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Leading Merton Deviance

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In the 1940s, Robert Merton proposed a biological explanations of deviance with the conclusion that biology cannot account for similarities from one society to the next in the new era and range of deviance (Author Unknown, p 1). His primary focus was on why the rates of deviance differ so dramatically in different societies and for different subgroups within a single society which reflected back on the roles of the culture, particularly its unifying aspects; giving an explanation for the distribution of deviant behavior across groups defined by class, race, ethnicity, and the alike (Author Unknown, p 1). Leading Merton to borrow a concept from Durkheim to analyze situations in which culture creates deviance and conflict to a situation in which cultural norms break down because of rapid change leading people unable to adapt (Author Unknown, p 1). Merton define his concept to concentrate on a situation’s disparity between the culture's norms on what constitutes success in life (goals) and the culture's norms on the appropriate ways to achieve those …show more content…

When the heat (pressure) is on what does an individual do in order to obtain their desire goal or achievement? Under pressure some people are unable to cope causing them to make bad judgement calls to the extent of committing white collar crimes such as theft, selling drugs, prostitution, and etc. to obtain their means. According to Merton’s analysis we should emphasized success goals more than we emphasize approved means of achieving those goals, and if we have the same level of success for any race, ethnic, and class stratification of the society limits the opportunities for success by those in the less privileged groups (Author Unknown, p

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Time, space, and context are also important in regards to deviance. When someone commits a deviant act, where they commit it, and who commits it/what setting they commit it in can affect other people’s reactions to the deviant behavior. A deviant action or behavior will not be viewed in the same way by everyone. Each person has their own perspectives and what might constitute grievous deviant behavior to one person might just be a minor inconvenience to another. The same principle applies to deviant behavior when setting is

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Due to Bender’s behaviour and personality, he is often alienated by those around him. Merton’s strain theory of behaviour states that deviance is a product of society itself and the conditions that it lays down for each individual. Each society has a certain set of goals and a means of achieving it however when an individual is unable to achieve them, they may resort to deviance (Haskings-Winner, Collishaw, Kritzer & Warecki, 2011). Bender who is unable to meet society’s expectation subtly portrayed by the other students of being academically inclined, popular or athletic, feels the need to go against society because he would not fit in our the school regardless. Moreover, Bender’s household is a distinct factor in his deviant behaviour.

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Deviance is categorized as a violation of cultural norms. In order for one to express deviance, they must act out against societal norms which are known as expectations and rules that "lead the way" for how an individual should act. Therefore, its much easier to depict from there that mostly one's society is what ultimately differentiates what the rules and expectations are as well as what it needed to break those rules that they have somewhat instilled and ingrained into our daily lives. To add, due to society and different eras of socialization deviant behavior evolves over time.

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The cultural definition of deviant behavior in the Amish community is way more extreme by modern Americans definition. Most Americans view deviant behavior as breaking the law, or behavior that does not conform to the norms of a particular society. They wouldn’t label watching television, driving a car, or wearing immodest clothes as divergent, since it is socially seen as normal. They might view the Amish as deviant because they refuse to participate in the normal practices of most Americans. These varying views of deviance highlights how essential one’s upbringing is in shaping the decisions

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However, although doing whatever it takes to succeed might lead to criminality, Merton developed five “modes of adaptation” to strain. The first mode of adaptation is conformity. While many, if not most, people

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Deviance can be broadly defined as the transgressions of social norms. It is a concept in sociology that has drawn many different analytical perspectives. This includes perspectives such as the reactivist, normative, statistical and absolutist. In his work, Liazos attempts to define the current state of the field of study by analyzing works of different authors in the field. Through this unconventional approach of studying deviance, Liazos attempted to bring light to the common approach sociologists take in studying more about the topic.

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The general strain theory, by Robert K. Merton, explains this strange occurrence. This theory “explains deviant behavior as an inevitable outcome of the strain individuals experience when society does not provide adequate and approved means to achieve culturally valued goals.” According to strain theory, here are five ways people deal with societal pressures: usually people conform to a society’s customs and laws and achieve their goals legally; other times, one will put on the guise of conforming while participating in deviant activity behind closed doors. There are those who abide by social norms and laws, but are indifferent to whether or not they achieve the ideal life praised by their society. Some people find they cannot accept the rules of a society at all; they either give up on the idea that life has any value, living recklessly and participating in dangerous illegal activity like drug and alcohol abuse; or they break off from the society altogether and create a new one of their own, with a different structure.

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The stressors increase the negative emotions, which in turn create pressure for the purpose of a corrective action. The corrective actions mostly come in form of criminal activities that are applied in order to alleviate from the strain or to revenge the source of the stress. For instance, individuals that have been associated with chronic lack of employment mostly engage in crimes such as drug dealing or theft in order to obtain money that can be used to make them feel

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Merton. The theory states that society puts pressure on individuals to achieve socially accepted goals (such as the American dream) though they lack the means, this leads to strain which may lead the individuals to commit crimes. Two major concerns in strain theory are the sources of the strain, stress or how people adapt to the strain. Positivism are theories of social and structure are strain theories.

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Deviance is considered a vagrant form of human activity, moving outside the more orderly currents of social life” (Erikson, 2013). Labeling theory is a major factor in criminal behavior. This theory gives insight on what can make an individual attracted to criminal behavior, opposed to wise decisions and acceptable behaviors. Kurbin shares with his readers that “ In contrast, labeling theory adopts a “ relativist” definition, assuming that nothing about a given behavior automatically makes it deviant. In other words, deviance is not a property of behavior, but rather that result of how others regard that behavior” (Chris E. Kubrin,

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1. The meaning of deviance is the result of a process in that it is socially constructed and is constantly changing depending on the context. From this perspective, an individual’s behavior or characteristics’ is not enough to make an act or behavior deviant, instead, it depends on the response that people have towards these acts that outlines what is moral and immoral behavior within a given community. According to Erikson, deviance helps communities maintain some type of social order by clearly outlining what’s considered moral and immoral behavior and changes as people explore their domains and test the limits of their community. Thereby, people that engage in immoral behavior are considered as “deviants,” as they challenge what’s been set as correct behavior by those in positions of influence within a certain community (e.g., policymakers, school board).

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I. INTRODUCTION Etiology, simply defined is the study of the cause of a disease or abnormal condition (merriam-webster.com). Within this research paper, one will look at the many factors that cause someone to commit deviant actions that goes against the social norms. Moreover, crime and the punishment that are handed down to those that cannot conform to the communal standards that the majority of the population follows without reprimand. II. OBJECTIVE PRESENTATION OF THE SOCIAL CONDITION

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A major sociological theory related to deviance is anomie. Before the anomie theory of deviance can be presented, the definition of deviance needs to be stated. Deviance is any behavior that violates certain norms. Emile Durkheim and Robert Merton, two famous sociologists, have two different definitions for the term anomie. Durkheim’s definition says that anomie is a mental state of normlessness, and being in a situation in which an individual has no behavior rules to follow.

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Many groups or cultures have different views on what is considered deviant.

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Deviance is a term that carries negative connotations, albeit, within the study of sociology deviance is understood merely as behaviours and/or thoughts that diverge from societal norms. Reflecting on my life from a sociological perspective has led me to deduce that my life experiences thus far would classify me as somewhat of a social deviant. While examining my life from an absolute perspective, I found that I fall into both normal and deviant categorizations. To elaborate, the cultural values instilled into me by both my family and general society have fashioned the moral code which I live by.

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