desvio e goode.pdf

7/26/2019 desvio e goode.pdf

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I s the Socio l ogy o f D ev ian ce

St i l l R elevan t

ERICH GOODE

This paper discusses whether and to what extent the field o f the sociology of deviance is

dead, relevant to sociology generally, or intellectually vital, an d, if it is less vital than it

once w as, how and w hy it declined in vigor, and w hat might be done to return it to its glory

days. It also ad dresses the im plications of the election of 2004 for the field of d eviance studies.

F o r m o r e t h a n 3 0 y e a r s I ' v e b e e n s t r u g g l i n g w i t h w h a t s e e m s t o m e t o b e a f u n d a m e n -

t a l p a r a d o x . O n t h e o n e h a n d , I se e e v i d e n c e e v e r y w h e r e o f t h e c e n t ra l i m p o r t a n c e o f th e

d e v i a n c e c o n c e p t . N o w , a s a n a s i d e , I a d m i t t h is p r o b a b l y i l lu s t r a t e s t h e p r i n c i p l e t h a t , to

a h e r r i n g m e r c h a n t , e v e r y t h i n g is f is h , o r, a s C . W r i g h t M i l l s o n c e s a id , t o a s h o e m a k e r ,

e v e r y t h i n g i s le a t h e r . S t il l, to m e , i t s e e m s e v e r y t h i n g i s d e v i a n c e . B u t , i n s p it e o f th e

u b i q u i t y o f m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f d e v i a n c e I s e e a ll a r o u n d m e , t h e v e r y l e g i t i m a c y o f t h e

c o n c e p t h a s h a d m o r e t h a n i ts s h a re o f c r it ic s . A n d f o r m o r e t h a n a d e c a d e , s o c i o l o g ic a l

p u n d i t s h a v e b e e n p r o c l a i m i n g th e d e a t h o f t h e s o c i o l o g y o f d e v i a n c e (S u m n e r , 1 9 94 );

o r, e v e n m o r e g r a n d l y, t h e d e a th o f d e v i a n c e ( M i l le r , W r i g h t , a n d D a n n e l s , 2 0 01 ) , a s i f

s u c h a t h i n g w e r e p o s s i b l e . F r o m t i m e t o t i m e I ' v e p u t i n m y t w o c e n t s , w r i t i n g a r t i c l e s

e x p l a i n i n g w h y th i s d e v e l o p m e n t h a s n o t a n d c a n n o t c o m e t o p a ss ( 2 0 02 , 2 0 0 3 , 2 0 0 4 ) .

B u t s ti ll , t h e c r i t ic s p a y n o h e e d t o m e , a n d c o n t i n u e t o i ss u e t h e i r p r o n u n c i a m e n t o s .

T h e P o l it i cs o f D e v i a n c e v e r s u s Th e Po l i ti c s o f ev iance

N o t l o n g a g o , a s o c i o l o g is t n a m e d A n n e H e n d e r s h o t t p u b l i s h e d a b o o k e n t i t le d

The

Politics o f Deviance

( 2 0 0 2 ). W h e n I s t u m b l e d a c r o s s t h e t it l e , I b e c a m e v e r y e x c i t e d . A s

I sa id , I 'v e b e e n o b s e s s e d w i t h t h e s u b j e c t o f d e v i a n c e f o r d e c a d e s , a n d f o r m e t h e c e n -

t r a l i s su e h a s always b e e n the polit ics o f d e v i a n c e . I ' m i n t e r e s te d in h o w d e f i n i t i o n s o f

f i g h t a n d w r o n g a r e e s t a b l i sh e d a n d m a i n t a i n e d , h o w c o l l e c ti v i ti e s in e v e r y s o c i e t y s t r u g g le

o v e r n o t i o n s o f w h a t is t o b e d e m a r c a t e d a s a c c e p t a b l e a n d u n a c c e p t a b l e b e h a v i o r , b e -

l ie f s , a n d e v e n p h y s i c a l t r a it s ; w h a t a n d w h o w i l l be s t i g m a t i z e d ; w h a t a n d w h o w i l l be

h o n o r e d a n d r e s p e c te d , w h a t a n d w h o w i l l b e i g n o re d , a c c e p te d , t o le r a te d , a n d c o n d o n e d .

Erich Goode is P rofessor Emeritus of Sociology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and

senior research scientist in the Department o f Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Mary-

land at College Park. He is the author ofte n books, m ainly on drug use and deviant behavior, a recipient of

several teaching aw ards, and a winner of the Guggenheim fellowship.

4 6 T h e A m e r i c a n S o c i o l o g is t W i n t e r 2 0 0 4


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W h a t a n d w h o w i ll b e r e g a r d e d a s

emblemat ic

o f th e s o c ie t y as a w h o l e , a n d w h a t a n d

w h o w i ll b e r e l e g a te d t o t h e m a r g i n s , e m b l e m a t i c o n l y o f t h e s o c i e ty ' s p e r i p h e r y - - n o t

e n t i re l y r e s pe c ta b l e , e xe m pl a r y , o r r e pu t a b l e. W ha t v i e w s w i n o u t i n t h i s s t r ugg l e t ha t

E d w i n S c h u r - - i n h i s b o o k o f t h e s a m e ti tl e, The Pol it ics o f Dev iance ( 1 9 8 0 ) - - r e f e r s t o

a s s t i g m a c o n te s ts . I n t h e w o r d s o f S t e p h e n P f o h l: T h e s t o r y o f d e v i a n c e a n d s o c ia l

con t ro l i s a ba t t l e s to ry . I t is a s to ry o f the ba t t l e to cont ro l the w ays pe op le th ink , fee l ,

a nd be ha ve . I t is a s t o r y o f w i nne r s a nd l o s e rs a nd o f t he s t ra t e g ie s pe op l e u s e i n s t r ugg l e s

w i t h o ne a no t he r . W i nne r s i n t he ba t tl e to c o n t r o l ' d e v i a n t a c t s ' a re c r o w n e d w i t h a ha l o

o f go odn e s s , a c c e p ta b i l it y , no r m a l i t y . L os e r s a r e v i e w e d a s l i v i ng ou t s i de t he boun da r i e s

o f s oc i a l l if e a s it oug h t t o be , ou t s i de t he ' c om m on s e ns e ' o f s oc i e t y i t s e l f ( 1994 : 3 ).

A s I s e e i t, the c e n t r a l i de a i n t he s oc i o l ogy o f de v i a nc e is t ha t de f i n i t i ons o f r i gh t a nd

w r o n g d o n o t d r o p f r o m t h e s k ie s . T h e y a r e n o t p r e o r d a in e d . T h e y a r e h u m a n l y

pro-

duced cons truc ted

a s a r e s u l t o f c l a s he s o f i de o l og i e s , i n t e r e s t s -- - e c onom i c , s oc ia l , c u l -

t u ra l, p o l i t i c a l - - t h e o u t c o m e o f s t ru g g l e s b e tw e e n a n d a m o n g c a t e g o ri e s i n th e s o ci et y,

e a c h vy i ng f o r dom i na nc e , o r a t l e a st a c c e p t a nc e , o f the v i e w s a nd be ha v i o r s tha t c ha r -

a c t e ri z e t he m a s a s oc i a l e n ti ty . S o H e nde r s ho t t 's book , I t hou gh t , w o u l d o f f e r a f u l l,

de t a il e d , a nd s y s t e m a t i c e xpo s i t i on o f a pe r s pe c t i ve I ha d be e n t h i nk i ng , t a lk i ng , w r i t i ng ,

a n d t e a c h i n g a b o u t f o r s o m e t im e .

I w a s i n f o r qu i t e a s hoc k . H e n de r s ho t t ' s bo ok ha d

noth ing

t o d o w i t h w h a t I t h o u g h t

i t w a s a bou t . I n f a c t, i t a r gue d p r e c i s e l y t he opposite p o s i t i o n f r o m m y o w n : t h a t d e v i -

a nc e

is

pr e o r da i ne d ,

does

d r o p d o w n f r o m t h e s k ie s , s h o u l d

not

b e t h o u g h t o f a s c o n -

s t r u c te d o r r e la t iv e t o t i m e a n d p l a c e - - b u t absolute . I r e a d t he book i n ho r r o r . I w a s

hu r l e d ba c k i n t o t he n i ne t e e n t h c e n tu r y , i n t o a P l a ton i c o r M a n i c h e a n a bs o l u t i s t ic w or l d

o f l i gh t a nd da r kne s s .

A s a n a s i de , one o f he r c l a i m s w a s e a s il y d i s pe ns e d w i t h : tha t no o ne w a n t s t o t e a c h

c ou r s e s i n de v i a nc e a ny m or e , be c a u s e t he f i e l d d i e d a ge ne r a t i on a go . S o I c he c ke d

t he e n r o l l m e n t s i n 20 m or e o r l e s s r e p r e s e n t a t i ve s oc i o l ogy de pa r t m e n t s , a nd f ound ,

w he n I c om pa r e d t he 1970s w i t h t he 2000s , m o r e de pa r t m e n t s t oda y a r e o f f e r i ng a c ou r s e

i n de v i a nc e du r i ng a ny g i ve n s e m e s t e r t ha n w a s t r ue 30 ye a r s a go , a nd a bou t t he s a m e

num be r o f s t ude n t s a r e t a k i ng t he c ou r s e pe r s e m e s t e r f o r a g i ve n de pa r t m e n t . I a l s o

c he c ke d t he s oc i o l ogy c u r r i c u l a a t 25 m a j o r un i ve r s i ti e s a c r o s s the c oun t r y , a nd f oun d

tha t the ma jor i ty , two- th i rds (or 16) ,

do

c u r r e n t l y o f f e r a c ou r s e i n de v i a nc e ( 2003 ) .

