Toundialions ol Deviance

he Socinl

Although we tend to view deviance a» the free choice or perwal failin

of individuals, all
behavior deviance as well as onformity

social foundations of deviance identified

shaped by socicty.(Three
here will be detailed later
in this chapter:

according to cultural norms. No thought or

1. Deviance varies

becomes deviant only in relatíon

action is inherently deviant; it
rural
norms.)State law permits prostitution in
to particular
is outlawed in the rest of
areas of Nevada, although the practice

states have gambling casinos. twentynine

the United States. Twelve
other states
have casinos on Indian reservations, and four

casino gambling
casinos at racetracks. In all other states.
have

driving is legal in thirty-three

is illegal. Text-messaging while

law in seventeen others (six other states

states but against the

when a
for young drivers){Until 2008.
forbid the practice
court struck down the law, only Florida legally banned gay men

and lesbians from

adopting a child (Ruggieri, 2008, American

iaming Association. 2009; National C'onference ofState l.egislatures.

2010)

2.People become deviant as others define them that way.

walked
Everyone violates cultural norms at one example. have you ever
time or another. For
Whether such behavior
around lalking to yourself or *"borrowed" a pen from your workplace?
to
defines us as mentally ill or criminal depends on how
others perceive. define, and respond

social power. The law,

3. Both and the way people define rule breaking involve
norms
interests. A
claimed Karl Marx. is the means by which powerful people
protect their
c o r n e r speaking out against
the government risks
homeless person who stands on a street
candidate during an election campaign
doing
arrest for disturbing the peace; a mayoral reflect
them
In short, n o r m s and how we apply
exactly the same thing gets police protection.
social inequality.
Structural-Functional Analysis
The Functions of Deviance:
of the structural-functional approach is that
The key insight
This
is a necessary
element of social organization.
deviance

made a century ago by Emile Durkheim.

point was

Emile Durkheim (1964a.

Basic Insight In his pioneering study of deviance,
Durkheim's
abnormal
statement that there is nothing
made the surprising
orig. 1893; 19646, orig. 1895)
essential functions:
about deviance. In fact, it performs four
creatures,
As moral
cultural values and
norms.

1. Deviance affirms
behaviors to others.
atitudes and
people must preler some

idea ol vice:
an opposing
delinition of virtue rests on
Bul any

justice without erime.

without evil and no
There can be no good

to deline and support morality.

Deviance is needed
By detining
nnoral boundaries.
deviance clarilies
2. Responding to
draw a bundary
individuals ias deviant, people
some

marks the
college
wrong. Forexample,
a

between ripht and

 MOON O e m e
honnty d leviee hy liuiplini
lie

topether P'ouple typienlly

Repoudiny t dovinee binn people

they renllim the n n l ten tlt bind

Drkhoim enplainel.
nller the Neptemor
11, 20001,tero
hem FoN ONple,
were jolned by a nO
Nuten
orN the nitod
ttkn.eople
e peetrators
he oounty nd brln
denie t putoot

eople push
a
Devint
NOonl ohunpe.
Devanee eneoungen
status
alternaliven to tie
bndarien, NUpentinp
NANIety 'N O r l
deolared
dlevlunoe,
enoopinp
obunge. Today'w
d (19646:71, orig
tomoNOW'N
rality
bevOne
D u r k h e i 1 , cun
in
a4 m o r a l
roek and-roll,vondemned
IN95) or example,
ultibllion dollaw industry
aitro,
hecame u
the 1950x, box on
About Diverity
Thinkng
HloW yourn lator (ow tho
UN "bd apples" but a
necessary

ol a low
in thun not a atlor
Devianee

Neial living
condition ol "pod" deviance

NOciely., but
the kind of
overy
Deviance may
be l o d in
The
Ihey eek to clarily
vun tle moral iatUCN
poeale
dlejwdu
ople orine Wives,
nber ol
onpeilenwvd
ennplo,
' i m , lr
witelwvnl n l6 With eneh
woll kiuW bvak ol
n udip the of proper
thl e HMge
WOTOd q t i o n
t l'uilm
,