflict Theory proposes that one feels
constrained from the capitalist goals and thereby has no love for the
social order and moves into ~ASB in many respects to get revenge.
All three - labeling, strain and conflict theory lead one to
estrangement and are triggers or reasons for ~ASB behaviour.
26 September 2006:
Control is extremely important in the study
of deviance. The prevailing obligation of the social order is to give
confidence in the human experience that what is today will be tomorrow.
This often is achieved through control whose agents are social guards.
The guards are responsible for identifying and obstructing those who
would be moving into ~ASB and a threat to how the social system is
defined. The example used in class was the "Store" illustration: Guard
-"May I help you" Reponse - "Just looking!" Here one sees the guard is
challenging what the customer is doing because they wish to place them
within ASB. The customer replies and by using "just" is indicating they
are no threat and accept the definition of expected behaviour.
27 September 2006:
Marx's discussion emphasizes that
deviancy and its correction may lead to other deviancies. We will see
this continually in other situations in Dr Jack's book. Gans suggests
that the news is a reinforcer of the conservative social order by
publicly punishing deviants. The news also illuminates power relations
contributing to cohesion and control.
2 October 2006:
To be outside of ASB because one wishes to change the social order they
are in is a relative position as far as their perception from the
society they left. They may not believe that they have even left the
confines of ASB because they are simply trying to change certain things,
BUT society may see them as a radical and well within the ~ASB.
Remember, one can accept an alternative to X1, yet another social order
may now see them as being in ~ASB because of situation conversion.
4 October 2006:
Not only are there triggers for action
suggesting one may move into ~ASB areas, but also society sets up
barriers to deter such actions through coercion, pragmatism and
idealism. Each or a blend of these barriers is meant to maintain control
and certainty in the world we all live in. In fact, the very involvement
and its complexity may be a barrier in and of itself to convince us to
maneuver within the confines of ASB.
9 October 2006:
The power of anomie can not be
underestimated in persuading people to move into
~ASB.
Merton suggests that the forces allie with this are not only ones from
inside the person, but can also be strong external societal or cultural
manifestations of that which is needed to maintain security and the
ultimate goals of the social order.
go to
Deviance Text
11 October 2006: On
Becoming a Drug User apparently is verified in its steps by those ideas
expressed in class, BUT there is a wide margin for individual
differences here. The triggers for this behaviour are varied and most
agreed it was labeling, then strain, then conflict theory mixed in with
a bit of anomie to enhance the dependency. Also dependency is considered
not something that lasts forever and that there is a "dependency type"
one has to deal with.
Berger and Luckmann (1966) in The
Social Construction of Reality propose a foundation for the
"setting" of deviance. They suggest that as children we grow up in a
massive complex of rules and systems to support those rules. Many were
before us and many came after our birth and many will continue after our
death. The fact remains that we live in a world governed by social rules
as well as other types. The rules have histories that may not be of our
time, but exist in our time. We live within these rules and many we do
not even notice because they are simply a part of that which we have
come to know because it was always here. The problem is that we may have
the capacity to make rules, but we do not always have the
empowerment to do so. Often these "accepted" or hidden rules we take for
granted only become known when we break them because we can not know all
of them all of the time. At that time we become "deviant".
18 October 2006:
Stereotypes and labeling are keys to understanding anomic reactions. Any
label sets one apart from ASB and it is a difficult situation to resolve because
communication between parties is reduced to accusations and threats. The
isolation ensued is generally handled by contrition, not being permitted
to return to ASB, revenge and/or a "get even" policy.
Affiliation is when deviates seek out others of the same ilk for support
and comfort, Labeling never gets to the source of deviance but it
is an indicator of something deeper. The problem with labeling is
two-fold: 1. it ends commuunication and 2. the labeled has no choice as
to whom is the labeler! Stereotyping and labeling often begin the
process of transportation whereby one is moved from ASB to ~ASB.
23 October 2006:
Consider the show (What Not to Wear) shown today. What are the goals and
how were they achieved or not achieved. Does Dr Jack's Model hold for
this scenario and are there other elements that we have studied? The
disc willbe shown again to refresh your experience and to find some
things you may have missed in the first presentation. No late papers
will be accepted - ample preparation time is being provided.
