Social Behavior and Inequalities Summary.docx Social Behavior and Inequalities Summary

Social Behavior and Inequalities Summary.docx    Social Behavior and Inequalities Summary  SOC/100  Social Behavior and Inequalities Summary  Deviance is a violation of formally enacted rules within society. It includes minor violations such as nose picking and criminal activities such as theft and murder. Deviant behaviors are behaviors that face disproval from majority members of society. Every society has its own culture. Social norms and values vary across cultures, and thus, deviant behaviors also differ from one society to society. For example, piercing one™s nose might be a deviant behavior in one culture while it is a common practice in another.  Theoretical perspectives on deviance  Different sociological perspectives have different explanations of what causes deviance and how it affects society. Below, I examine three major sociological perspectives: Functionalism, Social Disorganization, and Conflict theory.   Functionalism  Sociologists who follow functionalism have a positive view of deviance. They believe that it plays an essential role in a functioning society. Emile Durkheim, for example, sees deviance as necessary for a society as it challenges present views encouraging them to progress towards success. He mentions the civil rights movement, which he said contributed to challenging segregation.   Such an approach also says deviance allows to help society to unite around their cultural ties while trying to protect it from deviant behaviors. It is when the deviant behavior becomes mainstream that it pushes