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Structural Functionalism Theory

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Theories of Deviance
Structural – Functionalism Theories
A. Anomie Theory of Durkheim
In a modern society, members feel that moral consensus has weakened. In this world, some people lose their sense of belonging, less participation in socially meaningful activities, feel alone, frightened and disoriented is simply because of the economic interdependence. These experiences and developments contributes to have feeling of anomie – is a condition of normlessness, in which norms and values have very little impact on the culture.
B. Strain Theory (Robert K. Merton)
First, culture defined goals, interests, and purposes for the members of the society. Goals are the things “worth striving for.” Second, the culture is the one who regulates and controls the acceptable mode of reaching out for these goals. Societies can provided goals and legitimate means to attain those goals but provide very limited access for some to legitimately attain them. It is simply means that individuals experienced the strain when the structures in the society do not give the individuals an opportunity to attain the provided goals. For example, a married man who has six children but do not have a proper education due to poverty, cannot find a decent job that will help him to provide foods for his hungry children might steal or hold – …show more content…

Labeling theory suggests that though we are breaking rules and violating norms every now and then, we in ourselves do not considered as deviant, nor we are being labeled by other people. On the other hand, there are some instances that individuals are being labeled by the society as deviant and this labeling process brings about more deviant behavior. A person being caught in wrong doing and branded as deviant, experiences a extreme consequent change in his identity. This label affects his/ her participation in all social activities and self –

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