Clear ly, that a s pe c t o f he r c l a i m , t ha t t he f i e l d ha d d i e d , a t l e a st w i t h r e s pe c t t o c ou r s e

o f f e r i ngs a nd e n r o l l m e n t s , w a s

comple te ly

f a l se , s i m p l y a f a n t a s y on h e r pa r t .

H e n de r s ho t t 's a r gum e n t , in a nu t s he l l , b e g i n s w i t h t he f a c t t ha t s oc i o l ogy ' s f ound i ng

f a t h e r s - - D u r k h e i m b e i n g a c l e ar e x a m p l e - - w e r e g u i d e d b y a f i r m m o r a l c o m p a s s. T h e y

r e c o g n i z e d t h a t s o m e b e h a v i o r s are h a r m f u l a n d shou ld b e c o n d e m n e d - - t h a t is, shou ld

b e r e g a r d e d

as

de v i a n t . Bu t t he 1960s, H e n de r s ho t t a r gue s , m a r k e d a r a d i c a l b r e a k w i t h

t h i s tr a d i t iona l i de a . B e g i nn i ng w i t h B e c ke r a nd h i s i lk , s he a s s e r ts , p r a c t i t ione r s o f the

s o c i o l o g y o f d e v i a n c e a r g u e d f o r a k i n d o f m o r a l r e l a t iv i s m t h a t r e c o g n i z e d n o i n tr in s i-

c a l ly e v i l de e ds , on l y a m a r ke t p l a c e o f c om pe t i n g c l ai m s , e a c h jo s t l i ng f o r a c c e p t a nc e .

D e v i a n t s

shou ld

be c o nd e m ne d a nd s t igm a t i z e d , H e nde r s ho t t be l i eve s . A l o ng t he s e l ine s ,

the n, she ra i l s : agains t m e d i c a l iz i n g th e d e v i a n c e o f d r u g u s e a n d a b u s e; against r e m o v -

i ng t he s t i gm a f r om m e n t a l i l l ne s s ;

against

t h e p o s t m o d e r n n o r m a l i za t io n o f p e d o -

phi l i a ; agains t t he r e m o va l o f s t i gm a a ga i n s t f l a m bo ya n t a nd m i l i ta n t ga ys ( and , by i m -

pl i ca t ion , aga in s t gays genera l ly ) ; agains t c e l e b r a t i ng t he s e xua l l y a dve n t u r ous [ tha t is

to s ay , p rom iscuous ] adolescent ; and

against

dow ngrad ing the d ev iance of a s s i st ed su i -

c i de . A s a r e s u l t o f t he e f f o r t s o f b r a ve s ou l s s uc h a s he r s e l f, H e nde r s ho t t a s s e rt s , t he

G o o d e 7


3/12

p e n d u l u m i s b e g i n n i n g t o s w i n g b a c k o n c e a g a i n . T h e c o n c e p t o f d e v i a n c e , s h e s a ys : " is

b e i n g r e d i s c o v e r e d b y o r d i n a r y p e o p l e w h o h a v e s u f f e re d t h e re a l -w o r l d c o n s e q u e n c e s

o f t h e a c a d e m i c e l i te 's r e j e c t i o n o f t h e c o n c e p t . T h o s e w h o s e c o m m u n i t i e s h a v e b e e n

b r o k e n a p a r t b y f a i le d w e l f a r e p o l i c ie s , o r w h o s e f a m i l i e s h a v e f a l le n a p a r t a s a r e su l t o f

t e e n a g e p r e g n a n c y o r d i v o r c e , a r e n o w s p e a k i n g o u t a b o u t t h e m o r a l c h a o s t h a t i s d e -

s t r o y i n g t h e i r n e i g h b o r h o o d s , t h e i r s c h o o l s a n d t h e i r f a m i l i e s " ( p . 1 0).

T h e i d e a o f d e v i a n c e , s h e c l a i m s ,

before

H o w a r d B e c k e r a n d t h e l a b e l i n g t h e o r i s t s

c a m e a l o n g , w a s t h a t i t w a s t ra g i ca l ly , p e r n i c i o u s l y h a r m f u l b e h a v i o r , b e h a v i o r t h a t to r e

a t t h e f a b r ic o f t h e s o c ie t y , u n d e r m i n e d th e s o c i a l o rd e r , w r e a k e d h a v o c o n t h e c o m m u -

n it y . B e c k e r a n d h i s c o l l e a g u e s ( 1 9 6 3 , 1 9 6 4 ) h a v e w a r p e d , d i s to r t e d , a n d po isoned t h e

d e v i a n c e n o t i o n , H e n d e r s h o t t a r g u e s - - t o o k t h e m o r a l t a in t o u t o f it , r e m o v e d i t fr o m t h e

n e g a t i v e v a l u a t i o n i t so r ic h l y d e s e r v e s - - r e l a t i v i z e d i t, m a d e i t i m p o s s i b l e f o r u s t o s a y

t h a t d e v i a n c e r e a l l y m e a n s b a d , e v i l , m o r a l l y w r o n g . S o c i o l o g i s t s h a v e t h e r ight-- in-

d e e d , t h e obl igat ion-- to c o n d e m n d e v i a n c e , s h e s ay s , a n d e n c o u r a g e t h e i r s tu d e n t s a n d

t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c t o d o s o , t o o .

I t w a s B e c k e r ' s r e l at iv i ty , H e n d e r s h o t t c l a i m s , t h a t k i l l e d o f f t h e c o n c e p t t h a t h a d

p r e v i o u s l y l e d o r d i n a r y p e o p l e t o s e e th a t i t w a s i m m o r a l , h a r m f u l , c o n t r a r y t o n a t u ra l

l a w a n d c o m m o n s e n s e . I n o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e th e s i s o f th e m o r a l r e l a ti v is ts , s h e s a y s , w e

m u s t " d r a w f r o m n a t u re , r e a s o n a n d c o m m o n s e n s e t o d e f i n e w h a t i s d e v i a n t a n d r e a f-

f i r m t h e m o r a l t i e s t h a t b i n d u s to g e t h e r " ( p . 1 1 ). I n o t h e r w o r d s , H e n d e r s h o t t w a n t s t o

de-relativize essentialize a n d absolutize d e v i a n c e . I n p r in t , I s a id a f e w u n k i n d t h i n g s

a b o u t h e r b o o k ( 2 00 3 : 5 2 3 - 5 3 0 ) , a n d t h e n f i l ed i t a w a y i n so m e b i n i n m y m i n d s o m e -

w h e r e a s t h e ra v i n g s o f a r i g h t - w i n g i d e o l o g u e , a n d w e n t a b o u t m y b u s i n e s s .

T h e E l e c t i o n o f 2 0 0 4

T h e n a l o n g c a m e t h e e l e c t i o n o f 2 0 04 .

I n th e d a y s f o l l o w i n g N o v e m b e r t hi rd , in a c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i th N a c h m a n B e n - Y e h u d a ,

a n I s r a e l i s o c i o l o g i s t , I t r i e d t o e x p l a i n t h e p r e s i d e n t i a l e l e c t i o n t o h i m . H e i n t u r n t o l d

m e t h e I s ra e l i n e w s p a p e r s p o i n t e d o u t t h a t th e d e c i s i v e e q u a t i o n i n t h e e l e c t io n w a s t h a t

a s u b s t a n ti a l p e r c e n t a g e o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n w a s b r o u g h t i n t o t h e p o l l i n g b o o t h b e c a u s e o f

t h e i r f e ar o f a n d h a t r e d f o r g a y s , e s p e c ia l l y f o r g a y m a r r i a g e , w h i c h h e l p e d B u s h w i n .

