DEVIANCE & SOCIAL
CONTROL
DEVIANCE AND SOCIAL CONTROL
Social norms: standards or
expectations of appropriate
behavior for members of a given
culture or subculture
Deviance is a violation of social
norms
DEVIANCE INVOLVES THE VIOLATION OF
GROUP NORMS, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE
FORMALIZED INTO LAW
Deviance includes not only criminal
behavior but also many actions not
subject to prosecution
Standards of deviance vary from one
group (or subculture) to another, and
change over time
THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON DEVIANCE
 Structural theories (aka Functionalist perspective, pp. 175 176)
 emphasize the relationship of deviance to certain structural
conditions within a society
 focus on epidemiology, or the distribution of deviance in time and
place
 are considered general theories
 e.g., Anomie theory and conflict theories
 Process theories (aka Interactionist perspective)
 describe the processes by which individuals come to commit deviant
acts
 focus on etiology, or the origins and development of deviance
 E.g., Labeling theory, control theory, and learning or socialization theories
SOCIAL CONTROL
 Social control refers to the techniques and strategies for
preventing deviant human behavior
 Operate on both group level and societal level
 Conformity: going along with peers, or individuals of our own
status
 Obedience: compliance with higher authorities
INFORMAL AND FORMAL SOCIAL
CONTROL
 Informal: gossip, gestures, physical methods (e.g., corporal
punishment)
 Formal: carried out by authorized agents such as police
of ficers physicians, school administrators, employers, military
of ficers, etc.
CONTROL THEORY
 Explains why we do not behave in deviant ways
 When we feel a part of, or bonded with, society, the more our
behavior is controlled, preventing deviance, e.g.,




Attachments
Commitments
Involvements
Beliefs
PATCHWORK NATION’S T YPES
BREAKDOWN AS FOLLOWS
 Democratic coalition counties
 Industrial Metropolis (Philadelphia, PA)
 College and Careers (Johnson County, IA)
 Monied Burbs (Fairfax County, VA)
 Competitive counties




Minority Central (Wilson, NC)
Immigration Nation (Maricopa, AZ)
Military Bastions (Norfolk, VA)
Service Worker Stations (Richland, OH)
 Republican coalition counties





Empty Nests (Lake, FL)
Boom Towns (Clark, NV)
Evangelical Epicenters (Christian, MO)
Tractor Country (Sioux, IA)
Mormon Outposts (Cassia, ID)