SOCIOL 2BB3 - Sociology of Deviance
Midterm Review complete questions
and answer McMaster University
Objectivist approach - ---deviance is real + can be studied objectively
-normative
-deviance violates social norms
-deviance causes a social harm (problematic, must define harm, e.g prostitution: some people
get harmed some don't)
-are a statistical anomaly (exhibited by minority, not characteristic of majority, majority decides
what is acceptable)
-can't decide on a specific definition
-Goals: not to define deviance but to better understand these behaviours (causes), to offer
ways of preventing them (solutions), try to fix it + get rid of it in society
Subjectivist approach - ---no act, belief, trait is inherently deviant
-deviance is not real, all an interpretation
-deviance is relative
-Relativist/reactionist/social constructionist
-Deviance is in the eye of the beholder
-Historical relativity (not objective, depends on the time frame, e.g drinking illegal during
prohibition but not now)
,-Cross cultural relativity (deviance varies across cultures, e,g homosexuality legal in America but
not in other countries)
-Gendered relativity (e.g deviant for one sex to wear clothes of another, deviant for men to
wear makeup, sleeping around good for men but not women)
-Deviance as a reaction, interpretation, definition
3 Theories of Deviance - --biological, psychological, sociological
Biological - ---link between biology and behaviour
-sick bodies
-something going on inside the body
-genes
-can see it in an mri or cat scan
-twin study evidence
Psychological - --sick minds
-not about genes or physical functioning of body
-cognitive function, abnormal behaviour
-problem with decision making
Sociological - ---not enough to look at bodies + cognitive processes
-can't fully understand deviance without societal aspect
Biological Theory: Somatype Theory - ---William Sheldon
-Humans born into ⅓ categories (somatypes)
, -What role genes play in deviant behaviour
-One of these body types more predisposed to deviance by virtue of body type → mesomorphs
-Endomorphs: pear shaped, round, more weight, overweight, underdeveloped muscles,
soft/flabby skin, sociable, outgoing, friendly, easygoing, even tempered, relaxed
-Ectomorphs: taller than average, thin, delicate build, introvert, loners, sensitive, anxiety,
nervous, poor social skills
-Mesomorphs: muscular, thick skin, hard bodies, well developed, aggressive, loud, adventurous,
competitive, short tempered
Biological Theory: Twin Study - ---K Christiansen
-Tried to find out what role nature plays in deviant behaviour
-Compared criminal records of fraternal + identical twins
-35% of identical twins shared criminal record
-13% of fraternal twins shared criminal record
Adoption Study - ---Among population criminals, locate adoptees
-Trace family history
-Compare criminal records of biological VS adoptive families
-More criminality among biological families bc you are passing genetics
Consistent Finding - --greater likelihood of criminality among biological families than adoptive
Psychological Theory: Freud - ---Not born with psychological health
-7 stages we must go through
-Must go through these stages to become psychologically healthy
