Normative & Non-Normative Behavior

Normative & Non-Normative Behavior - What is Normal? Exploring folkways, mores, and taboos: Norms are standard for what kinds of behaviors are acceptable and what are unacceptable (there can be unwritten rules as well) and are dependent on specific situations, locations, and historical circumstances Folkways are common rules and manners we are supposed to follow on a daily basis (i.e. opening a door for someone or saying thank you) and if you don’t do it there’s no real punishment Mores are norms based on some moral value/belief (i.e. truthfulness because it is the right thing to do, and when a politician lies, his ratings drop but there are still no SERIOUS consequences) Laws are norms that are still based on moral value/belief but now have more formal/consistent consequences punishable by law (i.e. lying when under oath) Taboos are behaviors completely forbidden in ANY circumstance. Violations of taboos can/are not punishable by law, but this stuff is crazy shit (i.e. incest and cannibalism) → result in immense disgust by others - - - 1. 2. 3. Perspectives on Deviance: Differential association, labeling theory, and strain theory: Deviance occurs when a when a norm is violated (isn’t always bad/immoral) Symbolic interactionist perspective states that society is a product of everyday social interactions of individuals Theory of Differential Association states that deviance is a learned behavior that results from continued exposure to other who violate norms/laws Relationships are VERY important i.e. An athlete plays with a team that doesn’t use steroids and so he doesn’t. He then gets traded and the new team does and he begins using steroids Labeling Theory states that a behavior is deviant if people have judged the behavior and labeled it as deviant i.e. The same athlete is on the team with the steroid users but they don’t judge it as deviant so the behavior technically isn’t deviant 1° Deviance occurs when the deviant behavior does not have huge consequences and does not have much pushback (will continue to do the deviant behavior) 2° Deviance is deviant behavior that can produce a stigmatizing label that can lead to more deviant behavior and can have more serious consequences/repercussions (i.e. Player is told he sucks and that he shouldn’t use steroids but he continues to use steroids because he wants to be good) Strain Theory suggests that if a person is blocked from obtaining a culturally accepted goal, they become frustrated/strained and turn to deviance Individuals from a group are pushed to specific goals but do not have the means to achieve them (can lead to illegal activity from the unequal opportunity) Aspects of Collective Behavior: Fads, Mass Hysteria, & Riots: Collective Behavior occurs when large numbers of individuals act and behave in certain ways that do not represent societal norms (NOT the same as group behavior because collective behavior is around for a short period of time, has no social boundaries, loose norms) Often driven by group dynamics such as deindividuation 3 Types of Collective Behavior: Fads are things that become popular super quick but also die off super quick (perceived as “cool”, i.e. the cinnamon challenge) Mass Hysteria refers to mass groups of people that experience unmanageable delusions and anxiety at the same time (i.e. extreme weather) Riots are characterized by large groups of people who suddenly engage in deviant behavior; very chaotic through vandalism and damage (can be caused by sports, conflicts between races/religions, etc.) Extra Notes: Xenocentrism is judging another culture as superior to one’s own culture Cultural Imperialism is the deliberate imposition of one’s own cultural values on another culture Social anomie is a situation in which a society does not have the support of a firm collective consciousness