Bullying: Sociology and Socially Accepted Goals Essay

umteen sociologists agree that there is no simple definition of the term divagation and proposed that deviance refers to the behaviours that violate social norms of a society. Downes and Rock, suggest that deviance whitethorn be considered as banned or controlled behaviour which is likely to suck punishment or disapproval (1988, p. 28).Some Deviant behaviour that provoke be found in Schools Bullying Fighting Graffiti malicious mischief Gang ViolenceTheories of Deviance A number of theories related to deviance have emerged within the past 50 years (Clifford, 1960). Five of the almost well-known theories on deviance argon as follows 1. Differential-association supposition confine theoryLabeling theory anomy theory tense theory1. Differential-association theoryEdwin Sutherland coined the phrase differential association to address the issue of how people lead deviance. jibe to this theory, the purlieu plays a major role in decision making which norms students settle to viola te. People also learn their norms from various socializing agentsparents, teachers, ministers, family, friends, co- travelers, and the media. In short, people learn criminal behaviour, like other(a) behaviours, from their interactions with others, especi ally in intimate groups (Surtherland 1993). The differential-association theory applies to many types of deviant behaviour. For example, juvenile gangs provide an environment in which young people learn to become criminals. These gangs define themselves as countercultural and glorify violence, retaliation, and crime as means to achieving social status. Gang members learn to be deviant as they embrace and conform to their gangs norms.2. Anomie Theory Anomie refers to the confusion that arises when social norms conflict or do not even exist (Merton, 1960). Robert Merton (1960) used the term anomy to describe the differences between socially accepted goals and the availability of means to hand those goals. Merton stressed, that atta ining wealth is a major goal of Americans, but not all Americans possess the means to do this, especially members of minority and disadvantaged groups. Anomie Theory & DevianceThose who find the road to riches closed to them scram anomie, because an obstacle has thwarted their pursuit of a socially approved goal. When this happens, these individuals may employ deviant behaviours to attain their goals and retaliate against society. picControl Theory According to Walter Recklesss control theory, both inner and outer controls work against deviant tendencies. People may wantat least slightly of the timeto act in deviant ways, but most do not. They have various restraints inner and outer. Control Theory& DevianceTravis Hirschi mention that these inner and outer restraints form a persons self-control, which prevents performing against social norms. The key to developing self-control is proper socialization, especially proterozoic in childhood. Fro example, Students who lack this self -control, then, may grow up to charge up crimes and other deviant behaviours. Internal controls Outer controls Consciencepolice Valuesfamily Integrityfriends Morality and religious authorities the desire to be a good person.3. Labelling Theory arose from the study of deviance in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Labelling theory is concerned with the meanings people come from one anothers labels, symbols, actions, and reactions. This theory holds that behaviours are deviant exactly when society labels them as deviant. A person becomes the thing they are expound as being. Labelling Theory & DevianceAlthough, students from both groups committed crimes, the students from respectable families were perceived to be good because of their polite behaviour. Those from the other group are seen as bad because of their insolent behaviour (which was attributed to their lower-class backgrounds).4. Strain Theory, Delinquency, and Street Gangs The Strain Theory attempts to explain how factors such as poverty, homelessness, lack of parenting and lack of luck are a major contributor to crime and the forming of delinquent subcultures such as gangs in schools. Delinquency is defined as failure to do what law or duty requires (Akers, Sellers, 2009). It is a behaviour that is often a result of poverty and inopportunity in a students life. Hence, students who cannot begin what they need through conventional means will use improper means such as crime to obtain such necessities. In many cases students will find the unconventional means by association a gang.5. Sub-cultural Theory The Sub-cultural theory emerged from the work of the Chicago School on gangs and developed through the symbolic interactionism school into a set of theories competition that certain groups or subcultures in society have values and attitudes that are conducive to crime and violence. Subcultural theories share the common belief that people who commit crime usually share different values from the mass of law-abiding members of society.For example, some groups of criminals might develop norms that encourage criminal behaviour.