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]]>According to conflict theory, deviance occurs due to class conflict. Bourgeoisie owns and controls the means of production in capitalist society and proletariat work for bourgeoisie to produce goods. All the efforts are put together by working class for production but they do not receive the fair share of their work. The owners of capital accumulate their wealth by exploiting working class. The working class cannot afford to buy the same products, which they have produced in the factory, because they are not being paid for their work fairly. In such unfair living condition lower class are compelled to commit crime for their survival.
Furthermore, in capitalist society the goal of each and every individual is, to become economically prosper. However, most of them fail to obtain that goal because they do not have means to achieve the goal. For example, most organization prefer to hire a graduate (for managerial level job) from a renowned educational institution. Lower class do not have access to a reputable institution because they can’t afford it, that’s why they fail to accomplish their goal of economic prosperity. They are only left with an option of deviance to obtain their goals. Some might become drug dealer, some may choose prostitution for financial security and some may become killers. Structural functionalist, Merton and Durkheim shared a same view as explained in strain theory. Conflict theory suggest that, mostly crimes are committed by the people who lack the resources for survival and exploited by the bourgeoisie.
Inequality in a society create chaos and unrest, if resources are distributed equally amongst the individuals there would be no crime. The root cause of the deviance is class struggle. Moreover, conflict theory suggest that, legislature, judiciary and executive branch of state are made and work for the people who are at the top of social ladder (upper class). They just function for the interest and protection of upper class. Those who are at the bottom of social ladder (lower class) are not entertain by law enforcing institutions as they entertain upper class.
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]]>Deviance simplify the cultural norms of society. Which aid the understanding of an individual about good and bad behaviors, in a society. If an individual behavior is deviant in a society other members of society will resent him for his wrong behavior, which will inform other uninformed members that, such behavior is unacceptable in a society. Deviance sets an example for the members of the group that, how an individual ought to behave and how an individual ought not to behave in society.
Deviance specify the moral boundaries in a society. When an individual is caught doing immoral activity, he is punished for his wrong doing in a society. Deviant behavior lead to punishment and resentment of other members in a society. Punishment for a crime sends the message to other members that, if an individual cross the moral boundaries, he will suffer the same fate. Which helps in maintaining social control.
Deviance promote solidarity among the individuals in a society. When members of society witness the deviant behavior, they become unify against the common enemy, which increase the sense of solidarity among the individuals. For example, world trade center 9/11 incident and Pearl Harbor incident unified the US nation against the common enemy of terrorism and resented the incidents with one voice. Due to which culprit suffer a severe punishment in the form of war.
Deviance plays vital role in social change process. Each society evolves with the passage of time, as the time passes individuals resent some old norms which they think are unfair to them, this deviant behavior of denouncing societal norms lead to the social change. For example women’s were not allowed to study and work in early 19th century, women unified together and created organizations to allow them to study and work and give them rights alike men. Such deviance lead to the social change, today every women has a right to seek education and work with men shoulder to shoulder.
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“When individuals fail to obey social norms and values of a particular society is called deviance”.
“Deviance can be explicated as, behaviors which are in conflict with the principles of a particular society”.
“Behaviors or actions that disrupts societal norms and are mutually disapproved by group members, is known as deviance”.
Good or bad — moral or immoral conducts are two sides of a coin, social norms decide whether, a particular conduct is moral or immoral — good or bad. Individuals are labeled on the basis of their choice of social conduct , those who conform to social norms they are considered respectable members of society however, those who violate social norms they are labeled as criminals.
Each society has its own formal norms or written rules. These formal rules are established to protect and reinforce the conducts or things which are collectively cherished by individuals within a given society. Social norms vary from society to society because individuals within different societies value distinct conducts or things. However, People are supposed to act or interact in accordance to the norms of their society. State Laws or formal norms are imperative for the survival and smooth functioning of every society. Formal rules regulate individual behavior within a society and these rules are established in order to sustain peace and order within a given society. When individuals break or violate norms of their respective society the phenomenon is called deviance in sociology.
The customary norms of each society differ from one another, normative conducts of one society might be considered deviant social behavior in other society. Polygyny is legal and considered normative behavior in many countries. However, it is considered deviant behavior in other countries and is punishable by law. For instance, men can have more than one wife in Middle Eastern countries or, in Muslim countries. On the other hand, in USA having more than one wife is considered as deviant behavior. Moreover, time and Situation is crucial to determine whether, a particular social conduct is deviant or, normative. For instance, in time of peace, taking someone life is disapproved by state law and considered as deviant behavior. Whereas, in time of war it is not considered deviant behavior. Therefore, to analyze individuals behavior whether, it’s deviant or, not. One should evaluate it on the basis of following factors, time, situation, social norms and conditions.
Punishment for deviant behavior depend upon the structure of society. In developed countries violating state laws are considered as deviant behavior and may lead to severe punishment. Whereas, in tribal or traditional societies violating religious norms and values are considered as deviant behavior. For example, In USA it is not against the law if, unmarried couple engage in intimate relationship. While, infidelity is considered as deviant behavior and could be punishable by death in Afghanistan tribal areas. In developed countries people have more regard towards state laws. On the other hand, tribal or traditional societies give more priority to their religious and cultural norms compare to state constitution, therefore, their judgment of deviant and non-deviant behavior is solely based on their religious values and norms.
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