T h e n h e s a i d: " M a y b e t h o s e R e p u b l i c a n s w i l l h e l p b r i n g d e v i a n c e b a c k i n t o t h e c e n t e r o f

t h i n g s . "

A n n e H e n d e r s h o t t , I r e a li z ed , w a s ri g h t ( A t l e as t a b o u t th e i m p o r t a n c e o f c o n v e n -

t i o n a l m o r a l it y .) S h e p r e c i s e l y c a p t u r e d t h e m o o d o f a s u b s t a n t ia l s e g m e n t o f t h e u lt ra -

c o n s e r v a t i v e f r in g e o f t h e R e p u b l i c a n P a r t y w h o s e e k t o u s e t ra d i t io n a l v a l u e s t o c o n -

d e m n u n c o n v e n t i o n a l b eh a v io r . I n o t h e r w o r ds , th e 2 0 0 4 e l e c ti o n t r a n s f o r m e d A n n e

H e n d e r s h o t t i n m y m i n d f r o m a c r a c k b r a i n e d l u n a t i c , s p o u t i n g s i l l y i d e a s I f e l t I w a s

f o r c e d t o c r i t i q u e , t o a harbinger a f l a g b e a r e r o f a p a r ti c u l a r p e r s p e c t i v e , th a t , w h i l e n o t

w i d e s p r e a d i n a c a d e m i c s o c io l o g y, does r e f l e c t t h e m o o d a n d t h i n k i n g o f a s u b s t a n ti a l

s e g m e n t o f A m e r i c a n s o c ie t y. A n d i n t h is f o r m u l a t i o n , o p p o s i t i o n t o h o m o s e x u a l i t y , in

t h e g u i s e o f h o s ti l i ty t o w a r d g a y m a r r ia g e , b e c a m e o n e f u l c r u m o f th e a f f i r m a t i o n o f

t r a d i ti o n a l i n s t i t u ti o n s a n d p r a c t i c e s , w h i l e o p p o s i t i o n t o a b o r t i o n b e c a m e t h e o t h er . A l l

e n c a p s u l a t e d i n t h e t e r m " m o r a l v a l u e s . " O r , e v e n a s h a d e m o r e c o d e d , " f a m i l y v a l u e s ."

B o t h o f w h i c h i n t u rn b e c a m e c o d e w o r d s f o r c o n d e m n i n g

sexual activi ty outs ide of

heterosexual marriage.

4 8 The Am e r ic a n So c io lo g i st W inte r 2 0 0 4


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A c c o r d i n g t o a

Washington Post

p o l l, a m o n g v o te r s f o r w h o m t h e is s u e o f m o r a l

v a l u e s w a s i m p o r t a n t , 8 0 % v o t e d f or B u s h . M o r e t h a n 4 0 % o f B u s h ' s s u p p o r t e r s w e r e

w h i t e , b o r n - a g a i n C h r i s t ia n s , a s o p p o s e d t o o n l y 2 2 % o f t h e e l e c to r a t e a s a w h o l e ( F i n k e l,

2 0 0 4 ) . I r e a li z e t h a t p u n d i t s s u p p o r t i n g B u s h a r g u e a g a i n s t th e p o s i t i o n I ' m s p e l l i n g o u t

b e c a u s e t h e y d o n ' t w a n t i t t o s e e m a s i f t h e p r e s id e n t w a s r e e l e c t e d b y a b u n c h o f y a h o o s

f r o m t h e b o o n i e s ( K r a u t h a m m e r , 2 0 0 4 ). B u t to m e , t h e e v i d e n c e s e e m s q u i te c o n v i n c -

i n g . I t w a s B u s h w h o t h a n k e d t h e c r o w d s f o r t h e i r p r a y e rs . W h i l e K e r r y t a l k e d a b o u t a

w o m a n ' s r ig h t t o c h o o s e , it w a s B u s h w h o t a lk e d a b o u t f a m i l y v a l u e s a n d m o r a l

v a l u e s , a g a i n , c o d e f o r c o n v e n t i o n a l s e x u a l p r a c t ic e s , i .e ., s ex b l e s s e d b y th e s a n c t i t y o f

m a r r i a g e . D u r i n g th e c a m p a i g n , B u s h e v e n u s e d th e t e r m th e c u l t u re o f l if e, i m p l y i n g

t h a t K e r r y f a v o r e d a c u l t u r e o f d e a t h .

I t w a s s p e c i f i c a l ly t h o s e s ta t e s a n d t h o s e s o c i a l c a te g o r i e s w h e r e a n t i - a b o r t io n a n d

a n t i -g a y s e n t i m e n t w a s t h e s t r o n g e s t w h i c h B u s h c a rr i ed . T h o u g h o b v i o u s l y , t h e m o r a l

v a l u e s i s s u e w a s n ' t t h e o n l y o n e i n t h is e l e c t io n , i t w a s t o a s u b s t a n ti a l s e g m e n t o f t h e

e l e c to r a t e , a n d i t w a s t h e v o t e o f t h a t s e g m e n t t h a t c a r r i e d t h e p r e s i d e n t t o v i c t o r y i n

s e v e ra l k e y s t a te s . W h i l e t h e i s s u e o f h o m o s e x u a l i t y d i d n o t n e e d t o b e e x p l i c i tl y s p e l l e d

o u t i n t h e p r e si d e n ti a l r a c e s - - e x c e p t f o r K e r r y m e n t i o n i n g t h e f a c t t h a t D i c k C h e n e y ' s

d a u g h t e r i s a l e s b i a n - - i t

was

f o u g h t o v e r i n s ta t e e le c t io n s . S o m e f o r m o f b a n o n g a y

m a r r i a g e w a s o n t h e b a l l o t i n 11 s t at e s , a n d i n al l 1 1 s t a te s , t h e l e g i s l a t i o n p a s s e d . T o m

C o b u r n , t h e w i n n i n g R e p u b l i c a n s e n a t o ri a l c a n d i d a te f r o m O k l a h o m a , c l a i m e d t h at :

l e s b i a n i s m i s s o r a m p a n t i n s o m e o f t h e s c h o o l s i n s o u t h e a s t e rn O k l a h o m a t h a t t h e y 'l l

o n l y l e t o n e g i r l g o t o t h e b a t h r o o m [ at a t i m e ] . N o w t h i n k a b o u t t h a t i s su e , C o b u r n

a d d e d . H o w i s i t t h a t t h a t ' s h a p p e n e d t o u s ? T h a t p h r a s e , t h a t ' s h a p p e n e d t o u s ,

e n c a p s u l a t e s t h e f e a r o f a s u b s t an t i a l p r o p o r t i o n o f s o m e c o r n e r s o f t h i s s o c i e t y in t h e

e a r ly y e a r s o f t h e t w e n t y - f i r s t c e n t u r y , t h e f e a r t h a t d e v i a n t b e h a v i o r i s b e c o m i n g m o r e

c o m m o n a n d s o c ia l ly a c c e p ta b l e. C o b u r n a l so a d v o c a t e d t h e d e a t h p e n a l ty f o r a b o r t io n

d o c t o rs , a p o s i t i o n n o t w i d e l y s h a r e d e v e n a m o n g t h e e l e c to r a te o f O k l a h o m a , b u t o n e , i f

e x p r e s s e d b y a w i n n i n g s e n a t o r i a l c a n d i d a t e , n o n e t h e l e s s s h o u l d g i v e u s t h o u g h t a b o u t

t h e m o o d o f t h e p u b l i c in s o m e a re a s . L e t m e sa y, s o - c a l l e d m o r a l v a l u e s d i d

not

c o n s t i t u t e f u l c r u m i s s u e s i n t h e s o - c a l l e d b l u e o r m e t r o s t at e s o f t h e W e s t C o a s t , t h e

u p p e r G r e a t L a k e s , o r t h e N o r t h e a s t - - t h e y h a d v e r y l it tl e r e s o n a n c e t h e r e - - b u t t h e y

were

h u g e l y i m p o r t a n t , p e r h a p s e v e n p i v o t a l i s su e s , i n s e v e r al b a t t l e g r o u n d r e d o r

r e tr o s ta te s o f t h e S o u t h , M i d w e s t , an d R o c k y M o u n t a i n r e g io n s .

H e r e w e s e e o n t h e n a ti o n a l c an v a s th e i m p o r t a n c e o f d e f i n i t i o n s o f d e v i a n c e - - o f

n o t i o n s o f c o n v e n t i o n a l m o r a l i t y - - b e i n g f o u g h t o u t in t he p r e s i d e n ti a l ra c e. A n d t h e y

a r e l ik e l y to p l a y t h e m s e l v e s o u t o v e r th e c o u r s e o f th e n e x t f o u r y e a r s, o r m o r e , i n t h o s e

s t at e s in w h i c h t h e s e i s s u e s a re v e r y m u c h a l i v e, i n th e f o r m o f l e g i s la t i o n a n d c o u r t

d e c i s io n s a n d v e r y p o s s i b ly a s a c o n s e q u e n c e , p e r s o n a l s t i g m a f o r g a y s a n d w o m e n w h o

s e e k a n a b o r t io n . A n d w i t h t h e e l e c ti o n o f G e o r g e B u s h ,

Ro e v Wade

w i l l b e u n d e r

a t t a c k o v e r t h e n e x t f o u r y e a r s. A n d i n a v a r ie t y o f w a y s , i n m u c h o f th e c o u n t r y , h o m o -

s e x ua l it y , w h i c h p r i o r t o 2 0 0 4 h a d b e e n d e p a r t i n g f r o m d e v i a n c e ( M i n t o n , 2 0 0 2 ; G o o d e ,

2 0 0 5 : 2 3 8 - 2 4 6 ) , m a y v e r y w e l l c o m e to b e re g a r d e d a s more d e v i a n t w h e n B u s h l e av e s

o f f i c e t h a n w h e n h e w a s r e e l e c t e d .

W i t h o u t b e c o m i n g s e l f - r ig h t e o u s o r p r e a c h y a b o u t it, fo r m a n y o f o u r f e l l o w c i ti z e n s ,

t h e o u t c o m e o f t h e e l e c ti o n m a y i n th e n e a r f u tu r e m a k e a d i f fe r e n ce b e t w e e n b e i n g

denied

l e g a l ri g h t s a n d

having

l eg a l r ig h t s, b e t w e e n d e v i a n c e a n d c o n v e n t io n a l it y , b e t w e e n s t ig m a

a n d r e s p e c ta b i li ty . A n d t h e e l e c t i o n f o r c e d m e t o a s k , i n a s o m e w h a t b e l l ig e r e n t f a s h i o n :

G o o d e 9


5/12

Who says the topic o f deviance is irre levant dead or unim portant? A de f e ns i ve pos i-

t i on , I a g r e e , bu t one b o r n o f ye a r s o f t h i nk i ng a bo u t s uc h i ss ue s.

T h e T r a j e ct o r y o f t h e D e v i a n c e C o n c e p t

H o w h a d i t c o m e t o t h is ? I w o n d e r e d .

T h e d r a m a t i c re l e v an c e o f th e d e v i a n c e c o n c e p t i n t h e 2 0 0 4 c a m p a i g n , c o m b i n e d

w i t h t h e c o n t i n u e d d r u m b e a t o f c l a i m s t h a t th e f i e l d o f t h e s o c i o l o g y o f d e v i a n c e i s

de a d o r a t le a s t a i li ng , f o r c e d m e t o r e t h i nk t he f ound a t i on a nd t he h i s t o r y o f t he f i e ld .

A s a f i e l d o f s tudy , a nd a s I de f i ne i t, t he s oc i o l ogy o f de v i a nc e i s, a s s oc i o l og i c a l

s ub f i e l d s go , f a i rl y young . A s c o nc e i ve d o f a s a no r m a t i ve v i o l a t i on tha t t e nds t o ge ne r -

a t e ne ga t i ve re a c t i ons , t he c on t e m po r a r y no t i on o f de v i a nc e is on l y a b i t m or e t ha n h a l f

a c e n t u r y o l d , bo r n , a s i t w a s , f r om a c l e a r l y - a rt i c u la t e d de f i n i t i on i n t he w o r k o f E dw i n

L e m e r t ( 1948 , 1951) . B u t i n s p it e o f t he pub l i c a t i on o f a m a j o r , m a i ns t r e a m t e x t bo ok i n

1957 (Cl ina rd , 1957), t he f i e ld rem ain ed a s todgy , no t e spec ia l ly exc i t ing yo un ge r bro the r

o r s i s te r o f the l a r ge r f i e l d o f s oc ia l p r ob l e m s un t il 1963 a nd 1964 , w h e n H ow a r d S .

Be c ke r pu b l i s he d h i s c o l l e c t i on o f e s sa ys ,

Outsiders

a nd h i s a n t ho l ogy ,

The O ther Side .

T h e s e b o o k s j e t - p r o p e l l e d th e f i e ld o f t h e s o c i o lo g y o f d e v i a n c e in t o t h e l i m e l i g h t o f

a c a d e m i c p r om i ne n c e , m a de i t s e e m e x c i t ing , a f r es h , nove l, a l m o s t re vo l u t i ona r y w a y

o f looking a t a newly-ca rved ou t subjec t. Bu t p rac ti ca lly f rom the beginning , the soc io logy of

de v i a nc e w a s t he t a r ge t o f c r it i c is m , s o m e o f it s a va ge a nd de nun c i a t o r y . A s w e know ,

t he p r i c e o f a c a de m i c p r om i ne n c e is a t tr a c t ing c r i t ic s , a nd be g i nn i ng i n t he 1960s, a nd

increas ingly thro ug ho ut the 1970s, the f ie ld a t t rac ted a l ively and spi r i ted hos t o f cri tiques.

P r oba b l y t he f i r s t o f s uc h c r it i que s , by A l v i n G ou l dne r , a ppe a r e d i n 1968 ; i t a t t a c ke d

H o w a r d B e c ke r a nd h i s s c hoo l f o r po r t r a y i ng the de v i a n t a s s ne a ky r a t he r t ha n de f i a n t ,

a nd f o r no t t a k i ng s i de s i n de f e nd i ng t he un de r d og a ga i n s t the c o r po r a t e e l it e . F ou r ye a rs

l at er , A l e x a nd e r L i a z os c on de m ne d t he p r a c t it i one r s o f the f i e l d f o r c onc e n t r a t i ng on

nu t s , s l u ts , a nd d e v i a t e d p r e ve r ts , a nd f o r i gno r i ng the c o r po r a t e a nd h i gh c r i m e s a nd

m i s de m e a n or s o f the r i c h a nd pow e r f u l . I n s ho r t , i n t he f u l l f lu s h o f i ts i n i ti a l i n f l ue nc e

a nd po pu l a r i ty , the s oc i o l ogy o f de v i a nc e w a s u nde r a s s a u lt . T he s e o pe n i ng s a l vos ar -

gu e d t ha t t he f i e l d w a s b i a s e d a nd t he c onc e p t on w h i c h i t w a s ba s e d , il l e g it i m a t e , i n

e f f e ct , p r e m i s e d on f a ta l ly f l a w e d a s s um p t i ons . Bu t t he m os t r e c e n t a t t a cks ha ve a r gu e d

t ha t bo t h f i e l d a nd c on c e p t ha ve a l r e a dy m e t the i r de m i s e , t ha t t he y a re i n f a ct de a d .

A n ne H e nde r s h o t t ' s s c r e e d is f ar f r om un i que . I n 1994 , Co l i n S um ne r , a pp r o a c h i ng

t he is s ue f r om a r a d i c a l pe r s pe c t i ve , w r o t e a vo l u m e - l e ng t h ob i t ua r y f o r t he s oc i o l ogy

o f de v i a nc e . T he f i e l d a r o se , S um ne r a r gue s, a s a m e c h a n i s m o f s oc ia l c on t ro l , to de f e nd

the in t e res t s o f the r i ch an d pow erfu l . G iv en the d ive rs i ty tha t p reva i l s today , he s ays , t he

f i e ld n o l o n g e r s e rv e s th e p u r p o s e o f k e e p i n g w r o n g d o i n g i n c h e c k . P o li s h ed o f f b y t h e

c r i ti que s o f r a d i ca l s, c r i ti c a l t he o r i st s , a nd t he ne w c r i m i no l og i s t s , t he s oc i o l ogy o f

de v i a nc e i s now a c o r ps e .

T h e s e r e c e n t s t at e m e n t s p r o c l a i m i n g t h e d e a t h o f t h e s o c i o l o g y o f d e v ia n c e c r y o u t

f o r a n e va l ua t ion o f t he c l a im . M i l l e r, W r i gh t , a nd D a nne l s ( 2001 ) , t e s t t he de a t h

p r op os i t i on w i t h t he u s e o f c it a t ions , w h i c h i nd i c a t e t ha t r ough l y ha l f t hos e i n t he de v i -

a nc e l it e r a tu r e a r e t o w o r ks by c r i m i no l og i s t s ( M i l le r , W r i gh t , a nd D a nne l s , 2001 ) . A n d

t ha t a m on g t he m os t f r e qu e n t l y c it e d w or ks i n t he de v i a nc e l i t er a t u re , r e la t ive l y f e w a r e

r e c e n t ( M i l le r , W r i gh t , a nd D a nne l s , 2001 ) . T he s e t w o f i nd i ngs , t he a u t ho r s c onc l ude ,

ind ica te tha t the f i e ld o f dev iance i s l e s s theore t i ca l ly innova t ive than i t was in the pas t.

Th e f i e ld , t hey say , wh i l e no t ye t dead , i s l e s s in t e l l ec tua l ly v i t a l t han i t was in i ts

5 0 T h e A m e r i c a n S o c i o l o g i st W i n t e r 2 0 0 4


6/12

h e y d a y in t h e 1 9 7 0 s . J o e l B e s t a g r e e s ; i n a s li m , b o o k - l e n g t h s t u d y o n th e t r a j e c t o r y o f

t h e c a r e e r o f t h e d e v i a n c e c o n c e p t (2 0 0 4 ) , c o n c l u d e s t h e fi e l d t h a t s t u d i e s i t i s, a g a in ,

n o t y e t d e a d - - b u t it is n o t

thriving

e it he r. F e w e r a r ti c le s b e a r i n g th e w o r d d e v i a n c e i n

t h e i r t i t l e s , h e f o u n d , w e r e p u b l i s h e d i n t h e 1 9 9 0 s i n t h e f i e l d ' s l e a d i n g j o u r n a l s , t h e

American Sociological Review

t h e

American Journal o f Sociology

a n d

Social Forces

t h a n w a s t r u e t e n o r 2 0 y e a r s p r i o r ( B e s t , 2 0 0 4 : i x - x i ) . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i n

Creating

Deviance

w h a t h e d e s c r i b e s a s a p o s t m o d e r n i s t t ex t o n th e s o c i o l o g y o f d e v i a n c e ( 2 0 0 4 ) ,

D a n i e l D o t t e r r e f e rs t o t h e d e a t h c l a i m a s a n o b i t u a r y a b s e n t a d e m i s e ( p p . 2 7 7 -

2 7 8 ) - - a b r i ll ia n t p h r a s e , i n m y e s t im a t i o n .

S o , i s t h e s o c i o l o g y o f d e v i a n c e d e a d - - o r n o t ? Is it t h r i v i n g - - o r n o t ? Is i t s ti ll

r e l e v a n t t o t h e s o c i o l o g i s t - - o r n o t ?

W h a t I ' v e d o n e i s a l it tl e c o u n t i n g e x e r c i s e t o g e t s o m e s e n s e o f t h e p o p u l a r i t y o f t h e

d e v i a n c e c o n c e p t . I o b t a i n e d a p r i n t- o u t o f t h e t it le s o f t h e 2 0 0 - p l u s b o o k s i n th e U n i v e r -

s i ty o f M a r y l a n d li b r a r y w i t h t h e w o r d d e v i a n c e o r d e v i a n t i n t h e ir t it le s , a n d t h e

1 6 0 0 - p l u s a r ti c le s p u b l i s h e d i n a c a d e m i c ( a n d a fe w n o n - a c a d e m i c ) j o u r n a l s i n d e x e d b y

t h e

Social Science Citation Index

a g a in , w i t h t h e t e r m s d e v i a n c e o r d e v i a n t i n t h e ir

t i t l e s . O b v i o u s l y , I e l i m i n a t e d t h o s e t i t l e s t h a t u s e d t h e t e r m i n a n o n - s o c i o l o g i c a l w a y ,

f o r i n s t a n c e , i f i t r e f e r r e d t o a s t a ti s ti c a l o r e n g i n e e r i n g c o n c e p t , I d e l e t e d it.

A r t i c l e s a n d b o o k s a r e p u b l i s h e d i n a g i v e n a re a f o r m a n y r e a s o n s . O b v i o u s l y , t h e

p u b l i c a t i o n i n a g i v e n y e a r o f a n a r t ic l e o r b o o k r e f l e c t s r e s e a r c h a c t iv i ti e s th a t w e r e

o n g o i n g t w o t o f i v e y e a r s b e f o r e t h e y e a r o f a p u b l i c a ti o n . P u b l i c a t i o n s a n d c i ta t io n s a r e

n o t a p e r f e c t r e f l e c t i o n o f a f i e l d ' s i n t e ll e c t u a l a c t i v it y . B u t w h e n a f i e l d b e c o m e s i r r e l-

e v a n t, n o b o d y t a l k s o r w r i t e s a b o u t i t. E v e n w h e n a f i e l d is u n d e r a t ta c k , i f it 's a p h e n o m -

e n o n o f n o t e , it w i l l b e t a l k e d a n d w r i t t e n a b o u t .

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M a r y l a n d l i b r a ry h as n o b o o k s w i t h t h e w o r d d e v i a n c e i n t h e t it le

p u b l i s h e d b e f o r e 1 9 6 0 , b u t 1 2 t h a t w e r e p u b l i s h e d i n t h e 1 9 6 0 s , in c l u d i n g t w o d e s i g n e d

a s t e x t b o o k s , a n d t h r e e a n t h o l o g i e s , a l s o i n d i c a t e d f o r c l a s s r o o m u s e . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e

T a b l e 1

W o r k s w i t h D e v i a n c e o r D e v i a n t i n t h e T i t l e , b y D e c a d e

A R T I C L E S ( l i s t ed i n S S C I B O O K S ( i n U M l i b r a r y )

T o t al N u m b e r T o t al N u m b e r

D e c a d e N u m b e r p e r Y e a r D e c a d e N u m b e r p e r Y e a r

1950s 3 0.3

1960s 129 12.0

1970s 404 40.4

1980s 528 52.8

1990s 423 42.3

2000 s 141 35.2

2000 37 37

2001 40 40

2002 31 31

2003 33 33

Total N: 1628 202

1950s 0 0

1960s 12 1.2

1970s 73 7.3

1980s 55 5.5

1990s 44 4.4

2000s 18 4.5

Source Social Science Citation Index

Note : Al l works w i th a non-soc io log i ca l mean ing have been e l im ina ted .

Source:

Universityof M aryland Library.

G oode 51


7/12

j ou r n a l l it e r at u r e m a n i f e s t s a s i m i l a r ly d r a m a t i c l e a p i n i n t e r e s t in t he f i e l d o f de v i a nc e :

A m o n g t h e t i tl e s o f t h e a r ti cl es p u b l i s h e d i n t h e a c a d e m i c j o u r n a l s i n d e x e d b y t h e Soc ia l

Science Citat ion Index

t ha t i nc l ude t he w or d s de v i a nc e o r de v i a n t , on l y t h r e e w e r e

pu bl i sh ed in the 1950s , bu t 129 we re pu bl i sh ed in the 1960s . S o , c lea r ly , by the 1960s ,

t he f i e l d ha d a r r i ve d a s a n a c a de m i c d i s c ip l i ne . I n o t he r w or ds , in t e r e s t in t he f i e l d g r e w

substantial ly

be t w e e n t he 1950s a nd t he 1960s, d i s p r opo r t i ona t e , I ' d gue s s , to t he g r ow t h

o f a c a de m i a ge ne r a ll y , a nd e v e n t o t he g r o w t h o f s oc i o l ogy s pe c if ic a l ly . I n a ny c a s e , t he

nu m be r o f bo ok t it le s g r e w f r om 12 i n t he 1960s t o 73 i n t he 1970s, a nd t he num be r o f

a r t ic l e s w i t h de v i a nc e i n t he t i t le i nde x e d i n t he

Social Science Citat ion Index

j u m p e d

aga in f rom 12 pe r yea r in the 1960s to 40 pe r yea r in the 1970s. C lea rly , by the 1970s , the

s u b j e c t h a d b e c o m e

huge ly

i m p or t a n t i n s oc io l ogy . It w a s t a l ke d a bou t , w r i t te n a bou t ,

r e s e a r c he d , c ri ti que d , a tt a c ke d ; i t h a d be c om e a n i n t e ll e c tua l phe n om e n on o f no te .

N ow , S u m ne r da t e s t he de m i s e o f t he s oc i o l og y o f de v i a nc e a t 1975, t ha t i s , a f t er

G o u l dne r ' s 1968 c r it ique , L i a z os ' 1972 c r it i que , a nd t he a ppe a r a nc e o f t w o boo ks by

Br i t i s h c r i m i no l og i s t s T a y lo r , W a l ton , a n d Y oung in 1973 a nd 1975, w h i c h a t t a c ke d t he

f i e l d f r om a r a d i c a l o r M a r x i s t pe r s pe c t i ve . Bu t i t ' s no t c l e a r w ha t S um ne r m e a ns by

de a t h , s i nc e he a dm i t s tha t s t ud i e s a r e s ti ll b e i ng c ond uc t e d a nd book s a r e s ti ll b e i ng

w r i t te n u n d e r t h e f i e ld ' s u m b r e ll a . A n d w h a t I f o u n d w a s t h e d e c a d e

after

t h e d e c a d e h e

s e l e c ts a s t he e r a o f t he f i e ld ' s de m i s e - - t h a t i s , i n t he 19 80 s - - t he nu m be r o f a rt ic l e s on

de v i a n c e g r e w e no r m ous l y . W i t h r e s pe c t to a r t i cl e s, t he

1980s

t u r n s ou t t o ha ve be e n t he

he yd a y o f t he s o c i o l ogy o f de v i a nc e , w i t h ove r 50 pub l i s he d e a c h ye a r o n t he s ub j e c t.

E v e n m o r e e m b a r r a s s i n g f o r S u m n e r ' s a rg u m e n t , t h e re w e r e m o r e a r t ic l es p u b l i s h e d i n

t he 1990s be a r i ng t he w o r d de v i a n c e i n t he t i tl e t ha n the r e w e r e i n t he 1970s, ind i c a t -

i ng t ha t S um ne r ' s ob i t ua r y f o r t he f i e l d fo r 1975 w a s a b i t p r e m a t u r e . E v e n in t he

2000s , t he f i e l d s e e m s t o be go i ng s t r ong , w i t h r e s pe c t to bo t h book s a nd a r ti c le s . C l e ar ly ,

t he f i e l d o f t he s oc i o l ogy o f de v i a nc e is no t de a d i n t he s e nse t ha t no one t a lk s o r

w r i t e s a bou t i t, o r c on duc t s r e s e a r c h w i t h i n i ts pa r a m e t e r s .

A s I s a id , s t ude n t s a r e t a k i ng c ou r s e s i n de v i a nc e . A nd t e x t books be a r i ng t he t it le

de v i a nc e f o r the s e c ou r s e s s e e m t o be s e l li ng w e l l . A nd t he s e te x t books , a s I f ound ou t

b y c h e c k i n g th e

Soc ia l Sc i e nc e C ita tion I n de x - - m y

gue s s i s , c om pa r e d t o t e x ts i n o t he r

f i e l d s - - r e c e i v e a n

e normous

n u m b e r o f c i ta t io n s f r o m t h e f i e l d o f s o c i o lo g y g e n e r a ll y

( G oo de , 1997) . H ow e ve r , J oe l Be s t s a ys tha t e n r o l l m e n t s a nd t e x t book s a l e s, a l ong w i t h

pop u l a r a nd m a s s m e d i a u s e o f t he c onc e p t , a r e on l y m i n i m a l s i gns o f l i fe ( 2004 : 84 ).

