Deviance in Sociology: 25 Examples & Definition
Sanam Vaghefi (PhD Candidate)
Sanam Vaghefi (BSc, MA) is a Sociologist, educator and PhD Candidate. She has several years of experience at the University of Victoria as a teaching assistant and instructor. Her research on sociology of migration and mental health has won essay awards from the Canadian Sociological Association and the IRCC. Currently, she is am focused on supporting students online under her academic coaching and tutoring business Lingua Academic Coaching OU.
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Chris Drew (PhD)
This article was peer-reviewed and edited by Chris Drew (PhD). The review process on Helpful Professor involves having a PhD level expert fact check, edit, and contribute to articles. Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. Dr. Drew has published over 20 academic articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education and holds a PhD in Education from ACU.
Deviance is a sociological concept referring to behaviors that break social norms and laws.
Examples of deviance include theft, vandalism, lying, breaking social taboos , and disobeying the law.
Studying deviance allows us to understand the boundaries differentiating acceptable, criminal, and deviant behaviors. Understanding deviance is also important for the study of other relevant sociological concepts, such as social control which is used to prevent deviance.
Deviance Definition
Deviance is a concept used to describe divergences from a society’s norms, values, rules, and expectations.
Here is one clear scholarly definition:
“ Deviant behavior refers to conduct that departs significantly from the norms set for people in their social statuses ’’ (Merton, 1966, p. 805).
Each culture and society has norms and expectations about how people from certain social groups and statuses should behave.
Therefore, behaviors deviating from culturally appropriate patterns lead to deviance. Similarly, deviants are individuals who violate the social agreements over norms and values (Herman, 1995).
The relation between crime and deviance is important to understand. While crime refers to divergence from formal rules and laws, deviance also includes deviating from informal norms and values (Deflem, 2015).
Therefore, many criminal acts such as theft and fraud are also deviant behaviors. However, all deviant behaviors are not necessarily illegal or criminal acts. For example, lateness at work, or rudeness are not crimes but they are considered deviant behaviors.
25 Deviance Examples
- Verbal Abuse: Being verbally abusive through cursing, insulting, or other types of verbal aggression is a deviance breaking informal rules around communication. Depending on the context, such as insulting someone in a public platform, verbal abuse can also be considered a crime.
- Self-harm: Self-harming behaviors range from purposefully injuring oneself to ending one’s life through suicide. Since the social norms expect individuals to avoid pain and injury, self-harm is considered deviant behavior.
- Stealing and theft: Obtaining one’s property, information or services illegally and without their consent is referred to as stealing. All forms of stealing, including theft, robbery, and identity theft, break both social norms and laws. Therefore, stealing and theft are both deviant behaviors and criminal acts.
- Lateness: In Western societies, it is socially expected that individuals will arrive at their appointments, work or classes on time. While occasional delays are often tolerated, being constantly late to work without any valid excuse is a deviant behavior.
- Public Nudity: Despite varying clothing styles across different cultures, social norms and rules assert that individuals are supposed to be clothed in the public spheres. Therefore, public nudity is a deviant behavior and often punishable as a criminal offense.
- Paraphilia: Paraphilia is a concept consisting of all sexual deviances such as voyeurism, sadism or masochism. While some sexual paraphilias only break informal social norms, some others, such as those including minors or nonconsenting adults, are crimes.
- Gangs: Gangs refer to groups of people with a leadership structure that try to control neighborhoods or communities through violence. Violence committed by gangs are both deviant and criminal. In Canada, 20% of homicides in 2020 were related to gang violence and organized crime (Government of Canada, 2021).
- Vandalism: Damaging public or private properties intentionally are commonly referred to as vandalism. It is both a deviance and criminal act due to the social norms and rules around property ownership and protection.
- Favoritism: Favoritism refers to deliberately favoring an individual in a workplace, school, or political organization. Although it is not always considered a criminal act, favoritism is a deviant behavior since it threatens the social values and consensus around equal and fair treatment.
- Breaking taboos: All societies have taboos, which are unspoken rules that refer to things that people find immodest. A simple example is the taboo of talking about religion or politics at the dinner table.
- Hunger strikes: Many imprisoned people who are completely disempowered will engage in hunger strikes to get attention. This will force the authorities to take action so the person in their care doesn’t die.
- Nepotism: Nepotism refers to the act of employing someone not on merit but because they are a family member. It is frowned upon in most societies.
- Rudeness: The simple act of being rude is seen as deviance, particularly in settings like schools, where you may be reprimanded by your teacher.
- Refusing a gift: Refusing a gift is a taboo that comes across as offensive and therefore is seen as deviant – i.e. breaking social norms.
