This article was downloaded by: [Canadian Research Knowledge Network] On: 21 August 2010 Access details: Access Details: [subscription number 783016864] Publisher Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37- 41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Volume 26 . Number 3 May-June 2006 Sociological Spectrum The Official Journal of the Mid-South Sociological Association Sociological Spectrum Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713666965 CULTURAL RELATIVISM AND THE STUDY OF DEVIANCE Barbara J. Costelloª a Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA Online publication date: 13 October 2006 To cite this Article Costello, Barbara J.(2006) 'CULTURAL RELATIVISM AND THE STUDY OF DEVIANCE', Sociological Spectrum, 26: 6, 581 - 594 To link to this Article: DOI: 10.1080/02732170600948824 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02732170600948824 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld. com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdf This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, re-distribution, re-selling, loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material.
Sociological Spectrum, 26: 581-594, 2006 Copyright # Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN: 0273-2173 print/1521-0707 online DOI: 10.1080/02732170600948824 ROUTLEDGE Routledge Taylor & Francis Group CULTURAL RELATIVISM AND THE STUDY OF DEVIANCE Barbara J. Costello Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA In this work I argue that the study of deviance as distinct from crime is no longer a productive specialty in sociology. I attribute the cause of the demise of the field to its over reliance on the assumption of cultural rela- tivity. In contrast to the relativist position, I argue that behavior that causes harm will be more likely to be condemned by public opinion and that there will be less variation in attitudes toward behaviors that cause more harm. Using data from the General Social Survey, I find support for the hypothesis that a "deviant" sexual behavior that can have a vic- tim, extramarital sex, will be more consensually condemned than "devi- ant" sexual behaviors that do not have victims, premarital sex and homosexual sex. I recommend that future research focus on the study of values, as the validity of cultural relativity can be empirically evaluated. Downloaded By: [Canadian Research Knowledge Network] At: 16:18 21 August 2010 I agree with Best (2004a) that the sociology of deviance is no longer a productive area of study. Best (2004a) argues that the downfall of deviance was largely a result of the failure of the