SOC 465/PSYCH 488: SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR
Fall 2007, University of Michigan
TR 11:30 -1pm, MH 3463
Dr. PJ McGann
pjmcgann@umich.edu
Office: LS&A, 500 So. State, #3212
Phone: 734-764-6321
Office Hours: TBA on CTools
“…social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance, and by applying those
rules to particular people and labeling them as outsiders. From this point of view, deviance is not a quality of the act
the person commits, but rather a consequence of the application by others of rules and sanctions to an ‘offender.’
The deviant is one to whom that label has successfully been applied; deviant behavior is behavior that people so
label” (Howard S. Becker 1963, 9: original emphasis).
“The institution of a system of repression is as universal a fact as the existence of criminality, and one no less
indispensable to the collective well-being. An absence of crime would require eliminating the differences between
individual consciences to a degree which … is neither possible nor desirable” (Emile Durkheim 1895 (1982), 32).
OVERVIEW: All societies construe some appearances, behaviors, and ways of thinking as
typical, acceptable, normal, while others are made different, unacceptable, and abnormal. Which
aspects of human experience are thought of as conventional, which deviant, however, varies
tremendously in time and space. Indeed, depending on the historical moment, cultural context,
and structural location, a phenomenon may be deviant and conventional at the same time.
Moreover, what is considered deviant in a society and why, as well as how deviance is responded
to, may be linked to the particular interests of some groups at the expense of others. Deviance is,
then, political. This course is a sociological investigation of the politics of deviance. How are
moral boundaries constructed? By whom? Why? With what consequences? Our inquiry begins
with introduction to the basic concepts used in sociological analyses of deviance. This approach
then frames investigation of two cases of the social construction of deviant categories: nonnormative drinking and “drug” use in the US. Our attention next turns to the consequences of
deviant categories for individuals, namely how people “become” deviant and manage the
associated stigma. These two lines of inquiry – the construction of deviant categories and their
consequences – are then brought together in exploration of deviance construed as illnesses or
disorders. Such “medicalization” processes are explored via mental disorder, homosexuality,
and disorders of childhood including ADHD, shortness, and non-normative gender identity and
embodiment. Throughout the course emphasis is directed to the relationship of deviant behavior
to conventional values and institutions, modes of social control, and social spheres of power (e.
g. class, gender, race, and sexual orientation). The course seeks to develop a critical sociological
perspective and facilitate reflexive thought about deviance in particular and social life in general.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Conrad, Peter and Joseph W. Schneider. 1992. Deviance and Medicalization. Temple. {C&S}
McGann, PJ. 2007. Boundaries. Boston: Pearson Custom (ISBN 0536412588) {B}
Scholinski, Daphne. 1997. The Last Time I Wore a Dress. New York: Riverhead.
Coursepack: Available at Excel (1117 So. University, above Ulrich’s)
NOTE: Reading materials are also available via library reserve.
PREPARATION and PARTICIPATION: Lectures do not reiterate readings; lectures build
on, synthesize, and extend the readings. I thus expect you will complete your readings before
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class, and come to class ready to learn and participate in an informed manner. Participation
is more than simply speaking or "being" in class; participation includes making connections
between our discussions, readings, and relevant current events; taking an active part in in-class
exercises; and not monopolizing the conversation (i. e. sometimes good participation means
making room for someone else to speak.) I do not expect you to speak up at each class meeting,
but general patterns of participation will be noted. If you are absent it is your responsibility to
keep abreast of course happenings. If you miss class you are still responsible for the materials
covered and deadlines announced or changed. Schedule changes will be posted on CTools.
DECORUM: Some forms of "deviance" may be thought vile, degrading, and/or titillating by
some people. As such, some topics in this class may offend you while seeming mundane to
others. Be advised that this course includes open, frank, and sometimes explicit discussion of a
variety of topics, including sexuality. As with any serious scholarly endeavor, the point of our
inquiry is critical understanding -- not advocacy of positions. I expect you to engage with class
materials in a thoughtful manner and to offer insights, questions, and critiques regarding them.
Comments about news events, personal experiences, and the like should be grounded in course
materials. Confessions are neither expected nor encouraged. Civil discourse will prevail in the
classroom (and, I hope, out of it as well!). We are free to disagree with each other, even
intensely, so long as we do so respectfully. I expect that you will be reflexive about your
positions and feelings, opening them to the same degree of scrutiny that you apply to those of
others. If you do not feel that you are up to this task, please reconsider your intention to take the
course.
GRADING: Grades will be based on a combination of student work in three areas:
(1) 2 exams: Midterm = 25%, Final = 30% (55% total)
Format: multiple choice, short answer, and essay
(2)
2 short analytic essays: P1 = 15%, P2 = 25% (40% total)
Essay guidelines will be handled out in class and posted on CTools.
(3)
Participation: 5% (includes informed participation in discussion, reaction papers to
films and other materials, participation in class exercises, and – if necessary –
unannounced quizzes.)
DUE DATES: All assignments are due at the start of class on the announced due date (with a 5
minute grace period). Make-ups and extensions will only be given with a documented, valid
excuse as per LS&A guidelines. Car trouble, over-sleeping, traffic court, vacation, illness
without a physician’s excuse, work for other classes, early departure/late return for break, and
the like are NOT valid excuses!
*** Students absent from an exam or on an assignment due date must contact me (by phone,
email, or in person) within 24 hours of said absence. Except in cases of extreme debilitation
(such as hospitalization) students who do not contact me within 24 hours may not be granted
an extension or make-up. Unexcused late work is docked 5 percentage points for each day
or portion of a day, that it is late (e.g. a B+ .88 becomes a B- .83). No exceptions.
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ATHLETES: Except in the case of play-offs, athletes must provide written documentation of
university-approved absence(s) at least three weeks in advance. It is the athlete’s responsibility
to have the athletic department contact me regarding the proctoring of an excused exam;
such contact must occur at least one week prior to the exam or the make-up will not be
granted.
LATE WORK HAND-IN PROCEDURE: If possible, late work should be handed directly
to me. If for some reason you are unable to place your work in my hands, you must follow the
land hand-in procedure; if you do not follow this procedure you may not receive credit for your
work! The only alternative to handing your work to me in person is to place your “dateand time-stamped” work in my mailbox (have someone in the main office sign your paper
with the date and hand-in time). If you fail to follow this procedure the date and time I discover
your paper will be the date and time of the hand in. No exceptions.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: All written work for this course must be your own. Academic
dishonesty of any sort – including unintentional or intentional plagiarism, cheating, and/or
unapproved collaboration -- will not be tolerated, and will result in an automatic grade of F
for the course. By registering for this class you acknowledge and agree to this policy and accept
responsibility for educating yourself regarding UM codes of student conduct. Be advised that all
cases of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean. Proven cases become part of the
student’s permanent academic record.
FINAL EXAM: As per LS&A Guidelines, the final exam will be held in our classroom during
the University-assigned time period: Wednesday 19 December 2007, 10:30am. Early final
exams will NOT be given. Please reconsider your enrollment if you cannot make the assigned
exam time.
READING SCHEDULE
Topics in lecture may vary a bit from week to week depending on the pacing of lectures and the
interests of the class. However, students should keep up with the reading schedule as noted
below. I reserve the right to change the syllabus as needed to fit student needs. You are
responsible for these changes whether or not you are in class when they are announced. All
schedule changes will be posted on our CTools web site.
Key to abbreviations:
C&S = Conrad and Schneider
B # (author) = Boundaries
CTools = scanned reading available on CTools
* = Coursepack reading
$ = Library reading available on-line (search for the journal source in Mirlyn)
** READINGS SHOULD BE COMPLETED BEFORE COMING TO CLASS!! **
I: A SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH TO DEVIANCE: BASIC CONCEPTS & PERSPECTIVES
T 9.4
Introductions, Syllabus, etc.
Readings: Falwell et al (CTools)
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R 9.6
The Social Construction of Deviance
Readings: C&S pp. 1-14 and 17-21, B1 (Becker, “Outsiders”), Chambliss (CTools)
T 9.11
Critical Interactionism: A Politics of Deviance Designations
Readings: C&S pp. 22-28 and 35-6, B2 (Becker, “Moral entreps.”), Pfohl (CTools)
R 9.13
Deviance as Socially Produced
Readings: Durkheim (CTools), Erikson (CTools)
II: INTEREST GROUP POLITICS: CONSTRUCTING DEVIANT CATEGORIES
T 9.18
Interest Group Politics, I: Alcohol and Deviant Drinking
Readings: B3 (Gusfield, “Moral passage”), C&S 73-85 and 97-109
** ESSAY # 1 ASSIGNMENT OUT **
R 9.20
Interest Group Politics, II: “Drugs”
Readings: Gusfield* (“Symbolic crusade”), Reinarman*
T 9.25
The Politics of Drug Scares
Readings: C&S pp. 110-32 and 142-4, B4 (Orcutt & Turner)
R 9.27
Drug Scares in Historical Perspective
Film: Reefer Madness (32668-D)
T 10.2
Illicit Drug Policy
Readings: DiChiara & Galliher (CTools), B5 (Currie)
** ESSAY #1 DUE IN CLASS **
III: DEVIANT IDENTITY
R 10.4
Becoming Deviant: Social Typing & Labeling
Readings: Becker* (“Career deviance”), B6 (Kitsuse), B7 (Lemert, “Primary & Secondary
Deviance”), B8 (Goffman, “Stigma and social identity”)
T 10.9
Deviant Identity
Readings: B9 (Degher & Hughes), B10 (Murphy et al)
R 10.11 Stigma and its Consequences
Readings: B11 (Nack), B12 (Schmid & Jones)
T 10.16
NO CLASS: FALL STUDY BREAK
R 10.18 Deviant Subcultures
Readings: Retzloff*, Weinberg (CTools)
T 10.23
MID-TERM EXAM: Please arrive early and bring pencils and erasers!
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IV: MEDICALIZATION: APPLICATIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS
R 10.25 Medicalization and Medical Social Control
Readings: C&S pp. 9-15, C&S Ch. 9, McGann & Conrad 2006 (CTools)
T 10.30 Kids & Medicalization
Readings: C&S pp. 145-9, 155-61, and 169-70; Diller*; Hall*; $Conrad and Potter 2000, “From
hyperactive children to ADHD adults,” Social Problems 47, 4: 559-82.
R 11.1
Homosexuality as Pathology
Film: Before Stonewall (37825-D)
Catch up on your reading!!!
ASSIGNMENT: Prepare a 2 page critical reaction paper after viewing the film
T 11.6
Resistance to Pathology
Readings: Bérubé*, Retzloff*
** REACTION PAPER DUE IN CLASS **
R 11.8
The Demedicalization of Homosexuality
Readings: C&S 176-90, Seidman et al (CTools)
T 11.13 That’s Crazy! Mental disorder or mental illness?
Readings: C&S pp. 43-50, 52-6, 60-6, 71-2; B13 (Turner & Edgley)
R 11.15 Negotiating “madness”
Readings: B14 (Rosenhan), B15 (Mechanic), B16 (Goffman, “Moral career..”), Scheff (CTools)
T 11.20 “Madness” consolidates: role engulfment
Readings: B17 (Lemert, “Paranoia…”); $Lynch, 1983, “Accommodation practices,” Social
Problems 31, 2: 152-64.
** ESSAY #2 ASSIGNMENT OUT **
R 11.22
NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING 
T 11.27 Atypical gender identity and embodiment: Gender Identity Disorder
Readings: C&S pp. 183-86 and 194-96, GID Diagnostic Criteria (CTools)
R 11.29 A Trip to the Bin (for femininity sin)
Readings: Scholinski – first half
Assignment: Bring 3 type-written DISCUSSION questions to class
NOTE: see CTools for assignment information and guidelines!
T 12.4
Gender Dysphoria & the cinematic imagination
Film: Ma Vie en Rose (28595-H)
R 12.6
Lip gloss and labeling theory
Readings: Scholınskı -- second half
SOC 465/PSYCH 488: Deviance, Fall ‘07:6
T 12.11
Wrap-Up: Deviance, politics, and power
** ESSAY #2 DUE IN CLASS **
FINAL EXAM: Wednesday 19 December 2007, 10:30am in our regular classroom
NO EARLY EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN!!