Discuss the different functions of deviance in society in mundane situations, such as the weekend or vacation.

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Humanities

Discuss the different functions of deviance in society in mundane situations, such as the weekend or a football game, or vacation.

  1. Pick a deviant act and proceed through Merton’s defining of a deviant act.
  2. Think of your group of friends, is there a person that bothers everyone, and yet remains a part of the group? Why?
  3. Would you agree with Erikson’s claim that “society channels certain of its members into relatively fixed careers in deviance”?
  4. Pick a deviant act and discuss the latent functions of the act.
  5. Of the three critiques of the functionalist perspective, which one do you find the most problematic? Why?