SOC-p:How can deviance contribute to society and on the flip side how does it detract from...

SOC-p:How can deviance contribute to society and on the flip side how does it detract from it?

Solutions

Expert Solution

According to the functionalist theory of sociology, founded by Emile Durkheim, every existing notion in the society serves to help society function properly. According to this paradigm, everything that serves as functional for the society continues to exist, while all that is dysfunctional ceases to exist.

The functionalists argue that because deviance has continued to exist, it must serve a function to the society. They state that deviance serves to help remind society what is right or wrong. Because each deviant act has a certain consequence (mostly negative such as a punishment), each time there is a deviant actor caught and punished, the society is able to see the outcome and this helps reassert the values of the society. Thus most people will begin conforming out of fear of punishment from becoming deviant.

On the other hand, deviance in a large number may help bring about revolution. Deviance is also a relative concept. What was once considered deviance is norm in another time.

For example once women participation in public spaces in society was deviance, but Now its norm. Similarly, martin Luther king at his time was a deviant but he gained following and eventually, once the following caught speed. It became widely accepted.

Because this deviance was functional for the society , it continued, deviance in other forms like people's cult died out because they were dysfunctional according to functionalist theory of sociology.

Deviant acts are classified into two categories, namely formal and informal. Formal deviance relates to criminal acts as dictated by the law, while informal deviance is dictated by social norms.

Formal deviant acts such as robbery, rape and murder are punishable by the law. A person caught engaging in such acts is prosecuted in court and may go to jail, pay a fine or serve a community service sentence.

Informal deviant acts such as talking to yourself in public or picking one's nose in public, have fewer consequences and may not cause serious harm to the victims. While considered offensive, they may not earn any severe punishment.

Hayet Jeridi answered 2 months ago

Next > < Previous

Related Solutions

How does Merton’s five-part typology of deviance fit within an ideal societ and how can the...

How does Merton’s five-part typology of deviance fit within an ideal societ and how can the theory explain stigmas?

· How does marketing play a role in society? · How can marketing benefit society? What...

· How does marketing play a role in society? · How can marketing benefit society? What is socially responsible marketing? · Do you purchase brands or products because of their social mission or position on social marketing? If yes, what brand(s)? · Think about whether a socially responsible marketer uses target marketing. If they do, explain how; if not, why not?

SOC-M2d: Evaluate the impacts of culture on interactions and how changes within society occur. List at...

SOC-M2d: Evaluate the impacts of culture on interactions and how changes within society occur. List at least three norms, folkways, and mores of American society. How significant are these within the current American culture? If members from a past generation (e.g., your grandparents) made this list, would it look similar or different? In the same post, answer the following questions: What do these differences or similarities imply about the social changes within our society? How might these differ between an...

Discuss how the economy can have inflation from the demand side and from the supply side....

Discuss how the economy can have inflation from the demand side and from the supply side. Discuss the purpose of the Phillips curve and the shape of the Phillips curve in the long-run.

7. When does mental illness go to the dark side? And how “dark” can that “side”...

7. When does mental illness go to the dark side? And how “dark” can that “side” become? 8. How does mental illness change: A family? A society? A culture?

How does poly pharmacy contribute to the development of iatrogenic events in older adults? how can...

How does poly pharmacy contribute to the development of iatrogenic events in older adults? how can the nurse intervene to disrupt the iatrogenic cascade?

How and to what extent does a diversity of perspective contribute to or distract from creativity...

How and to what extent does a diversity of perspective contribute to or distract from creativity and innovation in the workplace? What are the managerial implications of your answer?

Do you think that business has a responsibility to contribute positively to society whenever it can,...

Do you think that business has a responsibility to contribute positively to society whenever it can, or do you think that business should simply focus on operating as profitably as it can? Explain your answer, referring to concepts

How does the Near Attack Conformation (NAC) contribute to enzyme function? How can an enzyme put...

How does the Near Attack Conformation (NAC) contribute to enzyme function? How can an enzyme put a substrate into an energetically unfavorable conformation? How does modern drug design utilize NAC? Please go into detail, provide examples, and use diagrams to help illustrate your explanation. Especially use diagrams please. NAC means "Near Attack Conformation". I am struggling to understand how all of these relate. Thank you so much for the help!

What role does power and social class play in how deviance is perceived and treated in...

What role does power and social class play in how deviance is perceived and treated in our society? Discuss a specific example of a case where social class or social status influenced how a deviant individual was perceived and treated, including evaluation of the consequences for the individual and for society

Subjects