Deviance in Different Perspective

Definition of Concepts: Deviance and Crime:

Stated very simply, deviance as a violation of a norm; while crime is defined as a violation one specific type of norm, a law. By definition then, it would seem that "society" considers all crime to be deviant behavior. However, members of society may not consider a specific crime to be deviant at all. A speeding violation, parking ticket, etc. are classified as misdemeanors under the criminal code of , and you can go to court for them-- but we don't regard the offenders (the people who commit these violations) as deviant.

On the other hand, there are individuals and groups in society whose behavior may be regarded as very deviant according to the norms of the "larger" society. But these individuals and groups are not "criminals" because they are breaking no laws. (For example, you may want to ask your parents or grand parents what they think about body piercing. What are their opinions of pierced ears; lips, noses, nipples, etc.?)

Deviance is Defined Within the Social Context:

Emile Durkheim made a very strong and controversial claim in The Rules of Sociological Method. He said that NO ACT IS INHERENTLY DEVIANT IN AND OF ITSELF. DEVIANCE IS DEFINED SOCIALLY AND WILL VARY FROM ONE GROUP TO ANOTHER. Obviously, then, the group in a given society that has a lot of power will have a major role in defining what acts are deviant. But for this to work most people must acknowledge that power. That is, they they must recognize or feel that that power is legitimate that the state, or those in control have authority over them. This is an important distinction between force and coercion (i.e. raw power without recognition or consent of the people) and legitimate authority where people recognize and acknowledge the power over them.

Certainly, we can understand and agree with this when examining the broad varieties of societies (industrial and pre-industrial) that exist in the world today. Cannibalism is socially approved in some societies, while it is taboo in others-- But what about behavior that affects society on an international level?

(The late) Ayatollah Khomeini's (and 's continuing) "edict of death" against Salman Rushdie for writing Satanic Verses -- Is Rushdie a criminal? Whose laws did Rushdie violate? (In he's condemned to death; In he suffers nothing more than literary criticism).

Are the Shite Moslems who (five years ago) killed Robert Stethem, the navy diver, during the TWA hijacking criminals? Or, for that matter, can we even label them deviant?

If we want to carry this further, can we say that Adolph Hitler or Joseph Mengeler were criminals? Whose norms did they violate? What laws did they break? (Certainly not their own!) The Nazi's were found guilty of war crimes at Nurenburg, but by whom? The Allies! Would the Nazi's have ever found themselves guilty of crimes against humanity, had they won the war? Of course not! (Fortunately) the allies had the power and were able to enforce their definition of crime (and deviance) upon the vanquished. (The Nazi's would never consent to the Allies claim of authority over them).

This raises the interesting question Are there any universal laws? It seems that in every society murder is a crime-- (But there are a very wide set of circumstances under which killing is permitted. What one society considers to be murder, another will consider to be justifiable homocide. For example, in one society in the middle east a woman can be beheaded for adultery. What American court would levy this sentence?!)

But there are some laws on the books that large numbers of people don't recognize or pay any attention to. While Americans would consider it both a crime and deviant to murder someone, many don't think that a person should be arrested for smoking marajuana. (It's not the smoking that he or she will be arrested for, it's the possession of the illegal substance, itself). They don't consider it deviant. It doesn't violate norms, in their opinion. (The same can be said for many of the old