Sociology
Topics in Sociology: Deviance, Social Control, and Law
Key Concepts
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Deviance: Behavior that violates established social norms. Sociologists do not see any act as intrinsically deviant.
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Social control: Social practices and mechanisms that encourage conformity to established norms, prevent deviant behavior, and deal with the repercussions of deviance.
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Law: A formal type of social control associated with complex societies; includes a system of rules and sanctions with specialized personnel and institutions to carry them out.
Major Perspectives
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Functionalism, Durkheim
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Deviance has positive functions: it provides opportunities for society to reassert common values and norms, and it spurs social change.
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One of the first social thinkers to explain deviance in social rather than biological and psychological terms. (Durkheim only)
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Conflict theory
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Deviance is one aspect of the power, inequality, and conflict that pervade society.
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Symbolic interactionism
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Focuses on how people come to engage in deviant behaviors and assumed deviant identities.
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The labeling of deviants as such strengthens their deviant identities and may encourage further deviant behavior.
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Topics in Sociology: Deviance, Social Control, and Law

