What counts as deviance
Deviance is any behaviour that violates social norms, and what counts as deviant depends on time, place, and who is judging.
Deviance is relative
Deviance is not a quality of an act itself but of how a society reacts to it. Tattoos were once widely seen as deviant in the United States and are now common. Behaviour that is expected in one setting, like shouting at a football match, may be deviant in another, like a library. Deviance can be negative, but also positive, such as exceptional honesty.
Social control
Societies use social control to encourage conformity. Sanctions can be informal, like a disapproving look or praise from friends, or formal, like fines, prison, or awards. Most conformity comes from internalised norms: people follow rules because they believe in them, not because police are watching.
Deviance and crime
Crime is deviance that breaks formal laws. Not all deviance is criminal; wearing a swimsuit to a funeral is deviant but legal. Not all crime is seen as very deviant; many people break speed limits. Sociologists distinguish violent crime, property crime, victimless crimes, and white-collar crime committed by people in positions of trust.
Flashcard
Behaviour that violates social norms
Check your understanding
A company executive secretly moves company money into a personal account. This is an example of: