Deviance Essays

Labelling theory is one theory suggested by sociologists as the explanation for crime and deviance. However, several different theories were in existence before the labelling theory came about. First of all there were the biological theories; these stated that the cause of a person acting in a deviant manner was …

Obscenity and pornography are terms used to designate written, recorded, or pictorial material – including motion pictures – that many people consider indecent and offensive. The term obscenity can also refer to language or to behavior that is believed to corrupt public morals. Some people also consider violence and war …

Criminology can be defined as “an advanced, theoretical field of study.  It tackles the study of crime, the causes of crime, the meaning of crime in terms of law, and the community reaction to crime” (NCWC Faculty, 2004).  There are many theories created to address these queries.  One of the …

The Zimbardo Stanford prison experiment involved the signing up of psychology students as participants in a role-playing experiment. Participants were divided into two groups, some acting as prisoners and others acting as guards in a prison set-up. The participants were contained in the prison and in their roles for a …

1) What do sociologists mean when they describe deviance as being relative? Provide an example of a deviant behavior and identify how it is relative. Deviance is behavior that a considerable number of people in a society view as reprehensible and beyond the limits of tolerance. In most cases it …

When studying crime and deviance, in particular the causes of crime, it is often useful to look at the reasons behind why people commit crimes in the first place. For interactionists, crime and deviance is a product of labelling. They believe that when a crime is committed, it is because …

The relationship between deviance and labelling is partly based on the view of the stereotypical criminal. This stereotype suggests a white, working class, male as a deviant, making them a ‘suspect’ before they’ve even committed a deviant act. However, whether an act is labelled as deviant depends on who commits …

Objectivity means that the conclusions arrived at as the result of inquiry and investigation are independent of the race, color, creed, occupation, nationality, religion, moral preference and political predisposition of the investigator. If hi research is truly objective, it is independent of any subjective elements; any personal desires that he …

The expression, deviance draws reference to frown upon behaviour in a social context; the breach of various concerted norm that generally exist in a community or in society (Newman 2004). Some types of deviance are determined by criminal law, others by social standards, morality, the expectations of certain social groups, …

For my study on deviance, I will consult the fictional motion picture “Instinct”. Using Labeling Theory as my central perspective, I plan to identify just what is defined as deviant about the film’s main character, Dr. Ethan Powell (played by Anthony Hopkins), as well as how the individual’s society controls …