week9.2--reading blog--LI LINLIN

(1) Summary:

This paper discusses the definition, types and social significance of deviant behavior. Deviant behavior refers to the behavior that violates cultural norms, which can be divided into formal deviant behavior and informal deviant behavior. Formal deviance involves breaking the law, such as robbery and murder; Informal transgressions violate unwritten social norms, such as picking your nose or burping loudly. The article points out that cultural relativity is the key to understanding deviance, because different cultures have different views of what deviance is.

Theoretical explanations of deviant behavior, including psychological and biological perspectives. For example, psychological and neurological studies have shown that certain behavioral disorders are associated with structural differences in the brain. Biologists have explored possible evolutionary advantages of social norm adherence, such as increased group cohesion. Robert Merton's typology of deviance proposes five types of deviance: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreat, and rebellion, which are classified according to an individual's acceptance of cultural goals and means of pursuing them.

Emphasize the function of deviant behavior to society, such as defining social boundaries, promoting social solidarity, and driving social change. The existence of deviant behavior helps societies define what constitutes acceptable behavior while driving necessary social change in times of social unrest.

In-depth analysis of deviant behavior, discusses the various forms, causes and social effects of deviant behavior. Deviant behavior refers to behavior that violates social norms, and can be divided into formal deviant behavior (such as criminal behavior, including robbery, theft, etc.) and informal deviant behavior (such as picking one's nose and other non-legal social norm violations). This paper discusses in detail how deviant behavior varies according to cultural differences and explains the relativity of norms.

Deviance theory includes psychological and biological explanations, as well as Robert Merton's typology of deviance, a classification based on an individual's motivation and adherence to cultural goals. Merton proposed five types of deviant behavior: conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreat and rebellion.

Conflict theory and labeling theory have also been used to explain deviant behavior. Conflict theory highlights how individuals of higher social status are more likely to engage in white-collar crime and often get away with it, reflecting power and social inequality. Label theory explores how individuals develop deviant identities as a result of social labeling, and how that identity is deepened by accepting and displaying behaviors associated with those labels.

In addition, the article analyzes the problems of the U.S. prison system, pointing out the harsh punishments of the criminal justice system, the high rate of recidivism, and the huge cost of prison, especially the disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups of society such as African Americans.

The article delves into the U.S. War on drugs and its impact on racial discrimination, particularly the disproportionate impact on African Americans. Since 1980, African Americans have been arrested for drug-related crimes at significantly higher rates than whites, even though they use drugs at no higher rates than whites. The article analyzes the reasons behind this phenomenon, including that law enforcement is often focused on urban centers and that penalties for drug use are generally harsher for minorities than for whites.

The broad impact of the criminal justice system in the United States points out that the system has been particularly profound among African Americans, many of whom are young African American males whose incarceration has become the norm. This not only deprives them of educational and vocational training opportunities, but also affects their employment prospects and civil rights in the long term. For example, many African Americans convicted of felonies were denied the right to vote.

The execution of the death penalty system in the United States is also racially biased, with criminal suspects who kill white people more likely to be sentenced to death than those who kill minorities. Taken as a whole, the article reveals deep problems with racial inequality in the American criminal justice system and hints at the potential offsetting effect of these problems on the achievements of the civil rights movement.

The socially constructed nature of tattooing as deviant behavior, and the prevalence of tattooing among American adults. Tattoos are no longer just associated with specific social groups (such as soldiers and sailors), but are increasingly accepted by ordinary people, including students and professionals. Gender also plays a significant role in the motivation to get a tattoo, which may be used by men to enhance masculinity and by women to emphasize femininity.

The social acceptance of tattoos has changed significantly. While in the past tattoos may have been seen as a sign of bad behavior and could lead to social exclusion, today most Americans know at least one person with a tattoo, and tattoos are increasingly becoming a more accepted form of self-expression. The changing meaning of tattoos reflects society's different interpretations of deviant behavior, which are not always negative. However, tattoos can still be associated with negative behaviors such as drug use and gang activity.

In addition, the article also addressed the issue of sexual violence on college campuses, pointing out that many universities have shortcomings in handling sexual assault cases. Although official statistics on campus sexual assault show a low number of cases, far more are actually occurring than are reported. Campus sexual assault often involves more subtle forms of sexual violence and coercion, suggesting that campus culture and structures may have unwittingly contributed to normalizing the behavior.

Overall, by analyzing the phenomena of tattooing and campus sexual violence, the article explores how deviant behavior is constructed and understood in society, and how these behaviors reflect broader social and cultural dynamics.

(2) Interesting points: The analysis of tattooing in the article is very interesting, especially how it has changed from a behavior seen as deviant to a widely accepted form of self-expression. This not only reflects the shifting social norms, but also reveals the socially constructed nature of deviant behavior, namely, that society's perception and acceptance of certain behaviors can change over time.

(3)Q:
The article mentions that although tattoos are now more socially acceptable, they can still be associated with negative behaviors such as drug use and gang activity. How does this constant negative association affect the social experience and career opportunities of those who have tattoos?