T he que s t i ons be f o r e u s t he n a r e, i s t he s oc i o l ogy o f de v i a nc e a v i t a l a nd v i b r a n t pa r t

o f s oc i o l ogy ? A nd i s i ts a na l y t ic a l po t e n t i a l be i ng r e a l i z e d? I t 's pos s i b l e t ha t s oc i o l ogy

in gene ra l i s l e s s v i ta l and l e s s innova t ive than i t was in the pas t ; t ha t too i s a ma t t e r to be

i nve s t iga t e d . I n a ny c a s e , t a k i ng t he i nd i c a t o r s I 'v e j u s t a l l ude d t o , a nd t a k i ng m y l it tl e

t a ll y tha t t he ye a r - by - ye a r nu m be r o f a r t ic l e s a nd boo ks i n t he 1990s a nd t he 2000s , a r e

l e ss num e r ou s tha n t he y w e r e i n t he 1970s ( f o r book s ) a nd 1980s ( fo r a r ti c le s ) , w e a r e

l e d t o t he c o nc l u s i o n t ha t w or k i n the f i e l d o f de v i a nc e toda y i s le s s boun t i f u l , le s s

a bun da n t , l e s s p l e n t i fu l , a nd i f w e a r e t o t r u s t c i t a t ion f i gu r e s , t he o r e t i c a l ly a nd c onc e p -

tua l ly l e s s c rea t ive , i nnova t ive , in f luen t i a l , and v i t a l t han i t was in the 1970s and 1980s .

W h a t H a p p e n e d t o t h e S o c io l o g y o f D e v i a n c e?

G i v e n t h e s e c o n c l u s io n s , t w o q u e s t i o n s c o m e t o m i n d : O n e , w h a t h a p p e n e d to t h e

f i e ld ? A n d t w o : W h a t w o u l d e n e r g iz e i t?

5 2 T h e A m e r i c a n S o c i o l o g i s t W i n t e r 2 0 0 4


8/12

T h e f i r s t q u e s t i o n i s e a s i e r to a n s w e r t h a n t h e s e c o n d . O u r a n s w e r i s p a r t l y s e m a n t i c

a n d d e p e n d s o n w h e t h e r w e c o u n t c r i m i n o l o g y a s a s u b f i e ld o f d e v i a n c e o r a n a l t o g e th e r

s e p a r a te f i e ld . I f c r i m i n o l o g y i s a s u b f ie l d , a s it s e e m s t o b e t r e a t e d i n m a n y d e v i a n c e

t e x t b o o k s - - t h a t is , d e v i a n c e b e i n g t h e v i o la t io n o f a n in formal n o r m , a n d c r i m e , t h e

v i o l a t i o n o f a f o r m a l n o r m , t h a t is t o s ay , a l a w - - t h e n t h e s o c i o l o g y o f d e v i a n c e i s a

h u g e , t h r iv i n g d i s c i p l i n e r iv a l i n g a n y i n s o c i o l o g y , o n e t h a t g e n e r a t e s o c e a n s o f t h e o r ie s ,

c o n c e p t s , i d e a s, a n d i n n o v a t i v e s t u d i e s , a n d m i l l io n s o f d o ll a r s i n r e s e a r c h r e v e n u e s . I f i t

i s a s e p a r a te f i el d , w e a r e l e d t o a d i f f e r e n t c o n c l u s i o n . T h e f a c t is , m u c h o f w h a t f a l ls

u n d e r t h e u m b r e l l a o f d e v i a n c e t h e s e d a y s i s d e ta i le d m i c r o - e t h n o g r a p h i e s o f t h e b e h a v -

i o r o f p a r t i c i p a n t s i n p a r ti c u l a r s c e n e s , w h o e n g a g e i n a s p e c i f i c , u n c o n v e n t i o n a l a c t iv -

ity . R o d e o g r o u p i e s . S t r ip c l u b b o u n c e r s . M e n w h o i n t e n t i o n a l l y s p r e a d H I V . F e m a l e - t o -

m a l e t r a n s s e x u a l s . E r o t i c t o u r i s m . P e o p l e w h o e n g a g e i n r a d i c a l b o d y t r a n s f o r m a t i o n .

B e a d w h o r e s d u r i n g M a r d i G r a s p a ra d e s . G e n e r a l c o n c e p t s s u c h a s s t ig m a , i d e n ti ty ,

s o c i a li z a t io n , s t at u s , a n d s o o n , a r e u s e d b y t h e a u t h o r s o f t h e s e w o r k s , a n d a r e i m p o r t a n t

t o t h e ir a r g u m e n t s , b u t t h e o r y t e s t i n g a s s u c h t e n d s t o b e r ar e , a l m o s t n o n e x i s t e n t . M o s t

s o c i o l o g i s t s w o u l d f i n d t h e s e s t u d i e s f a r t o o i d i o g r a p h i c f o r th e i r ta s te . E m p i r i c a l t h e o r y

t e s ti n g h a s f o r t h e m o s t p a r t b e e n l ef t t o c r i m i n o lo g y , w h i c h h a s b r o k e n o f f a n d f o r m e d

i ts o w n s e p a r a t e f ie l d , o n e p e r h a p s f i v e t i m e s a s l a r g e a s th e f i e l d o f th e s o c i o l o g y o f

d e v i a n c e . S o w h a t s l e f t a s th e f i e l d o f t h e s o c i o l o g y o f d e v i a n c e i s a f r a g m e n t o f w h a t

t h e f i e l d u s e d t o b e .

A n d , a s I s a i d , m o s t c u r r e n t d e v i a n c e r e s e a r c h e r s h a v e a b a n d o n e d t h e t r a d i t i o n a l

e t i o lo g i c a l i s s u e s th a t c o n c e r n e d t h e e a r ly s o c i o l o g i s t s w h o l o o k e d a t d e v i a n c e , c r i m e ,

a n d d e l i n q u e n c y - - f r o m t h e C h i c a g o t h eo r is ts , th r o u g h E d w i n S u t h e r la n d , R o b e r t K .

M e r t o n , R i c h a r d C l o w a r d a n d L l o y d O h li n , A l b e r t K . C o h e n - - a n d f o c u s i n s te a d o n

m o r e o r l e s s e x c l u s i v e l y c o n s t r u c t i o n i s t i s s u e s , s u c h a s h o w d e v i a n c e i s s o c i a l l y c o n -

s t ru c t e d , t h e a d o p t i o n o f a d e v i a n t i d e n ti ty , h o w n o r m v i o l a t o rs e x p l a i n a n d j u s t i f y t h e i r

m i s d e e d s , h o w s t ig m a i s m a n a g e d , a n d t h e p r o c e s s b y w h i c h a d e v i a n t ro l e is e x i te d

( A d l e r a n d A d l e r, 2 0 0 3 ) . T o b e s u r e , s o m e d e v i a n c e r e s e a r c h e r s m a i n t a i n a n e m p h a s i s o n

c a u s a l i s s u e s ( A k e r s , 1 9 9 8 ). B u t t h e y a r e a s m u c h c r i m i n o l o g i s t s a s d e v i a n c e s p e c ia l is t s,

a n d a p e r u s a l o f th e t i tl e s p u b l i s h e d i n De v ian t B e hav ior a s c o m p a r e d w i t h t h o s e i n

Criminology

w i l l s w i f tl y l e a d t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t e t i o l o g y i s a

minor

c o n c e r n i n th e

f o r m e r j o u r n a l a n d a major c o n c e r n i n t h e l a tt er . I n o t h e r w o r d s , m u c h o f t h e f i e l d h a s

p o s i t i o n e d i t s e l f o u t s i d e t h e c l a s s ic p o s i ti v i st ic f r a m e w o r k , a n d o u t s i d e m o r e s o c ia l s t r uc -

t u ra l c o n c e r n s . A n d h a s b e c o m e m u c h m o r e m i c r o , a n d l a rg e ly s y m b o l i c i n te r a ct io n i st .

( L e t m e s ay , a s a n a s id e , t h e s e a r e b i a s e s I s h a r e , b u t t h e y a r e n o t m a i n s t r e a m s o c i o l o g i -

c a l o r i e n t a ti o n s . ) T h e f i e l d s d e c l i n e a l o n g a v a r i e ty o f d i m e n s i o n s i s t h e r e f o r e n o t e n -

t i re l y s u r p r i s i n g . A n d f ra n k ly , t h e r e i s n o p o i n t i n a t t e m p t i n g t o r e i n v a d e t h e t e r r it o r y t h e

f i e l d h a s la r g e l y a b a n d o n e d .

