Chapter 3

January 6, 2018 | Author: Anonymous | Category: Social Science, Psychology, Social Psychology
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Deviance 10e Alex Thio Chapter Three: Constructionist Theories

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Introduction 

Constructionist theories of deviance are less interested in causes and concentrate on the meanings of deviance and how people behave in keeping with those meanings



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Labeling Theory 



Labeling theory: a version of symbolic interactionism; emphasizes importance of labeling Two central ideas:  



Deviance involves interaction between deviant and conventional people Interaction between the deviant and the conformists is governed by the meanings that they impute (assign) to each other's actions and reactions

Causes of deviant behavior are not important; only the labels are important “

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Labeling Theory – cont. 





Labelers represent: law and order (police, judges, prison officials, etc.) and conventional morality; power (generally are rich and white); and have the ability to avoid negative labels despite engaging in deviant behavior Deviance labels produce negative consequences for those receiving the label:  tendency to see themselves as deviant  Which leads to continued deviant behavior Lemert: primary (initial act of deviance that occurs before a deviance label is applied or accepted) vs. secondary deviation (continued deviance that results from deviance labels being applied and internalized by the social actor) “

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Labeling Theory – cont. 



Erikson: deviance creates positive consequences for the community, group, or individuals that apply the label – the most important being preservation and strengthening of social cohesion and social order. Criticism of labeling theory:  can’t explain causes of deviance  deviant label does NOT encourage further deviance  underestimates role of powerful “

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Phenomenological Theory 



Delves into people's subjectivity, including their consciousness, perceptions, attitudes, feelings, and opinions about deviance Critical of positivists – deviance based on their (the positivist’s) own preconceived notions of morality and understanding of deviance “

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Phenomenological Theory – cont. 







Positivists: humans are passive objects whose behavior is determined by forces beyond their control Phenomenologists: people are active subjects capable of intending and carrying out their own behavior Positivists: objective view, based on abstract meanings Phenomenologists: study situated meanings and the subject's interpretation of their own behavior



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Phenomenological Theory – cont. 

Use of ethnography (applied phenomenology) - how deviants see and feel about themselves  



Garfinkle: study of sex change patients Katz: study of murders/robbers

Criticism of phenomenologists: 



Failure to develop a practical way to understand deviance Influenced by their own beliefs, judgments, and ideas “

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Conflict Theory 







Modern society is pluralistic, diverse, and full of conflicts Social conflict: incompatible interests, needs, and desires of diverse groups Cultural conflict: discrepant norms and values regarding right and wrong Both lead to crime “

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Conflict Theory – cont. 

Chambliss: identified the difference between the law on the books and the law in action 





Enforcement of law is often unfair Interests of ruling class is strongly favored

Quinney: blames unjust law on the capitalist system 

calls for political action against the powerful class who inevitably criminalizes the powerless – “Marxist Theory”



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Figure 3.1 Quinney’s Social Reality Theory



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Conflict Theory – cont. 







Marxist theory: deviance is caused by the exploitative nature of capitalism Feminist theory: theories of deviance are primarily about men and not women Power theory: emphasizes how power inequality (disparity) affects deviance Powerful are more likely to get involved in profitable deviance than the powerless who engage primarily in less profitable “

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Conflict Theory – cont. 

Postmodernist theory: criticizes the positivist search for objective truth and deconstructs, or analyzes phenomena to understand their component parts, in the same way phenomenologists try to reduce subjective experiences



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Conflict Theory – cont. 

Criticism of conflict theory:  

Can’t explain common-law crimes and vices Wrong in assuming that a utopian, socialist society would be free of deviant behavior



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