In the society, we are likely to come across behaviors or activities that defy the norm. These activities may not be illegal, but according to the society culture, they are seen as challenging the norm. This explains all the deviant behaviors that people possess. The community consists of people whose morality and ethics are tailored to culture. The culture will dictate the norms and individuals will have an unwritten code of what is acceptable or not. The law came in as unifying factor putting all that is not accepted under a code that whoever breaks them is liable to punishment. Nonetheless, the law doesn’t entail all that is considered deviant. Thus a deviant behavior is not always unlawful but just something different from the norms.
One of such deviance behaviors is gambling. Gambling is commonly referred to as the ‘waging of money.' It is also the risking of any other thing basing on the outcome of a particular thing. In history, Gambling has not had an exquisite reputation in the society. In religion, people view it as a sin. In the US gambling was not legal until the 1930s when Nevada legalized it. It this bad reputation of gambling that leads to some forms of gambling being referred to like gaming. Gaming is not different from gambling, but it refers to some forms of gambling that is casinos that the state doesn’t consider illegal. In some way, gaming is a less harsh way of referring to gambling.
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There are many notions attached to gambling. Psychology gambling can be a form of deviant behavior as well as it is an extension of human behavior (Open site, 2017). Since gambling can be addictive, some people view it as sinful and destructive. To some, it is just another part of daily human affairs that doesn’t require moderation or interpretation. Nonetheless, there is a psychological disorder linked to gambling which only insinuates its corrupt nature. For instance compulsive gambling and chronic gambling both which can affect a person’s social life (Open site, 2017).
Within a social context, Emile Durkheim stated that no particular behavior is deviant (People, 2016). According to Durkheim deviance varies from one group t another since its definition depends on the social structure (People, 2016). This implies that gambling is not inherently deviant. In a society where religion is abundant and that religion consider gambling as deviant, and then gambling is a deviant behavior in that society but not necessarily everywhere. In particular, subculture where Gambling is viewed as entirely sinful also see it not only as a deviant behavior but also unlawful. Consequently, the norms of the society are determined by a dominant subculture which has a lot of power. The members of the society must recognize the power of the dominant culture so that the rules can function.
However, sometimes there is need of control when the deviant is a critical population. For instance in the current society, the young generation especially teenagers are increasingly becoming deviant in the name of pleasure or entertainment. When such a population is becoming more and more engrossed into gambling, then there is a need for control since gambling is addictive. In that instance, the society will have to adjust its perceptions and teach the youth what is right. That is why in many casinos there are age limits to keep of minors.
Evidently, deviance can either be good or bad depending on the society and its perceptions. Gambling as a deviant is viewed by many people to be bad. This is because gambling is accompanied with many other negative consequences that could be harmful. The society also views gambling as a deviance simply due to its nature. However, in controllable measures, the society might come to accept gambling in different forms and label it differently.
References
Open site. (2017). Gambling. Retrieved from http://www.open-site.org
People. (2016). Deviance and Social control. Retrieved from http://www.people.vcu.edu