T o raise t h e q u e s t i o n s t h e p i o n e e r s o f t h e f i e l d r a i s e d 5 0 , 6 0 , 7 0 y e a r s a g o , a t t h a t

t i m e , u s u a l ly r e q u i r e d s o m e f i e l d w o r k b u t a b o v e a l l, a n i m a g i n a t i v e t u r n o f m i n d . B u t t o

d e f i n i t i v e l y test t h e t h e o r i e s th a t w e r e r a i s e d a h a l f - c e n t u r y o r m o r e a g o t a k e s t h i n k i n g

a l o n g l i n e s th a t a re a l i e n to t h e m o d a l c o n t e m p o r a r y s o c i o l o g i s t o f d e v i a n c e , a n d q u i t e

c o m p a t i b le w i t h th e t u r n o f m i n d o f th e m o d a l c o n t e m p o r a r y c r i m i n o l o g i s t . I n e f fe c t,

d e v i a n c e s p e c i a l is t s h a v e a b d i c a t e d t o th e c r i m i n o l o g i s t s th e c l a s s ic q u e s t i o n o f w h a t

c a u s e s d e v i a n c e . T h e f a c t is , t h e m a j o r i t y o f th e f i e l d h a s d e f i n i t iv e l y t u r n e d a w a y f r o m

s u c h c o n c e r n s , a n d i s u n l i k e l y t o r e t u r n t o t h e m .

G o o d e 5


9/12

O b l i t e r a t io n b y I n c o r p o r a t i o n

B ut wha t has ha p pe n e d - - a nd i s e ve n m or e in t er e s ti ng tha n the a ba ndonm e n t o f t ra d i -

t i ona l e t io log ic a l c on c e r n s - - i s t he i nc o r po r a t ion o f t he f i e ld ' s f ounda t iona l c onc e p t s

in to soc io lo gy proper or in to f ie lds o f s tudy tha t d id no t ex is t in decad es pas t.

F o r i n s ta nc e , c ons ide r t he wor k o f M i tc h Dune ie r , au tho r o f Sidewalk (1999) . Duneier

rep l ica tes , i f no t em ula tes , Becker ' s ou ts id e r conc ept by inves t iga ting m en (and a f ew

wo m e n) w ho l ive l i ve s on the m a r g in o f c onve n t iona l soc ie ty , who , l i ke B e c ke r 's j a z z

mu s ic i a ns a nd ma r i jua na smoke r s , ma in t a in t he i r d ign i ty a nd se l f - re spe c t in sp it e o f t he

f a c t tha t m a ny o f t he pe op le who sw i r l t h r ough the i r l ive s l ook dow n the i r nose s a t t he m

a nd c o ns ide r t he m de v ian t s . The r e ' s a n e c ho o f Gof f ma n ' s

sy lums

(1961) in

Sidewalk

when we see Dune ie r ' s s t r ee t people t ry ing to work out a p lace to ur ina te (p . 353) , o r

Gof f ma n ' s Stigma (1963) , sp ec i f ica l ly the s t igma o f t r ibe , r ace , and na t ion (p . 4 ) , wh en

Du ne ie r h im se l f fe l t t hat , a t Ha k im ' s t a b le , Af r ic a n Ame r i c a ns w e r e we lc om e , bu t h e

wa s no t ( p. 20 ) . Or M e r ton 's c onc e p t o f r e tr e a ti sm w he n a do mina n t f e e l ing a mong

m a ny o f Du ne ie r ' s sub jec t s a nd in f o r ma n t s , a dop t wh a t he c a ll s t he f uc k it o r I don ' t

g ive a fuck a t t itude (p. 61). W hen Cy nth ia Eps te in ta lks about Bo rder Cross ings

( 2000) , she 's d i s c us s ing how m e n a nd w om e n a r e sub je c t e d to pe e r d i s a pp rova l, a nd

com e to be rega rd ed as devian ts, wh en they t r ansgress t r ad i t iona l sex ro le ac t iv i t ie s . An y

discuss io n of the war on drugs , by i ts ve ry na ture , incorpora tes concepts , su ch as mar -

g ina l i t y a nd s t i gma t iz a tion , t ha t we r e g ive n a p r om ine n t p l a c e i n t hat p ione e r ing wor k o f

Beck er , Go f fman, and the i r pee r s . W he n Phi l ippe Bourgois d iscusses adapta t ions in ner

c i ty La t ino res idents make to pol i t ica l and economic margina l i ty , he ' s fus ing conf l ic t

theory , soc ia l d i sorganiza t ion , d i f fe ren t ia l a ssoc ia t ion , an d labe l ing theory , a ll g lean ed

f rom c lass ic pe r spec t ives on devian ce (1995) .

In h is d iscuss ion o f c i ta tion pa t te rns , Robe r t Mer to n re fe rs to ob l i te ra t ion by incor -

pora t ion (1979) . So m e ideas , once innova t ive , have bec om e so taken- for -gran ted tha t it

is no longe r a pp r e c ia t e d how o r ig ina l t he y onc e we r e - - he nc e , a n ob l i te r a ti on o f the

sou r c e o f i de as , me thods , o r f i nd ings by the i r i nc o r po r at ion in c u r r e n t ly a c c e p te d know l -

edge . At a ce r ta in pe r iod in it s h is tory , the soc io log y of deviance genera ted or h igh-

l igh ted a hos t o f in te res t ing ideas , concepts , and theor ies tha t seep ed out in to , and inf lu-

enced , a l lied f ie lds , eventua l ly bec om ing inco rpora ted in to the i r p rac t i t ione rs ' th ink ing

a bou t ho w the soc i a l wor ld wor ks . A f e w o f the se c onc e p t s i nc lude : s t igma ( wh ic h ha s

inf luenced d isab i l i ty and t r ansgender s tud ies ) ; anomie ( in soc ia l theory and soc io logy

genera l ly) ; the cont in genc ies of labe l ing ( in e thnic s tud ies ); soc ia l d i sorganiza t ion ( in

c r i m i n o l o g y ) ; t h e s o c i a l c o n s t ru c t i o n o f n o n - h e g e m o n i c d e f i n i t i o n s o f r e a li t y ( in

pos tmo de r n i sm) ; t he soc io logy o f the unde r dog ( in que e r the o r y ) ; t he ou t s ide r o r t he

othe r ( in pos tco lonia l i s t stud ies) ; the med ica l iza t ion of deviance ( in the soc io log y of

m edic ine ) ; devianc e neut ra l iza t ion ( in au toe thnog raphy and na r ra t ive s tud ies ) ; and m ora l

panics ( in co l lec t ive behavior , soc ia l movem ents , c r im inology, soc ia l p roblems, and com -

m unica t ion s tud ies ). The so c io logy o f deviance d id not necessa r i ly or ig ina te a ll o f these

concepts , bu t the f ie ld d id he lp ca tapul t them onto the academic and in te l lec tua l map,

and , whe the r d i rec t ly or ind i rec tly , the f ie ld ' s d i scuss ion o f them se rved to p lan t seeds

tha t bo r e f r u it i n o the r d is c ip line s (Goode , 2 002 :115- 1 16) . W ha t 's l i ke ly t o ha ppe n f o r

the foresee able fu ture is tha t r e sea rchers in o the r f ie lds w i l l cont inue to use concep ts and

ideas once deve loped by deviance spec ia l is t s , a long the l ines I sugges t , bu t w ha t they do

wi l l no t be

cal led

t he soc io logy o f de v ia nc e . A t w h ic h po in t , w he the r a nd to wha t ex t en t

the field is intellectually lively beco m es, onc e again, a m atter o f semantics, n ot a m atte r o f

54 Th e Am erican Sociologist W inter 2004


10/12

e m pi r i c a l f a ct ua li ty . N o l o s s f o r t he f i e l d o f s oc io l ogy , bu t f ue l f o r t he a r g um e n t t ha t t he

s o c i o l o g y o f d e v i a n c e is d e a d o r at le a st , a i li n g . A n d a r e m i n d e r o f t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f

M e r t o n ' s c o n c e p t o f o b l i t e r a t i o n b y i n c o r p o r at io n .

E n e r g i z i n g t h e S o c i o lo g y o f D e v i a n c e ?

M y s e c o n d q u e s t io n : W h a t w o u l d r e e n e rg i z e t h e s o c i o l o g y o f d e v i a n c e , b r i n g i t b a c k

t o i t s f o r m e r g l o r y , r e f o r m u l a t e a f i e l d t hat , onc e a ga i n , ge ne r a t e s i nnova t i ve c onc e p t s ,

i de a s, a nd t he o r i e s tha t e n l i ve n t he d i s c i p l ine o f s oc i o l ogy a nd b e yo nd? T ha t ' s a l o t m or e

d i f f i c u l t que s t i on t o a ns w e r t ha n t he f i r s t one . T he pos i t i v i s t - c ons t r uc t i on i s t s p l i t m a y

ve r y w e l l ha ve be e n f a ta l , in t ha t t he f i e l d i s m a d e up o f tw o f a c t i ons tha t a r e e ng a ge d i n

r a d i c a l ly d i f f e r e n t e nde a vo r s , a n d a r e t i e d t og e t he r s o l e l y by t he i r s ub j e c t m a t t e r. T he

f i e ld ' s

survival

i s s e c u r e , a nd t he bum pe r s t i c ke r s l oga n , t he s oc i o l og y o f de v i a nc e is

de a d , i s c le a r l y p r e m a t u r e . B u t a r e v iva l o f the f i e l d ' s i n t e l le c t ua l v igo r , i n m y j ud g -

m e n t , i s v e ry m u c h i n d o u b t .

