Kai Erikson
Sociological Theories of Deviance
Sociology 3305
UMD
WAYWARD PURITANS: A STUDY IN THE SOCIOLOGY OF DEVIANCE
I. DIFFERENT GROUPS OF DIFFERENT SIZES
DIFFERENT BEHAVIORS, ACTIONS, THOUGHTS, CONSIDERED DEVIANT
II. COMMUNITY
A. PROVIDES A SENSE OF BELONGING
B. BOUNDARY MAINTAINING - MORAL BOUNDARIES, RANGE OF BEHAVIOR
III. LEARNING BOUNDARIES
PASSING ON TO NEXT GENERATION
A. INTERACTION BETWEEN DEVIANT AND OFFICIAL AGENT
B. ACTIONS NOTIFY MOVEMENT BEYOND ACCEPTABLE BOUNDARY
C. COMMUNITY BEGINS TO LOSE UNIQUE BOUNDARY
D. DRAMATIZE BEHAVIOR
IN-GROUP - OUT-GROUP
E. PUBLICIZE CASES
PUBLIC DISPLAY, NEWSPAPERS (PG. 33)
IV. SOCIETIES AREN'T STAGNATE
BOUNDARIES MOVE AND SHIFT
1. CONSTANT TESTING
NOT JUST ONE ACT OF DEVIANCE
RATES
2. DEVIANCE HELPS MAINTAIN STABILITY
V. DEVIANCE SERVES FUNCTION
DOES SOCIETY PROMOTE DEVIANCE?
A. RECRUITMENT OF DEVIANTS
B. SEND TO FRINGE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME
C. PG. 35; "INDEED, THE AGENCIES BUILT BY SOCIETY FOR PREVENTING DEVIANCE
ARE OFTEN SO POORLY EQUIPPED FOR THE TASK THAT WE MIGHT WELL ASK WHY
THIS IS REGARDED AS THEIR "REAL" FUNCTION IN THE FIRST PLACE."
D. E.G. PRISONS AS LEARNING GROUND FOR CRIME
SICK LABELS AS IN REMISSION
E. RITE OF TRANSITION
MOVEMENT TO BOUNDARY
1. MARKED WITH CEREMONY
2. MOVEMENT BACK GOES UNNOTICED
G. SELF-FULFILLING PROPHESY
COMMUNITY MEMBERS RESPONSE
OFFICIAL AGENT (POLICE) RESPONSE
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