- Lying: Lying is a deviant behavior that we are taught not to do as children, and yet is a behavior that people do on a weekly or even daily basis.
- Littering: Littering is considered deviant because society has agreed that it is harmful to the environment, and this is something society increasingly cares about.
- Disrespect: Disrespecting your parents or teachers is clearly seen as deviant in schools. But when you’re in the workplace, disrespect for coworkers or your boss may end up seeing you fired. Similarly, disrespecting a judge might be ruled as contempt of court.
- Protesting: Protesting is necessarily deviant because it involves taking a stance against power structures in society in order to effect change. In many western democracies, it is tolerated as freedom of speech .
- Tax avoidance: Avoiding your taxes demonstrates lack of social responsibility and is therefore seen as an act of deviance.
- Skipping school: Truancy is a serious deviant behavior for school children which can lead you to getting detention, suspension, or expulsion from school.
- Laughing at others’ misfortune: This is a taboo in most cultures as it is seen as rude and offensive to the people who have suffered the misfortune.
- Discrimination : While historically, discriminatory actions have been within the bounds of social norms, societies increasingly see this as an unacceptable deviance from new societal expectations.
- Having dangerous ideas: Dangerous ideas during the reformation – such as belief in individual liberty or non-religious philosophy – could land you in prison, but today are lauded as massive milestones in human development.
- Talking out of turn: Talking out of turn at school or in a workplace meeting is considered offensive because it undermines social order.
- Speeding in your car: Driving faster than the law allows is one of the main ways regular people come in contact with police forces, who offer small infringement fines.
- Cheating on exams: Cheating on an exam undermines the concept of meritocracy and therefore is seen as unacceptable.
Types of Deviance
Go Deeper: Types of Deviance
1. Primary Deviance
Primary deviance is a term used within the labeling theory of deviance. It is behavior that is seen as unacceptable by society. However, unlike secondary deviance, the person who has engaged in deviant behavior has not yet been labeled as a deviant by society.
For example, a child who lies to their parent once in a while isn’t likely to be typecast by their parent as a liar. Here, the deviance is primary because it’s not applies as a label: “you are a liar”. Rather, it’s: “you lied”.
2. Secondary Deviance
Secondary deviance represents the internalization of a belief that you are a deviant. At this stage, a person has accepted their deviant label as a central identity feature (aka a master status ).
This commonly happens in schools when a child internalizes the idea that they’re a ‘bad’ student.
According to labeling theory, this student who starts to believe that they are the bad student will lean into the identity and start engaging in deviant behaviors because it is what is expected of them.
3. Formal Deviance
Formal deviance refers to deviant behavior that is encoded in laws. If you engage in formal deviance, you are breaking either the rules of an institution or the laws of a sovereign region.
For example, a person who engages in formal deviance in a school setting might have broken the class rules and, therefore, be subject to a sanction such as detention or extra homework.
Similarly, in adulthood, driving too fast will lead to a speeding ticket; while more serious infractions may see you in front of a court or even in prison.
4. Informal Deviance
Informal deviance refers to breaking social norms without breaking codified laws or rules.
It occurs when you engage in taboos, behave in culturally insensitive ways, or do something that infringes on other types of norms.
It can be as simple as choosing not to go to college despite the expectations of your parents and grandparents. Or, it could be being rude to a waiter or speaking out of turn at school.
All of these acts of deviance will not land you in formal trouble, but may end up making you an outcast in your community.
5. Subcultural Deviance
Subcultural deviance refers to deviant behavior that people within a subcultural group do not believe to be deviant.
This comes about because subcultures have different norms and beliefs to the norms of the mainstream or dominant culture .
An example of subcultural deviance is tattooing your face. Within hipster subcultural circles, it is seen as cool and a form of self-expression. Within dominant culture, it can be seen as an affront and you’re looked upon with suspicion.
6. Situational Deviance
Situational deviance refers to a deviant behavior that is only deviant within a specific situation or context.
For example, swearing is often only deviant in certain situations. If you swear around a campfire with your high school friends, no one will bat an eyelid. But swearing at dinner with your girlfriend’s family will likely lead to some pearl-clutching!
To avoid situational deviance, you will need situational awareness and cultural competence to know what is and is not appropriate in various different situations.
Theories of Deviance in Sociology
See our main article: Cultural Deviance Theory .
1. Labelling Theory of Deviance
The labelling theory of deviance argues that deviance can be a result of the labeling of people as deviants.
Take, for example, a child in a classroom who misbehaves. His teacher has two options: to label the behavior as deviant (“Johnny, we don’t do that and I know you’re better than that”) or label the child as deviant (“Johnny, you’re a naughty little boy”).
