Deviance: Sociology and Strain Theory

“Deviance in sociological context describes actions or behaviors that violate cultural norms including formally-enacted rules (e. g. , crime) as well as informal violations of social norms. ” People consider an act to be a deviance act because of the three sociological theories: control theory, labeling theory and strain theory. It deeply reflected in the movie called "Menace II Society". Control theory. Portrayed in this movie, there are 2 control systems working against our motivations to deviate. Inner controls (things inside you that stop you from deviating- morals, religious beliefs, conscience).

O-Dog consistently goes to kill some guys with Caine, but Caine doesn’t intend to kill anyone, just to scare them. Caine says “ I never killed anyone because I didn’t see the reason to kill. ” There was also many outer controls (things outside of you that stop you from deviating- parents, police, the law) portrayed in this movie. The stronger our bonds, connections with society, the more effective our inner controls. Bonds based on attachments, commitments, involvements, and beliefs. Caine is unable to control himself due to the badly influenced bond or connection with the society.

There was a party in his house when he was very young, his parents sold and did drugs. When Caine sneaked out of his house and talked to people (his parent’s friends) he learned how to hold gun and drink. His mother caught him and tells him to go back to the house. But never really told him why it was bad. He and his parents didn’t have a strong bond because they weren’t able to control themselves either. After Caine grew up there was a time when he was charged as an adult, but the authorities lessen the charge to joyriding and let him go after linking him to the liquor store killings but failing to prove his involvement.

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He later buys a stolen Ford Mustang from a car shop and robs a youth at a fast-food drive through for his new wheel rims, chains, and pager. Caine admits in the end of the movie that he wishes he had made better decisions, but now it was too late to correct them. His final thoughts, given in voiceover, are: "I had done too much to turn back, and I had done too much to go on. I guess, in the end, it all catches up with you. My grandpa asked me one time if I care whether I live or die. Yeah, I do. And now it's too late. If he had stronger and good bonding with his grandfather who he describes him as “a biblical man” he would have been able to control himself. And wouldn’t have end up dead. Labeling theory. The labels that people are given affect their own and others’ perceptions of them, leading to conformity or deviance (labels can be good or bad)Most people resist the negative labels others try to give us, however, if we hear that we a thug long enough, we may finally accept that label and start living as a thug. Black race is the most stereotyped out of many races.

Due to being consistently stereotyped they really become who they are being stereotyped as. In the starting of this movie The Korean storekeeper and his wife watch them suspiciously, and O-Dog rails against them. As O-Dog is finished paying and is about to leave the store with Caine, the shopkeeper tells, "I feel sorry for your mother. " O-Dog takes offense and shoots the Korean storekeeper and his wife, taking the video surveillance tape of the shooting before he and Caine flee. O-Dog keeps the tape and entertains his friends by showing it to them, and there is talk of a copy being made for others in the neighborhood to watch.

Also Caine and Sharif are beaten by racist policemen without any reason and left in Mexican gang territory, apparently with the expectation that the Mexicans will further assault them. The Mexicans take them to a hospital instead. Strain theory is a strive to reach cultural goals of wealth and success. Some experience strain (frustration) when they can’t get those goals, feel anomie (disconnect), turn to deviance to try to reach the goals (ex. - you want a nice car, but can’t get a legit job to earn enough to buy it.. So steal one instead) Caine sells cocaine.

He explains how he has learned through O-Dog how to survive in the streets while Mr. Butler told him how to survive in good. Caine’s parents have been living the same way as Caine did. His parents did cocaine and other kinds of drugs in order to make the living such as Caine. Also while Harold and Caine are waiting in traffic, a van pulls up next to them, and they are carjacked at gunpoint. Harold is slow to surrender his wallet and jewelry, so the carjacker shoots. This is the way that ghettos live. They do not work or neither try to work. Through many racism, stereotype, and they way they were raised and taught.

Deviance act seems to be greatly influenced by nurturing and environment. In this movie I felt like deviance occurs because controlling theory, labeling theory, and strain theory. Through lack of controls of parents, racial stereotyping, learning the survival through an in proper way have influenced people, they have become uncontrollable in themselves, even though they know doing drugs, killing people are wrong they were never taught the seriousness of doing and selling drugs and killing people. It shows in the last part of the movie when Caine says “ I wish I haven’t done the things that I have done. ”

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