Use marijuana as an example to discuss the differences between explanatory and constructionist theories in understanding deviant behavior. how would these two approaches to studying deviance look at changes to marijuana's deviant status differently?

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Social Studies

Pasha

6 February, 18:06

Use marijuana as an example to discuss the differences between explanatory and constructionist theories in understanding deviant behavior. how would these two approaches to studying deviance look at changes to marijuana's deviant status differently?

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Randy Benitez · Answer 1

Deviance is an action, belief, or human characteristic that violates the norms of a group or society. There are two main ways to explain deviance:

Explanatory theories attempt to explain why deviance does or does not occur. Constructionists theories are concerned with how the process of behaviours are defined as deviant.

Explanatory theories would take a particular approach to the phenomenon of marijuana use. For example, they would focus on the differences between the larger structures and the culture of society. An example of this is the perception the government has at the federal level of marijuana's harmful effects on society contrasted with the culture of places such as California, where marijuana is a lot more accepted.

On the other hand, constructionist theories would look at how social control agents label some behaviours as deviant, and stigmatized individuals organize their identities around that status. For example, the fact that marijuana was associated with the hippie movement of the 1960s could have contributed to its power as a symbol against government control and explains why it is considered a symbol of deviance.