Positivist and Constructionist Theories Basic Differences

Positivist and Constructionist theories: basic differences There exists conflicting theories among sociologists in the area of determining why a person is considered to be a deviant, and the reasons behind why he or she has committed a deviant act. From a positivistic perspective, deviance is based on biological or social determinism. Alternatively, from a constructionist perspective, deviance is created and assigned by society. Both perspectives seek to give a theory for why a person may become known as deviant. Although they both view similar acts as deviant, the basic differences between positivists and constructionists theories are clear. The Positivist Perspective Deviant theories from a positivist perspective are based on biological†¦show more content†¦6). The reason for this is that the sociologists believed that â€Å"humans do not have any free will† (Thio, 2010, p. 7) and were unable to change what the future held for them. Other theories from the contemporary positivist perspective come from the belief that deviant determinism is based on social factors. Anomie-strain theory is an example that is based on social factors. The anomie-strain theory directs the reason that a person becomes deviant to the hands of society. This happens when society sets certain goals that may or may not be attainable by all classes of people. Sociologists that follow the anomie-strain theory believe that humans do possess free will (Thio, 2010, p. 7). When a member of society does not have the means necessary to achieve the goal that society sets for them, he or she may be encouraged to find an illegitimate means to achieve the goals. â€Å"However, given this societal pressure toward deviance, not all of us would respond to it in the same way† (Thio, 2010, p. 18). There are five different types of responses that may arise out of this pressure present in the anomie-strain theory by means of free will. The first response is conformity, in which the set goal is accepted and a legitimate means is used to attempt to achieve theShow MoreRelatedPositivist and Constructionist Theories: Basic Differences1214 Words   |  5 PagesPositivist and Constructionist Theories: Basic Differences Dana L Ward Athens State University Positivist and Constructionist Theories: Basic Differences There is a basic difference in the two theories known as positivist and constructionist in sociology. It is considered determinism. In order to understand the theories and deviance, one must understand determinism. What is determinism? It is the belief that everything is already decided and occurs based on every thought, action and feelingRead More Social Norms1709 Words   |  7 Pagesthe world such as alcoholism, addiction, mental illness and homosexuality. 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Our model not Positivist and Constructionist Theories Basic Differences Positivist and Constructionist Theories: Basic Differences Dana L Ward Athens State University Positivist and Constructionist Theories: Basic Differences There is a basic difference in the two theories known as positivist and constructionist in sociology. It is considered determinism. In order to understand the theories and deviance, one must understand determinism. What is determinism? It is the belief that everything is already decided and occurs based on every thought, action and feeling we have by things that have already happened. The future then is determined by our past. Positivism originated with August Comte. It was considered a philosophical approach that replaced speculation with science. Positivist theorists believe†¦show more content†¦His interest wasn’t so much why someone deviates but why the rates differed dramatically from one society to another. Merton also changed the concept to where there is an apparent lack of fit between cultures norms, about the apparent lack of success and the appropriate goals to achieve them. He believed the United States puts more emphasis on success, and anomie –strain becomes the explanation for high rates of deviant behavior in the U.S. compared with other societies, and also an explanation for the distribution of deviant behavior across groups defined by class, race, and ethnicity. The U.S., in fact, Merton sees as an example of a society in which success goals (often defined primarily in monetary terms) are emphasized for everyone in the culture, and people are criticized for not perf orming to their best ability. Constructionist Perspective Constructionist looks at deviance from a different perspective. It is the social construction of deviance that needs to be explained, not the (wrong) choices of individuals. Labeling Theory The labeling theory, an example of constructivist perspective is the theory put forth to define how deviance is experienced and why people continue to be deviant. The labeling theory was developed by a group of sociologists in the 1960’s. It is a version of symbolic interactionism defining deviance as a collective action involving the acts of more than one person, and theShow MoreRelatedPositivist and Constructionist Theories: Basic Differences933 Words   |  4 PagesPositivist and Constructionist theories: basic differences There exists conflicting theories among sociologists in the area of determining why a person is considered to be a deviant, and the reasons behind why he or she has committed a deviant act. From a positivistic perspective, deviance is based on biological or social determinism. Alternatively, from a constructionist perspective, deviance is created and assigned by society. 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Stating there is much difference of opinion about the reasons wht the allocation of funds cheating can happen in the project. 3) Develop hypotheses: An attempt to integrate all the information in alogical manner, so that the reason for the problem can be conceptualized and tested. Example: From the interview data and documents the financial statements, top management leadership to build a theory of possible affecting factors of raw material inventory costsRead MoreComparing the Epistemologies Governing the First and Second Order Cybernetic Approaches6964 Words   |  28 Pages â€Å"Yes,† said Piglet, â€Å"Rabbit has Brain.† There was a long silence. â€Å"I suppose,† said Pooh, â€Å"that’s why he never understands anything.† (A. A. Milne, The house at Pooh Corner) Introducing â€Å"epistobabble†[2] General Systems Theory or cybernetics as it was known in Europe, can be divided into two cybernetic models: simple cybernetics or first-order cybernetics and cybernetics of cybernetics or second-order cybernetics. There is no definitive breakdown of termsRead MoreLiterature Review on Consumer Behaviour16053 Words   |  65 Pagesdistinct field of study during the 1960s; and is characterized by two broad paradigms, the positivist and the non-positivist. The positivist paradigm encompasses the economic, behavioural, cognitive, motivational/trait/attitudinal, and situational perspectives; these perspectives are referred to as the traditional perspectives as they pre-date the development of the non-positivist paradigm. The positivist paradigm, which is still the dominant paradigm, emphasizes the supremacy of human reason andRead MoreComparative Methodological Critique3073 Words   |  13 Pagesreality† (Remenyi et al., 1998:35) of working relations in organisations with LGB workers. Also focusing on the ways that people make sense of the world especially through the sharing of experiences with others has dictated the use of a social constructionist framework (Bryman and Bell, 2007). Th e case studies involved the analysis of companies’ documentation and reports, trade union publications and websites to get an inside view of companies’ attitudes and practices. The main challenge of the projectRead Morethe importance of diversity in counselling contexts13352 Words   |  54 Pagesof a paper which adequately outlines the theory, application, and evaluation of thematic analysis, and one which does so in a way accessible to students and those not particularly familiar with qualitative research. 1 That is, we aim to write a paper which will be useful as both a teaching and research tool in qualitative psychology. Therefore, in this paper we discuss theory and method for thematic analysis, and clarify the similarities and differences between different approaches that shareRead MoreHow Does Black Administrators Affect Postsecondary Education For The Mid Level Administrator?7689 Words   |  31 Pagesdata analysis is offered. This chapter ends with a discussion on the limitations and ethical considerations of the study. 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