7.1 Deviance and Control - Introduction to Sociology 3e

Introduction

• Deviance: Violation of established norms (contextual, cultural, or social), can be minor (e.g., picking your nose) or major (e.g., committing murder)
• Perceptions of Deviance: May not align with punishment; societal perceptions vary
• Positive Contributions: Deviance can foster social change (e.g., civil rights movement)

Nature of Deviant Behavior

• Depends on Factors: Location, audience, individual
• Norm Variability: Changes over cultures/time can redefine deviance
• Examples: Listening to music in class vs. during court proceedings

Real-World Example: Driving a Hearse

• Sociologist Todd Schoepflin: Investigated mild deviance of driving a hearse
• Public Reaction: Mixed but generally positive; highlights deviance as a distinction marker

Deviance, Crime, and Society

• Deviance vs. Crime: Deviance is broader; crime is a more serious societal concern
• Relativity of Deviance: Context-dependent, can lead to societal impacts
• Historical Examples: Marijuana legalization, LGBTQ laws, gambling regulations
  • Marijuana: Previously legal, criminalized due to racial prejudices, now increasingly acceptable
  • LGBTQ: Once illegal, now more accepted; shows deviance and crime connection

Social Control

• Definition: Regulation and enforcement of norms to maintain social order
• Sanctions: Means of enforcement
  • Positive Sanctions: Rewards (e.g., promotion for hard work)
  • Negative Sanctions: Punishments (e.g., arrest for shoplifting)
• Types of Sanctions:
  • Informal: Arise in social interactions (e.g., disapproving looks)
  • Formal: Official enforcement of norms (e.g., expulsion for misconduct)
• Table of Sanctions:
  • Informal Positive: Expression of thanks
  • Formal Positive: Promotion at work
  • Informal Negative: Angry comment
  • Formal Negative: Parking fine

Conclusion

Societies employ various means of social control to manage deviance, utilizing both formal and informal sanctions to enforce norms and maintain order.