Deviance challenges social norms, varying across cultures and time. It's viewed differently by functionalists, conflict theorists, and symbolic interactionists. Labeling theory and stigma play crucial roles in understanding how society responds to those deemed deviant.

Social control regulates behavior through informal means like peer pressure and formal methods like law enforcement. Crime, a type of deviance violating laws, is influenced by social factors. Society's responses to crime include deterrence, rehabilitation, and restorative justice approaches.

Defining and Interpreting Deviance

Definitions of deviance in context

• Deviance violates social norms and expectations which are the written and unwritten rules guiding behavior in a society (dress codes, table manners)
• Deviance is relative varies across cultures (polygamy accepted in some societies), time periods (marijuana legalization), and social groups (body modifications in certain subcultures)
• Functionalist perspective suggests deviance serves a purpose in society reinforcing norms and social cohesion by highlighting boundaries of acceptable behavior
• Conflict perspective argues deviance is defined by those in power to maintain their status and control over subordinate groups
• Symbolic interactionist perspective views deviance as socially constructed through interactions and labeling (mental illness, addiction)
• Labeling theory proposes being labeled as deviant can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy and further deviant behavior by internalizing the label and acting accordingly (secondary deviance)
• Stigma involves negative labels and stereotypes attached to deviant behavior or characteristics resulting in discrimination and social exclusion (criminal record, physical deformities)

Theories of Deviance

• Anomie theory, developed by Robert K. Merton, explains deviance as a result of strain between cultural goals and institutionalized means to achieve them
• Social disorganization theory links high crime rates to neighborhood ecological characteristics and the breakdown of social institutions
• Subcultures theory suggests that deviant behavior can arise from group norms that conflict with broader societal norms

Social Control and Its Relationship to Deviance and Crime

Formal vs informal social control

• Social control regulates behavior to maintain order and conformity in society through various means
• Informal social control occurs through socialization, peer pressure, and social sanctions without official intervention
  • Disapproval from family or friends for breaking norms
  • Gossip and rumors spread about deviant behavior
  • Ostracism and social exclusion from groups
  • Ridicule and mocking of nonconforming individuals
• Formal social control is carried out by authorized agents using official sanctions based on written rules and laws
  • Police officers enforcing criminal statutes
  • Courts imposing fines or imprisonment for violations
  • Regulatory agencies revoking licenses or imposing penalties
  • Execution as the ultimate form of formal punishment
• Both formal and informal social control methods aim to prevent and punish deviant behavior to ensure compliance with societal standards

Deviance and crime relationship

• Crime is a type of deviance that violates formal laws but not all deviant acts are criminal (lying, adultery) and not all crimes are considered deviant (jaywalking, minor traffic violations)
• Social factors influence crime rates and patterns in society
  • Poverty, inequality, and lack of access to resources strain individuals and increase motivation for crime
  • Social disorganization and weak social bonds in communities reduce informal control and guardianship
  • Differential association theory suggests criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others who engage in and approve of crime
• Societal responses to crime vary based on goals and philosophies
  • Deterrence theory emphasizes punishment to discourage criminal behavior through fear of consequences
  • Rehabilitation focuses on reforming offenders and addressing root causes of crime like substance abuse or lack of education
  • Restorative justice seeks to repair harm caused by crime and reconcile offenders with victims and the community through dialogue and reparations