This document summarizes several sociological theories of deviance: structural-functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. Under structural-functionalism, it describes Robert Merton's strain theory, which identifies five types of deviance that can result from a mismatch between socially prescribed goals and legitimate means to achieve them. It also describes Emile Durkheim's functionalist theory that deviance affirms social norms and promotes social change. Conflict theory holds that deviance results from social inequality and power imbalances. Symbolic interactionism includes Edwin Sutherland's differential association theory of learned deviance, Walter Reckless' control theory about internal and external controls on deviance, and labeling theory about how people accept deviant identities

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Sociological
Theories on
Deviance
UCSP 8:00 – 2:40

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Structural-Functionalist
Perspective
Conflict Perspective
Symbolic-Interactionist
Perspective

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Structural-Functionalist Perspective
A. Merton’s Strain Theory
B. Durkheim’s Functionalist
Theory

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 Robert Merton
 American sociologist
and professor.
 Developed the
Social Strain Theory

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Merton’s Strain Theory
Unequal Society can sometimes create
situations in which people experience
a strain between the goals they should be
working towards and the legitimate means
they have available to meet those goals.

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Merton’s Strain Theory
Doesn’t have enough socially
accepted means to achieve goals
Social Structures
Feel frustration and
more likely to be deviant

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Merton’s Strain Theory
According to Merton, there are five
types of deviance based upon these
criteria:
A. Conformity
B. Innovation
C. Ritualism
D. Retreatism
E. Rebellion

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Merton’s Strain Theory
CONFORMITY
- involves the
acceptance of the
cultural goals and
means of attaining
those goals.

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Merton’s Strain Theory
Innovation
- involves the
acceptance of the goals
of a culture but the
rejection of the
traditional and/or
legitimate means of
attaining those goal

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Merton’s Strain Theory
Ritualism
- involves the rejection of the
goals but the routinized
acceptance of the means for
achieving the goals.

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Merton’s Strain Theory
Retreatism
- involves withdrawal from
society, caring neither about
success nor working

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Merton’s Strain Theory
REBELLION
- Occurs when the
people reject and
attempt to change
both the goals and
the means
approved by the
society

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 Emile Durkheim
 French sociologist
 Developed the
Theory of
Functionalism

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Durkheim’s Functionalist Theory
 Deviance can serve a number of
functions for society. He asserted
that there is nothing abnormal in
deviance.

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Durkheim’s Functionalist Theory
Deviance affirms cultural values and
norms
 Responding to deviance clarifies
moral boundary
Responding to deviance promotes
social unity
Deviance encourages social change

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CONLFICT PERSPECTIVE
Conflict theorists look into the role of
power and prestige in the criminal
justice system.

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CONLFICT PERSPECTIVE
Main points of Conflict Perspective:
 Dominant classes control the definition of
deviance.
 Deviance results from inequality on the
society.
 Deviance from the dominant class goes
largely unpunished

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Symbolic-Interactionist Perspective
A. Sutherland’s Differential
Association Theory
B. Reckless’ Control Theory
C. Labeling Theory

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 Edwin Sutherland
 American
Criminologist
 Developed the
Differential
Association Theory

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Sutherland’s Differential
Association Theory
 Suggest that deviance is
learned from another people.

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 Walter Reckless
 American
Criminologist
 Developed the
Control Theory

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Reckless’ Control Theory
 Suggest that deviance is based
on the person’s control against
deviant tendencies.

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Reckless’ Control Theory
 Inner control – includes controls
within a person such as
conscience and values
 Outer control – includes
controls outside a person such
as family, school, and others.

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Labeling Theory
 It refers to the view that people
become deviant when labeled as
such and when they accept the
label as a personal identity.

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 Erving Goffman
 Canadian - American Sociologist
 According to him, labeling leads to
stigma.