Evaluation of Sociological Theories

Evaluation of Sociological Theories

Deviance can be described as: "Nonconformity with existing/traditional

social norms. This nonconformity is often said to be pathological when

it challenges power and privilege; yet it is said to be indicative of

innovation or creativity when the gatekeepers of morality approve it.

A loaded term, deviancy is a negative asset when the environment is

stable but can be a positive asset to a society when the environment

is irreversibly changing." Each perspective asks different questions

and focuses on different issues regarding crime and deviance. They

have different ideas about the causes of crime.

Subcultural theories on crime and deviance were developed in the late

1950s and early 1960s from the works of Albert Cohen(1955) and Richard

Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin(1960). They suggested that people react to

forces 'external' to them, this leads them to behave in certain ways.

Their behaviour is determined by social causes. Criminals behave

differently from non-criminals. Subcultural theorists have attempted

to seek the causes of these differences, they claim to have identified

malfunctions in the social order. These malfunctions are seen to be

rectifiable by different types of social engineering e.g. Social

reform, social welfare and education. Crimes are 'social facts' and

therefore must have 'social causes'. Criminals are not seen as

'abnormal' individuals by subcultural theorists, but as social actors

influenced by social causes.

Statistics have indicated that criminals are mostly male, adolescent,

working class and urban living. An idea inspired by Durkhiem (1952)

suggested that this is a 'socia...

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...s as it gives evidence to support their idea that working

class people commit more crimes than middle class males. On the other

hand, criminal statistics was challenged by left realists who believe

that criminal statistics is the reality and therefore we should accept

it, along with the solutions to attempt to solve the problems to

tackle the high levels of crime.

Marxist approach in explaining deviant behaviour is only reliable to

some extent. Along with the contradictions from other perspectives, it

shows that improvements can be added to their ideas. Marxists mainly

concentrated on the class distribution and stress that they the ruling

class control the norms and values of the society. It will not be

classed as deviant unless the bourgeoisie say so and they will not say

so unless a working class person commits it.