According to labelling theory, the act of telling Johnny that he’s naughty means that Johnny internalizes a self-belief that he is deviant. When this becomes a part of his identity, he plays up his deviance to act the part.
This, in turn, leads the boy down a path of misbehaving, breaking the rules, fighting against authority, and eventually becoming a law-breaking adult.
2. Conflict Theory of Deviance
The conflict theory of deviance argues that people engage in deviant behavior due to social systems that oppress them.
If systems of power such as capitalism oppress a social group, then that group has an increased likelihood that they will engage in deviant behaviors because they:
- want to demonstrate their discontent with the current power structure
- want to undermine the current power structure
- don’t respect the people who oppress them
- get no benefit from the current system so they have no affection toward it
- are impoverished and need to engage in deviant behavior to meet their needs
As an example of conflict theory , we see rebel groups in some countries forming to take up arms against their government if the government is too oppressive. Similarly, many people will join violent protests if they are not content with the government.
3. Structuralist Theory of Deviance
In sociology, functionalism sees society as creating norms and rules of behavior to ensure there is a safe and functioning social system.
To them, they see deviance as a safety valve where people will engage in minor deviant behaviors to let off steam so they won’t engage in worse behaviors in the future.
Deviant behavior might also be a positive thing if it causes society to re-evaluate its norms, such as when people engage in nonviolent protest that causes changes in laws.
Generally, structural functionalism embraces law, order, and strong social hierarchies, and deviance is expected but can be controlled through the setting of clear and unambiguous norms.
See more functionalism examples
Case Studies of Deviant Behavior
1. absenteeism.
Being absent from work, school, or other obligations regularly without a valid excuse is referred to as absenteeism.
In the context of work, absenteeism is categorized as deviant employee behavior (Everton et al., 2007).
Absenteeism is considered harmful to work and educational organizations. It is often seen as a sign of a lack of consistency and responsibility of the absentee, which does not match with the social expectations.
Despite being seen as an implication of poor work ethics, employee absenteeism is often a result of perceived unsupportiveness and infairness of organizational managers (Everton et al., 2007).
2. Favoritism
Favoritism occurs when an authority figure deliberately favors an individual in a workplace, school, or other organization.
For example, overly tolerating lateness and absenteeism of an employee without any valid excuses would be a case of favoritism towards that employee (Anasiz & Püsküllüoglu, 2018).
Favoritism in workplaces and schools is considered a political deviance as it leads individuals to be treated unfairly (Anasiz & Püsküllüoglu, 2018).
Therefore, it conflicts with the social values and widespread expectations around organizational justice.
Divergences from a society’s norms, values, rules and regulations are referred to as deviance.
Deviant behavior is an act that is in conflict with social expectations about an individual’s status. Deviant people are those who commit deviant acts and behaviors.
Deviant behaviors include relatively common acts such as favoritism, absenteeism, or lateness to more serious acts such as vandalism, gang violence, or theft.
While a majority of criminal acts are also considered deviant behavior, these two concepts do not always overlap. For example, behaviors such as lateness or absenteeism are merely deviant acts and not crime.
Anasiz, B. T., & Püsküllüoglu, E. I. (2018). Phenomenological Analysis of Teachers’ Organizational Deviance Experiences in a Rural Primary School in Turkey. Journal of Education and Training Studies , 6 (1), 70-79.
Deflem, M. (2015). Deviance and social control. In E. Goode (Ed.), The handbook of deviance (pp. 30–44). New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Dickson-Gomez, J., Pacella, M., Broaddus, M. R., Quinn, K., Galletly, C., & Rivas, J. (2017). Convention versus deviance: moral agency in adolescent gang members’ decision making. Substance use & misuse , 52 (5), 562-573.
Everton, W. J., Jolton, J. A., & Mastrangelo, P. M. (2007). Be nice and fair or else: understanding reasons for employees’ deviant behaviors. Journal of management Development , 26 (2), 117-131.
Government of Canada. (2021, December 2). Summit on Gun and Gang Violence . Public Safety Canada / Sécurité publique Canada. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/cntrng-crm/gn-crm-frrms/index-en.aspx
Herman, N. J. (1995). Deviance: A symbolic interactionist approach . Rowman & Littlefield.
Klonsky, E. D., Oltmanns, T. F., & Turkheimer, E. (2003). Deliberate self-harm in a nonclinical population: Prevalence and psychological correlates. American journal of Psychiatry , 160 (8), 1501-1508.
Merton, R. K., & Nisbet, R. A. (Eds.). (1966). Contemporary social problems . New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
NHTSA. (2017, October). 2016 Data: Impaired Driving . CrashStats – NHTSA. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812450
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Deviance in Sociology: Definition, Theories & Examples
Charlotte Nickerson
Research Assistant at Harvard University
Undergraduate at Harvard University
Charlotte Nickerson is a student at Harvard University obsessed with the intersection of mental health, productivity, and design.
