Overview

Deviance is breaking the rules. It’s not just crime; it’s anything that makes you an outsider. It defines the boundaries of “normal.”

Core Idea

The core idea is relativity. Nothing is inherently deviant. It is only deviant because society labels it so. (Killing is bad, unless it’s war. Nudity is bad, unless it’s a locker room).

Formal Definition

Behavior that violates the standards of conduct or expectations of a group or society.

  • Formal Deviance: Crime (breaking laws).
  • Informal Deviance: Being weird (breaking folkways).

Intuition

  • Labeling Theory: Deviance is not in the act, but in the reaction. If a rich kid steals, it’s a “prank.” If a poor kid steals, it’s “crime.” The label sticks and becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
  • Durkheim: Deviance is necessary. It unites the group (“Us vs. Him”) and clarifies moral boundaries.

Examples

  • Stigma (Goffman): A “spoiled identity.” Being an ex-convict, mentally ill, or physically disabled can be a stigma that excludes you from normal interaction.
  • Strain Theory (Merton): People become deviant when they can’t achieve society’s goals (money) through legal means (work), so they innovate (deal drugs).

Common Misconceptions

  • Misconception: Deviants are bad people.
    • Correction: Jesus, Gandhi, and MLK were all deviants in their time. Deviance leads to social change.
  • Misconception: Deviance is rare.
    • Correction: Everyone is deviant sometimes (speeding, lying).

Applications

  • Criminal Justice: Understanding why people commit crimes helps prevent them.
  • Civil Rights: Fighting to de-stigmatize behaviors (like homosexuality).

Criticism and Limitations

  • Power: Who gets to define what is deviant? Usually the rich and powerful.

Further Reading

  • Outsiders by Howard Becker
  • Stigma by Erving Goffman