What are the theories in deviance?

Answer 1

There are a few sociological theories on deviance.

Some fundamental ones include:

1) Cultural Transmission Theory

- Deviance is a behaviour learned through interaction, just as conformity.

2) Differential Association Theory

- Explains proccess of Cultural Transmission

- Theorist = Sutherland

- Bad companions = Bad behaviour

3) Control Theory

- Explains deviance as the outcome of a failure in social control

4) Anomie

- Originally Durkheim's suicide study; A condition of confusion that exists in society and individual's when social norms are weak, absent or conflicting.

- Merton applied Anomie to Deviance; Deviance as an outcome of an imbalance in society between socially approved goals & availibility of approved means of achieving them.

5) Status Frustration

- Theorist = Cohen

- Deviance due to blocked opportunities, frustrated with status/role set

Last one,

6) Labelling Theory

- Theorist = Becker

- Deviance as a process by which some people successfully define others as deviant.

Hope that helped and wasn't too confusing =)

Answer 2

Some theories of deviance include strain theory, which suggests that individuals may turn to deviant behavior when they experience a disconnect between their goals and the means to achieve them; social control theory, which posits that deviance occurs when an individual's social bonds are weak or broken; labeling theory, which focuses on how societal reactions to deviant behavior can lead to further deviance; and conflict theory, which views deviance as a product of power struggles and inequalities in society.

Answer 3

In his differential association theory, Edwin Sutherland posited that criminals learn criminal and deviant behaviors and that deviance is not inherently a part of a particular individual's nature. Also, he argues that criminal behavior is learned in the same way that all other behaviors are learned, meaning that the acquisition of criminal knowledge is not unique compared to the learning of other behaviors.

Sutherland outlined some very basic points in his theory, such as the idea that the learning comes from the interactions between individuals and groups, using communication of symbols and ideas. When the symbols and ideas about deviation are much more favorable than unfavorable, the individual tends to take a favorable view upon deviance and will resort to more of these behaviors.

Criminal behavior (motivations and technical knowledge), as with any other sort of behavior, is learned. Some basic assumptions include:

• Learning in interaction using communication within intimate personal groups.
• Techniques, motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes are all learned.
• Excess of definitions favorable to deviation.
• Legitimate and illegitimate behavior both express the same general needs and values.

Answer 4

Learning Theories:

Differential Association Theory: Sutherland and CresseyThe main purpose of this theory is that people learn criminal attitudes and behaviors from close and trusted personal friends. A criminal career then develops if anti-social values or behaviors are not matched or exceeded by conventional attitudes or behaviors. It also evaluates how values are formed through social interactions. Having more delinquent friends makes you more likely to become delinquent because you are exposed to more definitions or attitudes towards law and social rules. Some problems come into play with this theory such that the origin of the delinquent values are not explained, it assumes that people are highly influenced by people around them, and whether or not a person or their delinquent friends came first, (chicken vs. the egg question.)

Social Learning Theory: Ronald Akers This is a more updated version of Sutherland and Cressey's more simplistic theory. Once a person has started to commit a crime, continued participation depends on the behaviors that are "reinforced." This can occur through interactions with people or other forms of media such as music or television.

Techniques of Neutralization: Sykes and Matza This critiques the social learning theory in saying that delinquent behavior does not arise from deviant values and norms. They ask why people sometimes violate the laws in which they believe and that norms are qualified guides for action. These techniques of neutralization include denial of responsibility (I couldn't help the accident and it was not my fault), denial of injury (He could afford it because he had insurance), denial of victim (he got what he deserved), condemnation of condemners (judges have bias)and appeal to higher loyalties (I did it for my children.)Control Theories:

Delinquent Control Theory: Hirschi This theory says that people commit crime because they have not developed strong social bonds in society, and when these bonds weaken, a person is more likely to commit crime. These bonds are:

Attachment: Being sensitive to the opinions of others(close friends and family)

Commitment: Investing time in certain activities, such as school, work and sports. The more time you invest in these activities, the less likely you are to commit crime.

Involvement: To how much extent a person is involved in conventional activities, such as having no time to coomit a crime because they are swamped with schoolwork and two jobs

Belief: The extent to which people believe they should adhere to the laws of society. When the bond of belief is weakened, people will be less likely to abide by social rules.

Theory of Low Self Control: Gottfredson & HirschiThis says that people who commit crime have personality characteristics of low self control, having characteristics of being overly physical, insensitivity, impulsivity, and having high risk-taking abilities. Low self control is in effect in all activities that the person commits, even non-criminal acts such as accidents. There also is a low predictability on when people with low self control will commit these acts. Having low self control also begins at a fairly young age in childhood, and progressively gets stronger as a person ages. Also, among people with low self control, there is not one criminal act that is done more often than another.

Answer 5

theory of explaining