Deviance has been used to refer to the violation of norms and rules. In focusing on the sociological perspective, deviance is relative. The definition of deviance often tends to vary significantly across societies and time within the community. Deviance is not only the act itself but the reaction to the action that makes a given thing deviant. It might be critical to note that it is not necessary that an individual must do something for him or her to be labeled deviant.
According to Benson (1985), in his study on the convict, none of them confirmed that he was a criminal. Criminals often deny the guilty mind by denying their criminality through the use of accounts. The first step, particularly among the white collar offenders, is treating the guilt and the inner anguish. In these cases, the issue is why something was done rather than focusing on who did it. In Emile Durkheim’s rule of sociological method, he concentrated on the normality of crime stating that crime is only a factor whose pathological character appears incontestable. The pathology has been defined very differently, but on the other hand, they are unanimous when it comes to recognizing it. Crime is present in all types of societies, but their forms tend to change where the acts are not the same everywhere (Durkheim, 2014). For years crime was considered to be normal, but at the same time, it has begun losing its aspect of normality. Crime is seen as normal since exempting the community from it is not possible. In a society of saints, crimes would be unknown. It is worth noting that crime is no longer considered as evil in the society that cannot be suppressed. Crime is thus a disease, and the remedy is a punishment which should be made to accomplish the role of medication.
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In his study, Chambliss (1973), conducted a study on Saints troubled boys and the Roughnecks. This survey clearly illustrated the labeling theory. It focuses on how individual’s labels significantly affect them regarding how other people will perceive them which further channel their overall behavior into either conformity or even deviance. One of the groups of the boys seems highly delinquent than the other. The delinquent were considered to be more delinquent because they were reported to be truant from school. Additionally, the selective perception and labeling would mean that the visible, the undiplomatic and even the poverty stricken person would be noticed much quickly whether their actions and behaviors are criminal in nature (Lopez, Hodson & Roscigno, 2009) . Consequently, those individuals who have been able to establish a positive reputation as a result of being bright, highly disciplined and engage in various respectable activities will not be visible when they try to deviate from what can be considered as the sanctioned events.
According to Rosenhan, D. L. (1973), when an individual is mentally ill then there is a higher chance that the condition might result in various problems such as homelessness which further result into unusual ways of thinking defined by the larger society as a mental illness. Deviance is inevitable, and the measure of the society is founded on how it will treat the deviants. One of the major concerns is on ways to protect individuals from deviant behavior considered harmful to the mentally ill welfare and come up with a system that is highly fair regarding treating the deviants. The biosocial concept focuses on the genetic predisposition where the psychologists primarily emphasize on abnormalities within persons with the personality disorder. Sociologists tend to concentrate on aspects outside a person (Rosenhan, 1973). Based on the sociological, crime is considered as the form of norm violation that is outlined in the law. The society has established its legislation to regulate certain kinds of behavior. Various social influences recruit individuals into breaking the law and norms including socialization, income, wealth and even occupation.
References
Benson, M. L. (1985). Denying the guilty mind: accounting for involvement in a white ‐ collar crime. Criminology , 23 (4), 583-607.
Chambliss, W. J. (1973). The saints and the roughnecks. Society , 11 (1), 24-31.
Durkheim, E. (2014). The rules of sociological method: and selected texts on sociology and its method . Simon and Schuster.
Rosenhan, D. L. (1973). On being sane in insane places. Science , 179 (4070), 250-258.
Lopez, S. H., Hodson, R., & Roscigno, V. J. (2009). Power, status, and abuse at work: General and sexual harassment compared. The Sociological Quarterly , 50 (1), 3- 27.
