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The sociology of deviance studies the violation of social norms and uses social methods to obtain data. Theories include class conflict, community cohesion, maintaining boundaries, and tension. Deviant actions are related to specific societies and may change over time. Researchers focus on small- and large-scale visions of a community. Marx’s theory is based on class conflict, Durkheim’s on community cohesion, Erikson’s on maintaining boundaries, and Merton’s on coping with social expectations.
The sociology of deviance is the area of sociology that studies the violation of social norms or expectations, and researchers who study it will often use social or interpersonal methods to obtain data. Among the great variety of theories concerning the origin and sociology of deviance, the theory of class conflict, deriving from Karl Marx, is among the fundamental and influential theories of the sociology of deviance. Emile Durkheim, on the other hand, based his theory of social deviance on community cohesion, especially as it pertains to pre- and post-industrial societies, and this relates to Kai Erikson’s theory of maintaining boundaries, in which he claims that the sociology of deviance is all about building boundaries to keep a community intact. Particularly influential is also Robert Merton’s theory of tension, in which he argues that deviance is a method of coping with social expectations.
Despite the numerous theories of the sociology of deviance, most hold that the actions considered deviant are related to each specific society. Similar actions may be given different labels in different time periods and cultures, and even within a culture, social responses may change over time and may be influenced by historical events. Theories of social deviance tend to try to develop a model that explains consistent patterns of deviant behavior across cultures.
Those who research social deviance will often focus on small- and large-scale visions of a community. They may personally interview a small group of individuals or conduct a survey across many institutions. They may also perform participant observation, where they spend time in the community they wish to study to gain first-hand knowledge of the social interactions that take place there.
Marx bases all of his theory basically on class conflict: usually, the more powerful bourgeoisie will pursue its own interests against the proletariat. According to Marx, the criminal justice system, and therefore the laws that define deviant or criminal behavior, exist primarily to protect the upper class and its interests. Furthermore, a capitalist society will necessarily exacerbate this divide and create deviance because technology will gradually lead to more efficient means of production: those who can keep up with it will become economically powerful, while those who cannot will be pushed to the sidelines.
Durkheim believed that every society has a collective consciousness of agreed values and that deviance is a normal consequence of a society that sets limits for itself. In simplistic, pre-industrial societies, social cohesion is greater, but in post-industrial cities there is more differentiation. As a result, there is more debate about deviant behavior and some behaviors may be considered deviant by some groups while others are not.
Erikson studied the Puritans and the Salem witch trials and developed a theory related to Durkheim’s: that a community remains intact by limiting itself to a particular range of activities. All activities that fall outside this range are condemned as deviant. Whenever the community holds individuals to account for this behavior, it is reaffirming those boundaries, but other factors can cause deviant individuals to gain power and move boundaries.
Merton’s strain theory deals with the different ways people deal with social expectations, and deviant behavior is only one part of the different methods. It outlines an important value that society upholds, such as the love of money, as well as ways to get it that are labeled appropriate. Some, according to Merton, will comply and achieve that goal, resulting in monetary success. Innovators will use deviant means to achieve the same goal, while ritualists will try to conform, but will be unsuccessful. The rebels are truly deviant in rejecting both the lifestyle and the goal.
