Labeling the Deviant Act: Toward a General Theory of Deviant Behavior (original) (raw)

The identification of deviance: A conceptualization and initial test of a model of social norms

European Journal of Social Psychology, 1980

This paper outlines and initially tests a conceptual model of social norms, within the context of a general research framework for examining how deviant behaviour is identified and responded to. Norms are examined vis-a-vis (a) the structure of beliefs and expectancies toward one's own and [deviant] individual's behaviour, and (b) normative focus, representing the social context of behaviour and the nature of the group the norm is shared within. The results showed both of these constituents to be salient to the application of the model to the identification of alcohol abuse, particularly in terms of (i) the relationship between normative structure and the recognition of and evaluation of deviant drinking, (ii) a strong influence of social context on norms and (iii) the finding of powerful differences in normative structure in socio-economically different communities. This latter effect is discussed in terms of the [social ecology] of norms. It is hoped that this model will have heuristic value in expediting theory based studies of both normative regulation, and perceptions of abnormal behaviour.

A New Typology of Deviance: Integrating Normative and Reactivist Definitions of Deviance

Deviant Behavior, 2002

The concept of positive deviance is marginalized in deviance literature by the focus on negative deviance and the absence of comprehensive conceptions of deviance. Current conceptions of positive deviance simply parallel de®nitions of negative deviance, namely normative and reactivist conceptions. Normative de®nitions posit positive deviance as behaviors and attributes that exceed normative expectations (e.g., overconformity), such as overachieving students. Reactivist de®nitions view positive deviance as positively evaluated behaviors and attributes, such as athletic talent. We propose a

Chapter Six: Deviance and Social Control

 Explain the concept of deviance and why it is relative in nature. Analyze how ideal and real norms work together in determining what is deviant.  Compare and contrast the competing explanations of deviance.  Discuss the differential association theory.  Explore the control and labeling theories.  Identify how deviance can be functional for society.  Understand the strain theory and summarize the four deviant paths outlined in it.  Explain how street crime and white-collar crime reflect opportunity structures.  Explore the conflict perspective and its views on class, crime, and the criminal justice system.  Analyze the varied reactions to deviance.  Discuss how homelessness and mental illness are reciprocal.

Deviance: A Global Perspective

COURSE DESCRIPTION: In this course, students are introduced to key concepts and theories in the sociological study of deviance from a global perspective. Because deviance, or the violation of social norms, is defined within a social context, it is a concept that is necessarily historically, socially and culturally situated. We explore the social origins of deviance around the globe, from ancient to modern times, as well as how it relates to the myriad ways that societies regulate the behavior and beliefs of individuals. The sociological theories mobilized in this course attempt to parse out why people engage in deviant behavior, how they become deviant, how certain behaviors and characteristics are defined as deviant and the consequences of being labeled as deviant within a society. The first part of this course answers the question: what is deviance? We first discuss historical interpretations of deviance as a violation of the natural world, classical interpretations of deviance as "rational hedonism" and pathological interpretations of deviance as illness. We then examine the main sociological theories developed to explain the social origins of deviance from various sociological perspectives, such as. functionalism (anomie and strain theory), symbolic interaction (Control Theory, Social Learning and Labeling Theory), conflict theories (Feminist, Marxist and Critical Theory) and postmodern (Foucauldian).

The Sociology of the Deviant Act: Anomie Theory and Beyond Author(s): Albert

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sociology of crime and deviance

Deviance is a behaviour that violates the standards of a conduct or expectations of a group of people or society, according to Wickman (1991), cited in Schaefer (2010). Crime and deviance in the views of Becker (1996) is a product of labelling. The scholar notes that crime and deviance is not a quality of what people do, but a quality of how people react to what is done. In this light it is worth noting that factors, variables such as time and place, gender,