defining deviance

DEFINING DEVIANCEDANIELLE DIRKS, PH.D.

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OUTLINE

PERSPECTIVES ON DEVIANCE

NON-SOCIOLOGICAL

SOCIOLOGICAL

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OBJECTIVE

HOW DO WE DEFINE WHAT IS “DEVIANT”?

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EXAMPLES OF DEVIANCE?

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ABC’S OF DEVIANCE

ATTITUDES

BEHAVIORS

CONDITIONS

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OUTLINE

PERSPECTIVES ON DEVIANCE

NON-SOCIOLOGICAL

SOCIOLOGICAL

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PERSPECTIVES ON DEVIANCE

THE NOT SO HELPFUL...

1. ABSOLUTIST

2. HARM

3. STATISTICAL

4. CRIMINAL

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ABSOLUTIST

INTRINSIC TO HUMAN CONDITION

OBJECTIVELY UNDERSTOOD

WIDESPREAD CONSENSUS

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HARM

INJURIOUS

DETRIMENTAL

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STATISTICAL

RARE

UNUSUAL

UNCOMMON

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CRIMINAL

ILLEGAL

LAWBREAKING

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CAN WE DO BETTER?

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OUTLINE

PERSPECTIVES ON DEVIANCE

NON-SOCIOLOGICAL

SOCIOLOGICAL

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SOCIOLOGY OF DEVIANCE

NORM MAKING

NORM BREAKING

REACTIONS TO NORM BREAKING

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SOCIOLOGICAL DEFINITIONS

DEVIANCE IS DETERMINED BY...

1. REACTIVE DEFINITIONS

2. NORMATIVE DEFINITIONS

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REACTIVE DEFINITIONS

REACTIONS TO BEHAVIORS / CONDITIONS

CONSEQUENCE OF RULES / SANCTIONS

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NORMATIVE DEFINITIONS

VIOLATION OF NORMS

IMPLIES RELATIVITY

COLLECTIVE QUALITY

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SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES

THE MORE HELPFUL...

1. RELATIVIST

2. FUNCTIONALIST

3. SOCIAL POWER

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RELATIVISTPERSPECTIVES

DEVIANCE IS DETERMINED BY...

1. SOCIAL NORMS

2. CUSTOMS

3. RULES

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DEVIANCE ISSOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED

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SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION

WE CREATE--OR CONSTRUCT--MEANING

SUBJECTIVE APPROACH TO REALITY

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FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVES

CLOSEST TO ABSOLUTIST

MORAL ORDER NECESSARY

DEVIANCE SERVES PURPOSE

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FOUR FUNCTIONSOF DEVIANCE

1. SOCIAL COHESION

2. SOCIAL BOUNDARIES

3. MORAL PASSAGE

4. INSTITUTIONAL THREAT

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DEVIANCE IS NECESSARY FOR SOCIAL ORDER

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SOCIAL POWER PERSPECTIVES

POWERFUL MAKE RULES / LAWS

DOMINANT DEFINE DEVIANCE

GENDER, CLASS, RACE, ETHNICITY KEY

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DEVIANCE IS RESULT OF UNEQUAL POWER

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CONCLUSION

SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACHES FOCUS ON COLLECTIVE MEANINGS, NORMS AND RULES

SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONISM INFLUENCES NEARLY ALL SOCIOLOGICAL DEVIANCE APPROACHES

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THANK YOUDANIELLE DIRKS, PH.D.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGYOCCIDENTAL COLLEGE

DIRKS@OXY.EDU / @DANIELLEDIRKSDANIELLEDIRKS.COM

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