Question

1. What is the difference between deviant and illegal behavior? Provide an example of a deviant behavior that is not illegal, as well as an illegal behavior that is not deviant. How would Merton’s perspective on the deviant behavior that you listed differ from that of Becker?

Merton believed that a social structure can become dysfunctional when it loses its use due to shifting norms. Without repeating what a classmate has previously said, provide an example of a social institution that has become dysfunctional and explain how and why its function was lost. Under which major sociological perspective does Merton’s ideas on dysfunction fall and why? Do Becker’s ideas fall under the same theoretical paradigm?

Answer 1

Deviant behaviour is any kind of behaviour which does not follow the social norms of a society and lies beyond the general statistical characteristics of that particular society. Illegal behaviour refers to any kind of behaviour that falls under norms set by an Institution which state the act as illegal or mostly criminal in nature.

According to Becker, societies can form new guidelines or norms that can lead to expulsion of a particular group of people in the normal behaviour and label them as outsiders or individuals with deviant behaviour.

Examples of a deviant behaviour that is not illegal can be observed in individuals who are suffering from mental disorders and experiencing delusion which may lead them to exhibit behaviour which will be considered deviant but will not be illegal in nature. Example of a behaviour which is illegal in nature but is not deviant and according to the norms of society is the bribery provided to an officer by a citizen so that their work is done without obstructions, this is prevalent in the society but illegal in nature.

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