NCJ Number
53536
Date Published
1976
Length
179 pages
Annotation
THE INSIGHTS OF MODERN SOCIOLOGY, THEOLOGY, MYSTICISM, PSYCHOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY, AND LITERATURE ARE SYNTHESIZED IN EXPLAINING SOCIAL DEVIANCE AND STIGMA.
Abstract
SOCIAL DEVIANCE IS SEEN AS AN EXPRESSION OF, NOT A RESULT OF, SOCIAL CONFLICT. IT VARIES IN TIME AND PLACE WITH THE VALUE JUDGMENTS OF VARIOUS THEORISTS AND THE LABELING PROCESSES OF CHANGING SOCIETIES. THE NATURE, TRANSMISSION, AND INTERNALIZATION OF SOCIAL NORMS IS DISCUSSED. FOUR PHENOMENOLOGICAL COMPONENTS OF DEVIANCE ARE ANALYZED: (1) SELF-CONCEPT, WHICH IS GAINED BY THE INDIVIDUAL'S INTERACTION WITH HIS SURROUNDINGS, ESPECIALLY WITH HIS RELEVANT OTHERS; (2) VALUE DEVIATION, WHICH DEALS WITH DETACHMENT OF VALUE FROM THE GROUP'S NORMATIVE SYSTEM--A DETACHMENT NOT NECESSARILY ACCOMPANIED BY OVERT DEVIATE BEHAVIOR; (3) ACTUAL DEVIANT BEHAVIOR, WHICH CAN BE DIRECTED INWARDLY AGAINST THE SELF OR OUTWARDLY AGAINST THE GROUP AND ITS SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS; (4) SOCIAL STIGMA, A DEROGATORY ATTRIBUTE IMPUTED TO THE SOCIAL IMAGE OF AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP AND USED AS A TOOL, OF SOCIAL CONTROL; AND (5) TRANSCENDENCE, WHICH VIEWS GOODNESS OR SALVATION AS THAT WHICH IS ATTAINED BY NEGATIVISM, CONFLICT, OR SIN. JEAN GENET, THE THIEF-POET-PHILOSOPHER, IS DISCUSSED AT LENGTH (THE ETIOLOGY OF HIS SELF-IMAGE), AND THERE IS REFERENCE TO MANSON, DE SADE, CAIN, JACOB FRANK, AND JUDAS. A FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF DEVIANCE IS SUPPORTED BY THE SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF DURKHEIM, PARSON, AND MERTON. THESE THEORIES PRESUPPOSE AN INHERENT ORDER AND PURPOSE IN THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE. ANY DISRUPTION IN THIS STRUCTURE IS PERCEIVED AS DEVIANCE. SOCIAL DEVIANCE, SEEN AS TOO COMPLEX TO HAVE ONE CAUSE OR A SINGLE GROUP OF CAUSES, IS ATTRIBUTED TO PERSONALITY FACTORS, SOCIAL FACTORS, AND DYNAMIC PROCESSES OF ASSOCIATION. SOCIAL DARWINISTS, STRUCTURALISTS, AND PROMINENT SOCIOLOGISTS, FOLLOWING THE THINKING OF EMILE DURKHEIM, REGARD CONFLICT, CHANGE, AND DEVIANCE AS A DYSFUNCTION. OTHERS, HOWEVER, INCLUDING SIMMEL, COSER, MARX, AND MARCUSE, BELIEVE IN THE FUNCTIONALITY OF CONFLICTS, THAT THEY INTRODUCE CHANGE INTO SOCIETY AND THAT CHANGE MEANS PROGRESS. INNOVATORS OFTEN POSSESS SPECIAL QUALITIES, UNUSUAL INSIGHTS, AND SUBTLETIES OF PERCEPTION THAT ALMOST GUARANTEE THEY WILL BE LABELED DEVIANT. (FCW)