Deviance And Crime Within Various Sociological Frameworks

A wise man once said, â€Å"Life is a paradox-society forces us into conformity, yet progress can only be made through deviance† (Unknown). As norms vary [widely], deviance is relative (Brym and Lie 2015). Deviance is a social construct that is often observed in society as, â€Å"everyone is a deviant in one social context or the other (Brym and Lie 2015:95). For that reason, sociologists have come up with theories to explain deviance and crime within various sociological frameworks. While some theorists â€Å"focus on the learning and labelling of deviant behaviour, social functionalists direct their attention to the social dysfunctions that lead to deviant and criminal behaviour† (Brym and Lie 2015:102). According to Brym and Lie, â€Å"deviance is the departure from a norm that evokes a negative reaction from others† (2015:96). As human beings, we are likely to do things that deviate from the norm or go against traditional values, as customs differ across cul tures. Personally, for me, life hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Growing up in the rural parts of Jamaica is hard, but it is even more difficult when you are not financially stable and with the dwindling economy, it is hard to find jobs in the cities let alone in the rural areas. Because of my circumstances, I have participated in deviance as a way of finding new means to achieving new goals. In 2013, after sitting examinations I graduated high school top of my class, but my parents could not afford to send me to university. TuitionShow MoreRelatedDeviance : Deviance And Deviant Acts1774 Words   |  8 PagesDeviance has had many definitions over the years as sociology has evolved and reevaluated the changing world. 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