Robert Merton Deviance

Conformity is defined as when an “individual both subscribes to the values of the larger society and has access to legitimate means for obtaining them,” (powerpoint). Robert Merton has a deviance typology that helps explain this behavior. According to Merton “deviance tends to occur when members of a society reject culturally prescribed goals and/or don't believe they can achieve them in socially prescribed ways,” (powerpoint). However, conformity happens when you do something that society accepts and you do it in a legitimate way. In the case of Warren, he conformed to his sisters’ drug using, even though he had been against it, in order to fit in with them. “They all smoked marijuana, and he started smoking as a way to bond with them. He didn't consider it a bad thing to do, nor did he think of himself as immoral or as a criminal. He was just happy to hang out with other people who liked him for who he was, even if they were his older sisters,” (case study).

There is a difference between crimes against

So many things can be considered deviant. Warren’s drug and underage alcohol use is deviant. His sister’s purchasing of alcohol for minors is considered deviant. Warren’s friend who robbed stores and shot people is considered deviant. All three of them do things that society would consider deviant because they aren’t supposed to do those behaviors. The guards in the prison, who are supposed to be guarding the prisoners and keeping them in line, who supplied the inmates with drugs are deviant.

Stigma is a “distinctive social characteristic identifying its owner as disgraced,” (powerpoint). “Warren did not have very many friends. He sang and talked to himself a lot, which put a lot of people off,” (case study). Warren’s odd behavior would stigmatize him because it is out of the ordinary. It could also be considered deviant for the same