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Saul McLeod, PhD
Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester
Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
Deviance in sociology refers to actions or behaviors that violate widely-accepted cultural norms within a society. Since deviance is defined relative to sociocultural standards, what is considered deviant differs across societies and time periods, and is largely determined by those in power. Sociologists study how and why certain behaviors are defined and reacted to as deviant, as well as how labeling of deviance impacts individuals and groups.
Key Takeaways
- Deviant behavior is any behavior that does not conform to societal norms.There are many different types of deviant behavior, including impoliteness, violence, and substance abuse. These behaviors may or may not be criminal.
- While some forms of deviant behavior may be considered harmful or dangerous, others may simply be seen as odd or unusual.
- In some cases, it can be seen as a positive thing. For example, many cultures encourage their members to challenge the status quo and push boundaries in order to create change.
- Durkheim suggested that modern industrial societies were consequently characterized by moral confusion or ‘anomie’. This means that some members of society were more likely to challenge and reject shared values and norms of behavior and this ‘normlessness’ often resulted in crime and deviance.
- Anomie theory has since been further developed by other theorists, such as Robert Merton, who used it to explain deviance in his strain theory.
- The main tenets of modern anomie theories are that: (i) People conform to societal norms in order to gain rewards or avoid punishment; (ii) When there is a discrepancy between the goals people want to achieve and the means available to them to achieve those goals, anomie results, motivating deviance.
What is Deviant Behavior?
Deviance is a behavior, trait, or belief that departs from a social norm and generates a negative reaction in a particular group. In other words, it is behavior that does not conform to the norms of a particular culture or society.
It includes those behaviors that attract negative responses and social controls. It also involves crimes committed in society.
What is considered acceptable or rude varies depending on the culture you are in. For example, eating with your left hand in Arab nations is considered rude.
Some behaviors are acceptable for certain age groups and some activities are illegal for some age groups.
For example, some people who engage in deviant behavior do so in order to challenge existing social norms and bring about change.
Additionally, deviance can also be a way for people to express themselves and their individuality.
Any behavior that breaks the law or goes against societal norms can be considered deviant. One example of deviant behavior is drug use. Using illegal drugs is considered deviant behavior in most social groups.
Committing acts of violence, such as assault or murder, is also considered deviant behavior.
Other examples of deviant behavior include but are not limited to: theft, vandalism, graffiti, public intoxication, loitering, and littering.
Truancy can be considered to be a form of deviance. Truancy is a behavior where a student regularly avoids school without the knowledge of their parents or teachers.
Because deviance is socially constructed (not naturally occurring but created by the society in which it is found), there are no actions which in themselves are inherently abnormal or universally condemned by all societies at all times. Deviance is thus situational and contextual.
For example, while stealing is considered deviant behavior in most societies, it is not considered deviant in some indigenous cultures where “stealing” is seen as a way to redistribute resources.
Similarly, while arranged marriages are the norm in many cultures, they would be considered deviant in Western cultures where individuals have the freedom to choose their own partners.
Ultimately, what is considered deviant behavior varies from culture to culture, and even from one social group to another. While deviance in society often has negative connotations, deviance in culture is not necessarily bad.
Types of Deviant Behavior
Formal deviant behavior.
Formal deviant behavior is defined as behavior that violates formally enacted laws. This type of deviant behavior is often criminal in nature, and can result in punishments such as fines, imprisonment, or even death.
Examples of formal deviant behavior include but are not limited to: murder, robbery, assault, rape, and child molestation (Griffiths et al., 2012).
Informal Deviant Behavior
Informal deviant behavior is defined as behavior that violates informal social norms. This type of deviant behavior is often seen as more minor than formal deviance, and typically does not result in legal punishment.
Instead, people who engage in informal deviant behavior may be ridiculed or ostracized by their peers.
Examples of informal deviant behavior include but are not limited to: littering, jaywalking, public intoxication, and loitering (Griffiths et al., 2012).
Although informal deviant behavior is often seen as less serious than its formal counterpart, it can have serious consequences. Showing up late to work, for example, is an act of informal deviance that can result in dismissal from one”s job.
Subcultural Deviant Behavior
Subcultural deviant behavior is defined as behavior that violates the norms of a particular subculture. A subculture is a social group within a larger culture that has its own distinct values, beliefs, and behaviors.
Examples of subcultural deviant behavior include but are not limited to: gang violence, drug use, and prostitution.