DISTANCE EDUCATION FOR
25 October 2006:
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Kituse,
John I.. Societal Reaction
to Deviant Behaviour. pp. 95-102 |
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Kituse suggests that deviancy is a state that does not meet
the cultural model of what it takes to move up within the
social hierarchy. Then too one understands that deviance is
not something that the individual understands as far as
themselves are concerned, but it is a definition of their behaviour that others impose on them. This is not to say
that any behaviour that one accepts for their selves as
integral to their personality is alright, but to again
remind one that deviancy is more often than not something
that others agree to judge about someone else. There is a
reciprocity here also. For example, if one is defined as
homosexual in a deviant sense, then they are transported to
~ASB and simultaneously look for affiliation by creating
their own sub-culture. Kituse' argument centers about
homosexuality, but may be generalized to deviance in toto.
He suggests that there are three kinds of evidence for
deviance (homosexuality) 1. Indirect evidence by rumor and
innuendo. 2. Direct observation of gay behaviour which would
be a moving away from behaviour held in common by the
general populace and 3. overt sexual propositions. Now overt
sexual propositions have to be re-interpreted in accordance
to what is accepted for an act to be considered as deviant.
Those that conform to culture's norms immediately identify
deviant behaviour and will react in several ways. They may
quickly withdraw from interaction, subsequent withdraw from
interaction, partial withdrawal from interaction or maintain
the relationship. A critical factor as to which of the
previous is operative involves what others say about the
perceived deviancy. Specifically, the environment that a
person is in involving homosexuality often determines the
nature of the reaction from those about. Perhaps of greater
concern is the fact of labeling dynamics in that people
easily categorize, but are reluctant to understand.
Becker, Howard S..
Outsiders. pp. 92-95.
Becker suggests that deviance is not the quality of
an act, but lies more in the fact that a person breaks
established rules and becomes an outsider (anomie).
(This was a radical view in its time
because it was felt that some behaviour was generally
"tainted" and thus automatically deviant no matter what
others may feel.) Becker also cautions that there
are behaviours that may be considered deviant, but have
broken no rules - is it then deviancy? He then goes on to
say that what deviants share in common is not necessarily
behaviour characteristics, but more that they are outsiders
in their social order. Deviancy also varies in its degree of
offensiveness over time and it is also dependent on who does
the deviancy. (People in high places often get away with
things that you or I would be ostracized for!) He also
cautions that what we see as deviancy must be also verified
by others for it to be a genuine deviant act because
deviancy requires a consensually agreed upon definition of
behaviour. The biggest problem for the deviant is that,
after they have been branded deviant, their public image
changes drastically. As soon as the label of "deviant" is
attached, a person also is assumed to have other undesirable
traits. Deviance is also a sort of master status in that it
will be the pervading status with a specific role for the
rest of one's life. People who are deviant are assumed to
have broken a rule that no one else would have thought of
and this behaviour is seen as intolerable and that the
person themselves is of such a nature that they must be
"bad" in general. The treatment that deviants get often
reinforces their deviancy because they are no longer privy
to those elements in society that "normal" people share.
1 November 2006: This term paper
focuses on The Model and other applications discussed in
Chapter 5. The video program must be analyzed from a
constructivist perspective, i.e., the paper will have a
foundation of discussion based on the model with the areas
discussed in Chapter 5 as explanations. In other words,
before one discusses the dynamics of what is happening, one
must first discuss where the girl is on the model and what
is her place in terms of the things happening around her.
8 November 2006:
Exam 3 Due.
13 November 2006:
Much of the discussion today centered on Professional, Moral
and Philosophical Realignment found on pages 115-124 in The
Manual. Rape on campus especially fits into this Model of
behaviour in that the closed nature of the Fraternity
realigns ~ASB and converts it to ASB - at least in the mind
of those within the isolated group.
15 November 2006:
Gameson argues that television and the mass media;
especially some game shows may make the deviant appear more
normal and into ASB that they actually are. He believes that
there is a desensitizing and voyeuristic quality to
television that may be harmful, especially to children.
Television provides a platform for the deviant because it
thrives on controversy and the deviant is an ideal subject
in this area. |
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