THE NATURE OF

DEVIANCE
What do sociologists mean by deviance?
Deviance is behavior that departs
from social or group norms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90flRr7T7As
Deviance could include:
◦Theft
◦Murder
◦Cheating
◦Lying
◦Polygamy
(It is subjective and varies from society to
society)
Negative Deviance
◦Is behavior that underconforms to
accepted norms.
◦People reject the norms, misinterpret the
norms, or unaware of the norms
Positive Deviance
◦Behavior that overconforms to social
expectations
◦People overdo the norms. They have
imbalance and extreme perfectionism
◦Example: Society tells us, we can never be
too thin.
Deviants are people who break
significant societal or group norms
 Social Control
◦All societies have ways to promote order,
stability and predictability in social life.

What ways do we do this in the United

States?
 Internal Social Control
◦Lies within the person
◦You do what is right because you know it
will be better for you in the long run
◦Example: We do not steal
 External Social Control
◦These involve punishment for not following
the social norms (social sanctions)
◦Getting a ticket for speeding
◦Being arrested for DWI
Social Sanctions can be positive
◦They encourage conformity
◦Promotions
◦Raises
◦Awards
 Sanctions may be informal
◦Ridicule
◦Gossip
◦Smiles
◦Winks
 Costs and Benefits of Deviance
Negative effects
◦Deviance erodes trust
◦A society with widespread distrust cannot
function
◦Deviance diverts human and monetary
resources
Costs and Benefits of Deviance
Beneficial Effects
Deviance makes society clarify norms
Society defines, adjusts and reaffirms
norms.
Example: Child protection service
 Strain Theory
◦Is the theory that deviance is more likely to
occur when a gap exists between cultural
goals and ability to achieve them.
Anomie is a social condition in which
norms are weak, conflicting or
absent.
◦Without shared norms, individuals are
uncertain about how they should think or
act.
◦Strain occurs when there is a gap in
desirable goals and the way of getting
them.
In the U.S., success and material
possessions are important goals.

◦When people accept these goals, this is

called conformity
 Deviant Responses to Strain
◦Innovation: people accept the goal, but
uses illegal method to obtain it.
 Deviant Responses to Strain
◦Ritualism is where the individual rejects the
goal (success) but continues to use
legitimate means

◦Someone who does their job but doesn’t

have their heart and desire in it.
 Deviant Responses to Strain
◦Retreatism is where both legitimate means
and the approved goals are rejected.

◦Skid row alcoholics, drug addicts, and

homeless
 Control Theory
◦The theory that compliance with social
norms requires strong bonds between
individuals and society.