While subcultural deviant behavior is often seen as criminal or harmful, it can also be a way for people to express their identity and solidarity with others in their group.
For example, many gangs use violence as a way to establish their turf and protect their members, as well as to create a shared sense of identity as “strong” and ready to take action (Copes & Williams, 2007).
Serial Deviant Behavior
Serial deviant behavior is defined as a pattern of repeated deviant behavior. For example, being convicted of multiple crimes.
For example, a teenager who shoplifts every time they enter a department store for the excitement is committing serial deviant behavior.
Those who habitually show informally deviant behavior can also be considered to exhibit serial deviant behavior.
For instance, someone who belches loudly and stands unnecessarily close to others may develop an image characterized by this unacceptable behavior, resulting in social punishment (Chercourt, 2014).
Situational Deviance
Situational deviance is defined as behavior that is considered deviant in a particular situation but not in others.
For example, public nudity is considered deviant in most public places, but is expected on nude beaches. Similarly, using profanity is only considered deviant when it occurs in settings where cursing is not allowed or frowned upon, such as at work or school (Chercourt, 2014).
Even within these settings, the attitudes of those around the person committing the deviant act influence how deviant the behavior is considered to be.
While some forms of situational deviance may be seen as harmless or even humorous, others can have serious consequences.
For example, while being inebriated in many situations may be interpreted as entertaining or humorous by others, driving under the influence of alcohol can result in accidents, injuries, and even death.
Sociological Explanations Of Deviance
Social strain typology (robert k. merton).
The social strain typology is a theory of deviance that was developed by sociologist Robert K. Merton. The theory suggests that there are four types of deviant behavior: subcultural, serial, situational, and cultural.
Merton”s theory is based on the idea that there is a tension between goals and means in society. Goals are the things that people want to achieve, such as wealth or success. Means are the ways in which people go about achieving these goals, such as working hard or getting an education.
When people cannot achieve their goals through legitimate means, they may turn to deviant behavior in order to get what they want. For example, someone who wants to be wealthy but cannot legitimately earn enough money may turn to theft or robbery.
The social strain typology is a helpful way of understanding why people engage in deviant behavior. It also helps to explain why some forms of deviance are more common than others.
For example, subcultural deviance is more likely to occur in poor neighborhoods where legitimate means of achieving goals are limited. Serial deviance is more likely to occur in individuals who have a history of engaging in deviant behavior.
And situational deviance is more likely to occur when people find themselves in situations where they are tempted to break the rules.
Structural Functionalism
Structural functionalism is a sociological theory that views society as a system of interconnected parts that work together to promote stability and order.
The theory is based on the idea that societies are organized in a way that allows them to meet the needs of their members.
Durkheim suggested that modern industrial societies were consequently characterized by moral confusion or ‘ anomie ’ – some members of society were more likely to challenge and reject shared values and norms of behavior and this ‘normlessness’ often resulted in crime and deviance.
The functionalist perspective argues that deviant behavior serves a positive function for society by providing a safety valve for people who cannot cope with the demands of everyday life.
For example, people who engage in minor deviant behaviors, like rudeness or angry outbursts, may be less likely to commit more serious crimes, such as murder or rape (Parsons, 1985).
The functionalist perspective also argues that deviant behavior can lead to social change. For example, people who challenge the status quo and push boundaries may help to bring about positive changes, such as increased equality or improved working conditions.
Gandhi, for example, is often credited with helping to end British rule in India through his deviant behavior of leading peaceful protests and civil disobedience.
The public punishment of criminals also reinforces social conformity by reminding members of society about what counts as acceptable and unacceptable behavior. In other words, it functions to socially control society by reinforcing the rules.
Conflict Theory
Conflict theory is a sociological theory that views society as a system of power relationships that are in conflict with one another. The theory is based on the idea that social order is maintained through coercion and force, rather than consent or agreement.
Conflict theorists argue that deviant behavior is a result of social inequality. They believe that people who have less power in society are more likely to engage in deviant behavior as a way of challenging the existing order.
For example, people who are poor or members of minority groups may turn to crime as a way to get the resources they need to survive (Bartos & Wehr, 2002).
This theory originates from the work of Karl Marx , who argued that social conflict is a necessary part of economic change. Marx believed that capitalism would eventually lead to a revolution in which the working class would overthrow the ruling class and establish a more egalitarian society.
While conflict theory has its origins in Marxism, it has been adapted and expanded by other sociologists, such as Max Weber and Randall Collins.
Conflict theory is now used to explain a wide variety of social phenomena, including crime, violence, and discrimination (Bartos & Wehr, 2002).
Labeling Theory
Labeling theory is a sociological theory that views deviance as a result of the way society labels people. The theory is based on the idea that people who are labeled as deviant are more likely to engage in deviant behavior.
