Free Essay Sample on Deviance Application and Analysis

Introduction

Deviance is a sociological concept which describes the actions and behaviors in violation of social norms. This piece focuses on explaining deviant behaviors using different theories; labelling theory, control-bond theory and strain theory. This paper will further analyze these theories in relation to Menace II film, which depicts a lot of deviant behaviors.

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Control Bond Theory

Control bond theory has two parts, where individuals have inner and outer controls. According to this theory, internal controls include moral values and the conscience which tells a person the difference between the right and wrong. Outer controls include the law, parents and police which play a role in a person's deviant behaviour. According to this theory, if a person is more bonded to their parents and family, they are less likely to commit deviant acts. The theory is of the view that deviant acts are likely to occur if social bonds are weak or broken. Absentee parents cause such weak bonds or when the parents do not spend enough time with the child; parents are expected to control the behaviour of their children by instilling certain values. Therefore, when parents don't play that role, children don't develop strong self-control values hence likely to commit deviant acts. The crucial parts of this theory include beliefs, involvements and attachments. Additionally, this theory asserts that the more attachments one has to legitimate groups in the society, the more a person will conform to the societal norms. A person is likely to be deviant when they do not have any attachments, involvements and commitments.

Labelling Theory

Labelling theory provides a sociological approach which focuses on social labelling in deviance and crime. Labelling theory asserts that the labels given to people affect how they view themselves and how other people view them. An excellent example is labelling a person as stupid; consequently, they become foolish overtime. The theory assumes that even though many factors contribute to deviant behaviour, they are often faced with new problems which stem from the negative stereotypes and labelling of their deviant characters. Such problems increase the likelihood of a deviant to commit crimes in a chronic manner. Being stereotyped and labelled by others as deviant may trigger processes that tend to stabilize and reinforce the idea of engaging in crimes and further deviance. This theory makes a counterintuitive approach of crimes by focusing on the official reaction to crime.

Strain Theory

Strain theory is a model explaining social phenomena as outcomes of individual actions, which are construed after that as a result of their circumstances. The theory aims at explaining how individuals make decisions. It is based on the premise that individuals work to achieve cultural goals. According to the theory, society has desired goals which are a depiction of success and prestige. Every society has institutionalized means of achieving these goals. According to the theory, people who are unable to achieve cultural goals through institutionalized means resort to illegitimate means to ensure they achieve these goals. They ultimately have to innovate some ingenious means to reach cultural goals.

Application of These Theories to Menace II

Menace II is a film which was debuted in 1993. It is a hood violence film shot in Central Los Angeles, displaying gritty violence throughout. The follows the life of Kaydee "Caine' who is the protagonist. Caine makes his money from small-time drug dealing. His religious grandparents raised the protagonist because his mother died from an overdose. His father was murdered in a drug deal that went wrong. His friends influence Caine's behaviour, and he lives a deviant lifestyle. At the end of the film, Cain wants out, but it's not as easy as he anticipated it would be. The film depicts the poor black Americans in disorganized communities. It depicts brutal violence in urban areas with underlying messages of poverty. In the movie, the author explores the nature of urban poverty and what causes conditions of poverty and societal responses. It tends to show that the environment is the cause of poverty and directs ambitious characters to criminality.

Control Band Theory

Control band theory applies to this film. The protagonist is primarily influenced by his parent’s decisions and their absence in his life. His mother died from an overdose, while his father dies in a drug deal. His actions tend to revolve around drugs, and he comes full circle when he decides to quit drug dealing. His parents do not closely monitor him as he is growing up, and their wrong values transfer to him. He is deviant who appears to commit crimes cold, with a little remorse. He has little attachment to the society, hence does not feel the need to comply with the societal values. He is not committed, involved or even feels any affection to the society. Meaningless violence and murder seem to be a part of his bloodline. In the film, a flashback shows his father shooting Samuel Jackson, a charismatic menace. Killing is used to make a point, and he shoots Jackson at point-blank. It’s not surprising that his son takes after him. Like every other person in the film, Caine is jaded and numb because of his experiences.

Strain Theory

Strain theory applies to this film, where we see the protagonist, who is primarily influenced by his circumstances and peers. His mother died from an overdose, while his father dies in a drug deal. The father came up with illegitimate means to achieve the desired cultural goals and his son followed in his footsteps. His actions tend to revolve around drug dealing, so are the actions of is associates. In the process, they commit a lot of crimes to sustain a certain kind of lifestyle. Most of their activities revolve around illegitimate means of earning money; due to their alienation from the institutionalized system. Cain comes full circle when he decides to quit drug dealing; however, it's not as easy as it seems. Meaningless violence and murder seem to be a part of his bloodline. All these deviant activities take place in an attempt to achieve a particular lifestyle and to achieve cultural goals. O-Dog resorts to stealing because he cannot keep up with the institutionalized process of earning a living. In the process, O-Dog and Cain commit many crimes, even murdering in cold blood to survive in a society with institutionalized processes that they had no access.

Labelling Theory

Different scenes in Menace also show the labelling theory. Tat, who is an ex-convict dares to pull the trigger. He takes that step, and everyone around does not see it as a big deal. Casually, Cain establishes that seeing his father kill somebody is not his first time. This scene shows how the community in Menace II gets used to things that no one should never have to accept. In this scenario, the labelling theory applies. We see Cain forms the first-hand stereotype about his father's activities, and concludes that he has always been that type of a person. His father has deviant characteristics, and the community's perceptions of him and his associates reinforce such ideas. He even takes the labelling to a notch higher when he kills as a lesson; this was purposefully done so that other people fear him. The film also shows this labelling when O-Dog wants the tape from the crime scene so that he can distribute throughout the hood. His sociopathy and ego transform an unconscionable crime into something he brags about.

It becomes a party tape to impress his peers. His actions also show how O-Dog has accepted the stereotypes about himself to a point where he starts to brag about his actions. Also, he deeply engages in criminal activities reinforcing and accepting societal views of him. Besides, the community seems to accept the level of brutality and violence from the deviant people. This further reinforces their criminal and deviant behaviours. Consequently, as a result of labelling and stereotypes, the criminals depicted in this film, become stable and more engaged in their criminal activities. Also, we see Cain and his friend O-Dog swagger into a convenience store, where the owners regard them with wary and distrustful stares. The peace between the two groups comes to an end when the counterman refers to O-Dog's mother. Consequently, O-Dog lives up to the expected stereotypes of him as a black man.

Conclusion

To sum up, biology and sociology attempt to explain deviant characters. Different factors lead to deviant behaviours and circumstances further catalyze the manifestation of deviant behaviours. Labelling theory, strain theory and control bond theory explains other causes of deviant behaviour. The film Menace II has many eccentric characters, and application of these theories helps in further understanding the cause of deviant behaviours. Culture, the society and the upbringing of a person seems to play a vital role in the contribution of the outcomes. Therefore, societal cultures need to reinforce different values and attitudes to prevent deviant behaviours.

References

Hughes, A., & Hughes, A. (1993). Menace II Society [Movie]. Accessed from
https://www.youtube.com /results?search_query=Menace+i.