W ha t c ou l d r e i nv i go r a t e t he f i e l d , a s I s e e i t, i s f o r g i ng l inka ge s w i t h t he f i e l d s o f

s oc ia l m o ve m e n t s , m e d i a s t ud ie s , a nd po l i t ic a l s oc io l ogy , a s p i one e r e d i n H ow a r d Be c ke r ' s

i n te r es t in t h e o r i g i n o f t h e m a r i j u a n a l aw s ( 1 9 6 3 : 1 3 5 - 1 4 6 ) , i n J o s e p h G u s f i e ld ' s re -

s e a rc h o n t h e t r i u m p h a n d d e m i s e o f n a t io n a l a l c o h o l p r o h i b i ti o n ( 1 96 3 ) , a n d E d w i n

S u t he r l a nd ' s s t udy o f t he o r i g i n a nd d i f f u s i on o f t he s e xua l p s yc h op a t h la w s ( 1950a ,

1950b). B y b r i ng i ng s oc i a l s t r uc t u r e a nd pow e r in t o t he de v i a nc e e qua t i on , t a k i ng a pa ge

f r om P h i l i p J e nk i n s ' book on t he 1990s pa n i c ove r de s i gne r d r ugs ( 1999 ) , a nd t he e ve r

h i s t o r i c a l l y c ha ng i ng c onc e p t i ons o f t he c h i l d m o l e s t e r ( 1998 ) ; f r om J a m e s G i l be r t ' s

s t udy o f A m e r i c a ' s r e a c t i on t o t he j uve n i l e de l i nque n t i n t he 1950s ( 1986 ) ; f r om J e f f r e y

V i c t o r 's i nve s t i ga t ion o f t he pa n i c ov e r s a ta n i c r it ua l a bus e ( 1993 ) ; a nd f r om Be s t ' s s t ud -

i e s o f s oc i al de f i n i t i ons o f r a nd om v i o l e nc e ( 1999 ) .

I t s e e m s c l e a r t o m e t ha t, un l e s s ha r ne s s e d t o m a j o r p r e po s s e s s i ng the o r e t i c a l c on -

c e r ns , m i c r o - e t hnog r a ph i c s t ud i e s o f s m a l l , e s o t e r i c s c e ne s c a nno t e ne r g i z e t he f i e l d .

T h e f i e l d ' s p r a c ti t ione r s ha ve t o m a r c h up t he l a dde r o f ge ne r al it y , no t down a s th e y n o w

s e e m t o be do i ng . M or e ove r , th i s ti ny, und e r - f un de d f i e ld c a nn o t c om pe t e w i t h c r i m i no l -

ogy , a m uc h l a r ge r a nd m or e r i c h l y e n dow e d d i s c ip l i ne , in pos i t i v i st i c que s t i ng a f t e r the

c a us e s o f de v i a nc e . I n s te a d , I sugge s t , t he f i e l d s ho u l d f o l l ow E dw i n S c hu r ' s l e a d a nd

r e ga r d de v i a nc e a s a d i m e ns i o n o f W e be r 's c l a s s, s t a tu s , a nd pow e r , a nd i n s o do i ng , t r y

t o u n d e r s t a n d h o w s o m e d e f i n i ti o n s o f d e f i n i t io n s o f d e v i a n c e a n d r e s p e c ta b i li ty w i n

ou t ove r o t he r s. I do n ' t ho l d ou t a ny ho pe t ha t t h is w i l l ha pp e n a ny t i m e s oo n - - - o r eve r ,

for tha t ma t t e r . So m an y dev ian t s cenes , so l i tt l e t ime , I supp ose .

A nd t hus , w e c om e f u ll c i rc l e , ba c k t o D r . H e n de r s ho t t . O ne t a s k f o r t he r u l i ng e li te i n

a ny s o c i e t y is t o m a ke i ts he g e m on i c i n s ti t u t ions s e e m na t u r a l, p r e g i ve n , e s s e n t ia l i st i c

r e a li ti e s, a nd t o m a ke que s t i on i ng , s ubve r t ing , o r a r t i f i c ia l i z i ng t he m , a n a l yz i ng t he m a s

s oc i a l i n s t it u t ions r a t he r t ha n god - g i ve n i n na t u r e , a n una c c e p t a b l e , unho l y , p r a c t ic e , a s

S t e p h e n P f o h l s a ys , a n e n t e rp r i se b e y o n d t h e p a l e o f r e a so n a n d c o m m o n s e n s e. T h e i d e a

t ha t the s oc i a l de f i n i t i on o f de v i a nc e i s c on t i ng e n t on t im e , p l a c e , a nd s oc i a l c on t e x t,

w a s a r e vo l u t i ona r y w a y o f t h i nk i ng a b ou t t he s ub j e c t . Bu t a f t e r the s ix t ie s , i n the f i e l d

o f t h e s o c i o lo g y o f d e v i a n c e a n d b e y o n d , i t b e c a m e t a k e n - fo r - g ra n t e d , a c o m p o n e n t in

a ny de v i a nc e s pe c i a li s t' s c onc e p t ua l t oo l - k i t .

B u t t h a t v e r y n o t i o n - - t h e r a di c al i d e a o f r e l a t i v i s m - - c a m e u n d e r a tt a c k n o t o n l y

f r om c ons e r va t i ve s a nd t r a d i t i ona l pos i ti v i s ts , bu t, a s I s a id , f r om M a r x i s t s , w ou l d - be

r e vo l u t i ona r ie s , a nd c r i ti c a l the o r i s ts . I f t he e x t a n t s oc i a l s t r uc tu r e c a n be m a de t o s e e m

G o o d e


11/12

a s o c i a l c o n s t r u c t i o n , s o c a n i d e a s o f j u s t i c e , f r e e d o m , e x p l o i t a t i o n , a n d o p p r e s s i o n . T h i s

i s n o t t h e p l a c e t o r e s u r r e c t t h e d e b a t e s t h a t r a g e d i n t h e s i x t ie s a n d s e v e n t i e s b e t w e e n

s y m b o l i c i n t er a c ti o n i st s . S u f f i c e i t t o s a y t h a t t h e A n n e H e n d e r s h o t t s o f t he w o r l d i n f l u -

e n c e t h e l i v es o f a c a d e m i c s a l o t m o r e t h a n w e ' d l ik e to a d m i t . I n b u d g e t a r y s u p p o r t f o r

o u r u n i v e r si t i e s . I n a p p r o v a l o r d e n ia l o f r e s e a r c h f u n d i n g - - l o o k i n g a t t h e h i s t o r y o f th e

n a t io n a l s e x s u r v e y r u n b y E d w a r d L a u m a n n a n d J o h n G a g n o n ' s r e s e a rc h t e a m a t t h e

U n i v e r s i t y o f C h i c a g o s h o w s t h a t th e p o l i t i c a l p o w e r s t h a t b e c a n s h u t d o w n f e d e r a l

f u n d i n g f o r c o n t r o v e r s i a l r e s e a r c h ( M i c h a e l e t a l. , 1 9 9 4: 2 8 ) . I n th e w e l l - b e i n g o f o u r

s tu d e n ts , s o m e o f w h o m a re g ay , s o m e o f w h o m a re w o m e n s e e k in g a b o r t i o n s , o th e r s o f

w h o m a r e e n g a g e d i n a c t iv i ti e s t h a t a re d e f i n e d i n s o m e q u a r t e r s n o t o n l y as d e v i a n t b u t

a s u n n a t u r a l a n d c o n t r a r y t o e t e r n a l l aw .

M y f r i e n d N a c h m a n w a s b e i n g i n s i g h t f u l w h e n h e s a i d t h a t t h e c o n s e r v a t i v e s h a v e

b r o u g h t d e v i a n c e b a c k i n to t h e c e n t e r o f t h in g s . T h e s o c i al c o n s t r u c t i o n o f d e v i a n c e i s

n o l o n g e r a n i d e a w e c a n t a k e f o r g r a n t e d a n d m o v e o n t o o t h e r t h in g s . I t is o n c e a g a i n

c o n t r o v e r s i a l, r e l e v an t , c e n t r a l t o o u r l i v e s, a n d f u n d a m e n t a l t o o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f a

n a t i o n t h a t h a s j u s t e l e c t e d a p r e s i d e n t w h o b e l i e v e s G o d t o l d h i m t o r u n f o r o f f ic e . T h e

n e x t f o u r y e a r s , t o q u o t e a w e l l - k n o w n C h i n e s e s a y in g , s h o u l d b e i n t e r e s t in g t i m e s .

N o t e

This is the revision of a talk presented at the colloquium series of the D epartment o f Sociology, Gradu -

ate Center, City U niversity of New Y ork, Nov emb er 19, 200 4. Erich G oode is a senior research scientist at

the University of M aryland.

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G o o d e 7

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