Lemert was one of the first to define the concept of primary and secondary deviance (1951). Primary deviance is deviant acts that occur without labels put on the person commiting the act.
For example, a teenager who drinks alcohol socially at a party and is caught, but only gently reprimanded by their parents, has committed primary deviance.
Secondary deviance , meanwhile, is a result of the labels that are put onn someone for committing deviant acts.
A person moves from primary deviance (the thing that gets him/her labeled in the first place) to secondary deviance (a deviant identity or career).
The importance of the distinction between primary and secondary deviance is that everyone commits primary deviance acts from time to time, with few social consequences.
Labeling theory argues that the act of labeling someone as deviant causes them to be seen as different from others. This difference can lead to discrimination and social exclusion, which can in turn lead to further deviant behavior.
For example, someone who is labeled as a criminal may have difficulty finding a job or housing. As a result, they may turn to crime in order to make ends meet.
Or, someone who is labeled as mentally ill may be excluded from social activities and have difficulty making friends. This isolation can lead to further mental health problems (Becker, 2018).
Labeling theory has been used to explain a wide variety of deviant behaviors, including crime, mental illness, and drug use. The theory has been criticized for its lack of empirical evidence, but it remains an influential perspective in sociology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some of the main causes of deviant behavior.
Some of the main theoretical perspectives that sociologists use to explain deviance include functionalism, conflict theory, and labeling theory.
Sociologists have found that deviant behavior is often a result of social inequality.
For example, people who are poor or members of minority groups may turn to crime as a way to get the resources they need to survive.
Additionally, people who are labeled as deviant by society may be more likely to engage in deviant behavior due to discrimination and social exclusion.
What is the difference between deviant and criminal behavior?
Deviance is behavior that violates social norms and arouses negative social reactions. Crime is behavior that is considered so serious that it violates formal laws prohibiting such behavior.
Not all deviant behavior is criminal. For example, social norms around clothing styles for hairstyles may vary from place to place. So, someone who wears unconventional clothes or has an unconventional haircut may be considered deviant in one community but not in another.
Similarly, people who break minor laws, such as jaywalking or littering, may be considered deviant but not criminal.
Similarly, not all criminal behavior is deviant. For example, breaking a law against selling alcohol on a Sunday does not involve committing an act of deviance in a society where selling and consuming alcohol is acceptable.
Is deviant behavior a form of non-conformity?
Deviance is a concept that describes non-conformity to social norms, values and civic expectations. Hence, it is a form of non-conformity.
Nonetheless, not all non-conformity is deviant.
Social norms vary from place to place, so what is considered deviant in one society may not be considered deviant in another. Additionally, social norms change over time, so something that was once considered deviant may become acceptable (and vice versa).
For example, tattoos and piercings were once considered deviant but are now widely accepted. Nonetheless, in a place where they remain uncommon, they may be non-conformist.
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Lemert, E. M. (1967). Human deviance, social problems, and social control . Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice-Hall.
Marx, K., & Engels, F. (1967). The communist manifesto . 1848. Trans. Samuel Moore. London: Penguin, 15.
Merton, R.K. (1938). Social structure and anomie. American Sociological Review 3 , 672–682.
Merton, R.K. (1949). Social structure and anomie: revisions and extensions. In: Anshen, R.N. (Ed.), The Family: Its Functions and Destiny . Harper, New York, pp. 226–257.
Merton, R.K. (1957). Social structure and anomie. In: Merton, R.K. (Ed.), Social Theory and Social Structure . The Free Press, New York, pp. 185–214.
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Merton, R.K. (Ed.), Social Theory and Social Structure . The Free Press, New York, pp. 215–248.
Parsons, T. (1985). Talcott Parsons on institutions and social evolution: selected writings . University of Chicago Press.
Pfuhl, E. H., & Henry, S. (1986). The deviance process . Transaction Publishers.
Wellford, C. (1975). Labelling theory and criminology: An assessment. Social Problems, 22 (3), 332-345.
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7.1 Social Control and the Relativity of Deviance
Learning objectives.
- Define deviance, crime, and social control.
- Understand why Émile Durkheim said deviance is normal.
- Understand what is meant by the relativity of deviance.
Deviance is behavior that violates social norms and arouses negative social reactions. Some behavior is considered so harmful that governments enact written laws that ban the behavior. Crime is behavior that violates these laws and is certainly an important type of deviance that concerns many Americans.
