Perspectives on Deviance

Perspectives on Deviance
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Perspectives on Deviance
Violation of social norms leads to differentiation in the ruling of the society. The deviation of the social norms results from the different thinking and actions that are against the directives and the rules of the society. The violation of the behaviors considered to be the guidance and the expectations of the society depends on the time changes. Certain behaviors are considered appropriate in the society, however, over a certain time the changes and the growth of the society these behaviors become unacceptable and vice versa.
According to the differential association theory concerning the defiance of the social norms of the society, the actions and behaviors of criminology are learned. The theory promotes the actions of deviance through the focus on the actions that are against the set rules and regulations of society. In return, the acts of defiance to the law of the society lead to criminal acts. Differential association leads to social influence of learning and adapting to the society hence relating with the social behavior (Kaplan, Gostjev & Johnson, 2013). Through the interaction perspective, the people in the society relate, rationalize and drive the people in acting differently.
The strain theory explains how the structure of the society affects the behavior of the people in behaving differently according to Taylor, Walton, and Young (2013). The social structures of the society force the people to commit a crime in the society especially if they feel different from the laws in place.

The pressure and frictions experienced by individuals cause them to commit a crime. For instance, a citizen involved in the sale of illegal drugs in the aim of making money violates the social, cultural values of the society. On the other hand, they use the means of making money to elevate the society. Strain theory on deviance represented in two ways involves the actor and the social, cultural values (Taylor, Walton, and Young, 2013). The actor accepts the cultural values but uses different means to meet the set goals. Acceptance of one norm of making money and deviance to the other of selling illegal drugs explains the dilemma in the strain theory.
Additionally, labeling theory has a different explanation regarding the social norms. The theory explains the different reaction of people behavior in the society. The difference in reaction to the social norms negatively forces a group of people to behave in a manner unacceptable to the society. A person who commits murder can be labeled to be a murderer but on the other hand, the reason behind the actions depends on the society’s judgment. The actions may be as a result of self-defense or accident resulting to different reactions in the society. The results to a person being labeled deviant in the society include stigma and different treatment in general.
The world defines everything in existence differently hence the impact of the labeling theory. The labeling theory helps individuals self-identify themselves with the behaviors and the environment around them. According to Perry, the defiance of the social norms explained through the use of the labeling theory comes with the defiance of the social behaviors that are acceptable to the society. Disapproval of these social norms leads to differences in the society hence the separation and isolation. The theory explains different types of isolation experienced in the society including the fear of shaking off a label. Stigma results from the failure to cope with the behavior acceptable to the people around one’s environment (Perry, 2014). A teenager who refuses to take drugs like their fellow colleagues has a likelihood of being stigmatized and mocked. However, drug abuse cannot be accepted in the society; the teenagers view the defying colleague as a different person in the society hence isolating them.
In conclusion, deviance of certain behaviors in the society results in different consequences. The society decision on the good and bad behaviors depends entirely on the acceptance by the majority. Stigmatizing and isolation of the people who tend to adopt to different behaviors in the society leads to more harm in the society than good. The psychological illnesses resulting from the effect lowers the self-esteem of the victims affecting their lives. Support to the minority groups in the society would be beneficial to the society as a whole.
References
Kaplan, H. B., Gostjev, F. A., & Johnson, R. J. (2013). Social psychological perspectives ondeviance. In Handbook of social psychology (pp. 563-594). Springer Netherlands.Perry, B. L. (2014). Symptoms, stigma, or secondary social disruption: Three mechanisms ofnetwork dynamics in severe mental illness. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships,31(1), 32-53.
Taylor, I., Walton, P., & Young, J. (2013). The new criminology: For a social theory ofdeviance. Routledge.