The fact that both deviance and crime arouse negative social reactions reminds us that every society needs to ensure that its members generally obey social norms in their daily interaction. Social control refers to ways in which a society tries to prevent and sanction behavior that violates norms. Just as a society like the United States has informal and formal norms (see Chapter 2 “Eye on Society: Doing Sociological Research” ), so does it have informal and formal social control. Generally, informal social control is used to control behavior that violates informal norms, and formal social control is used to control behavior that violates formal norms. We typically decline to violate informal norms, if we even think of violating them in the first place, because we fear risking the negative reactions of other people. These reactions, and thus examples of informal social control, include anger, disappointment, ostracism, and ridicule. Formal social control in the United States typically involves the legal system (police, judges and prosecutors, corrections officials) and also, for businesses, the many local, state, and federal regulatory agencies that constitute the regulatory system.
Social control is never perfect, and so many norms and people exist that there are always some people who violate some norms. In fact, Émile Durkheim (1895/1962), a founder of sociology discussed in Chapter 1 “Sociology and the Sociological Perspective” , stressed that a society without deviance is impossible for at least two reasons. First, the collective conscience (see Chapter 1 “Sociology and the Sociological Perspective” ) is never strong enough to prevent all rule breaking. Even in a “society of saints,” such as a monastery, he said, rules will be broken and negative social reactions aroused. Second, because deviance serves several important functions for society (which we discuss later in this chapter), any given society “invents” deviance by defining certain behaviors as deviant and the people who commit them as deviants. Because Durkheim thought deviance was inevitable for these reasons, he considered it a normal part of every healthy society.
Informal social control, such as the anger depicted here, is used to control behavior that violates informal norms.
gordonramsaysubmissions – gordon-ramsay-15 – CC BY 2.0.
Although deviance is normal in this regard, it remains true that some people are more likely than others to commit it. It is also true that some locations within a given society have higher rates of deviance than other locations; for example, U.S. cities have higher rates of violent crime than do rural areas. Still, Durkheim’s monastery example raises an important point about the relativity of deviance: whether a behavior is considered deviant depends on the circumstances in which the behavior occurs and not on the behavior itself. Although talking might be considered deviant in a monastery, it would certainly be considered very normal elsewhere. If an assailant, say a young male, murders someone, he faces arrest, prosecution, and, in many states, possible execution. Yet if a soldier kills someone in wartime, he may be considered a hero. Killing occurs in either situation, but the context and reasons for the killing determine whether the killer is punished or given a medal.
Deviance is also relative in two other ways. First, it is relative in space : a given behavior may be considered deviant in one society but acceptable in another society. Recall the discussion of sexual behavior in Chapter 3 “Culture” , where we saw that sexual acts condemned in some societies are often practiced in others. Second, deviance is relative in time : a behavior in a given society may be considered deviant in one time period but acceptable many years later; conversely, a behavior may be considered acceptable in one time period but deviant many years later. In the late 1800s, many Americans used cocaine, marijuana, and opium, because they were common components of over-the-counter products for symptoms like depression, insomnia, menstrual cramps, migraines, and toothaches. Coca-Cola originally contained cocaine and, perhaps not surprisingly, became an instant hit when it went on sale in 1894 (Goode, 2008). Today, of course, all three drugs are illegal.
The relativity of deviance in all these ways is captured in a famous statement by sociologist Howard S. Becker (1963, p. 9), who wrote several decades ago that
deviance is not a quality of the act the person commits, but rather a consequence of the application by others of rules or sanctions to an “offender.” The deviant is one to whom that label has been successfully applied; deviant behavior is behavior that people so label.
This insight raises some provocative possibilities for society’s response to deviance and crime. First, harmful behavior committed by corporations and wealthy individuals may not be considered deviant, perhaps because “respectable” people engage in them. Second, prostitution and other arguably less harmful behaviors may be considered very deviant because they are deemed immoral or because of bias against the kinds of people (poor and nonwhite) thought to be engaging in them. These considerations yield several questions that need to be answered in the study of deviance. First, why are some individuals more likely than others to commit deviance? Second, why do rates of deviance differ within social categories such as gender, race, social class, and age? Third, why are some locations more likely than other locations to have higher rates of deviance? Fourth, why are some behaviors more likely than others to be considered deviant? Fifth, why are some individuals and those from certain social backgrounds more likely than other individuals to be considered deviant and punished for deviant behavior? Sixth and last but certainly not least, what can be done to reduce rates of violent crime and other serious forms of deviance? The sociological study of deviance and crime aims to answer all of these questions.
Key Takeaways
- Deviance is behavior that violates social norms and arouses negative social reactions.
- Crime is behavior that is considered so serious that it violates formal laws prohibiting such behavior.
- Social control refers to ways in which a society tries to prevent and sanction behavior that violates norms.
- Émile Durkheim believed that deviance is a normal part of every society.
- Whether a behavior is considered deviant depends on the circumstances under which it occurs. Considerations of certain behaviors as deviant also vary from one society to another and from one era to another within a given society.
For Your Review
- In what ways is deviance considered relative?
- Why did Durkheim consider deviance a normal part of society?
Becker, H. S. (1963). Outsiders: Studies in the sociology of deviance . New York, NY: Free Press.
Durkheim, É. (1962). The rules of sociological method (Ed. S. Lukes). New York, NY: Free Press. (Original work published 1895).
Goode, E. (2008). Drugs in American society . New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Sociology Copyright © 2016 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.
Deviant Behavior: Social Power and Labeling Essay
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Deviance is a tendency by a person to act, think, and relate in a manner that is either unnatural or unstandardized. Such a person is considered by others to have deviated from normalcy and expectations of the society. Deviance may be criminal or noncriminal. Criminal deviance is the one that involves the breaking of formal rules in a society like stealing other peoples’ properties. Noncriminal deviance involves breaking of informal rules in a society like gossiping or infidelity (Wilkins, 2003).
However, informal rules may vary from society to another, meaning that what may be a formal rule in one society may be an informal one in another society. For instance, infidelity may be prohibited under the law in some societies, while in others, it maybe not. There are many theories explaining deviance and criminal behavior. One of these theories is the labeling theory, which was originally developed by Frank Tannenbaum in the late 1930s (Wilkins, 2003).
Labeling theory is a combination of two other theories, namely the conflict and symbolic interactionism theories. This theory is concerned with the meanings people derive from others through certain labels, actions, symbols, and reactions. According to the theory, people’s behaviors are influenced by what others say and think about them. It, therefore, follows that society has the power to influence the behavior of others through indiscriminately defining what constitutes good and bad behavior. However, the effect of the labeling on a person is influenced by whether he or she accepts that label or not (Siegel, 2008).
As per the labeling theory, there are two forms of deviance, namely primary and secondary deviance. Primary deviance constitutes bad behaviors that are trivial and not frequent, while secondary defiance constitutes bad behaviors that are noticeable and frequent. Deviance, therefore, starts as primary and then progresses to secondary. Those people who label others in a society are the ones who have social power in that society and may include peers, community groups, various authorities, and family members (CliffsNotes.com, 2011).
As per the “The Saints and the Roughnecks,” a study was done in 1973 by William Chambliss, labeling may have both positive and negative consequences on young people. As per the study, both the Saints and the Roughnecks were involved in criminal behaviors of drinking, vandalism, and theft. But the Saints did not label themselves as deviants by being apologetic and polite to the police as well as being careful when planning and doing the criminal acts, which made the police to refer them as ‘Saints,’ implying not deviants. The Roughnecks, on the other hand, involved themselves in criminal acts without caring for the aftermaths and also became hostile to the police when caught in criminal activities. This made the police to refer them as ‘Roughnecks,’ implying deviants (CliffsNotes.com, 2011).
Labeling may affect young people of today by making them be involved in both criminal and noncriminal deviant activities. This may affect their education as well as their physical, social, and psychological well-being. If young people are labeled negatively, they may lose their self-esteem, which is essential in their growth and development. If they are labeled positively, they may unleash their full potential for their growth and development (Siegel, 2008).
Negative labeling may also compromise a person’s position in society by inhibiting his or her ability to interact with his or her peers. It may also increase the rates of recidivism among young offenders who are released from prisons after completing their sentences due to the fact that people in society do not easily remove the labels on people. The problem may be worse in situations where the victims have accepted the labels, which becomes very hard for them to believe that they can change that behavior (Siegel, 2008).
CliffsNotes.com. (2011). “Theories of Deviance ”. Cliffs Notes . Web.
Siegel, L.J.(2008). Criminology. Farmington Hills, MI: Cengage Learning.
Wilkins, L. (2003). Social Deviance: Social Policy, Action and Research . New York, NY: Routledge.
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IvyPanda. (2020, June 6). Deviant Behavior: Social Power and Labeling. https://ivypanda.com/essays/deviant-behavior-social-power-and-labeling/
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IvyPanda . (2020) 'Deviant Behavior: Social Power and Labeling'. 6 June.
IvyPanda . 2020. "Deviant Behavior: Social Power and Labeling." June 6, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/deviant-behavior-social-power-and-labeling/.
1. IvyPanda . "Deviant Behavior: Social Power and Labeling." June 6, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/deviant-behavior-social-power-and-labeling/.
Bibliography
IvyPanda . "Deviant Behavior: Social Power and Labeling." June 6, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/deviant-behavior-social-power-and-labeling/.
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Deviance And Social Control
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