Deviance (sociology)

Deviance or the sociology of deviance^[1]^[2] explores the actions or behaviors that violate social norms across formally enacted rules (e.g., crime)^[3] as well as informal violations of social norms (e.g., rejecting folkways and mores). Although deviance may have a negative connotation, the violation of social norms is not always a negative action; positive deviation exists in some situations. Although a norm is violated, a behavior can still be classified as positive or acceptable.^[4]

Social norms differ throughout society and between cultures. A certain act or behaviour may be viewed as deviant and receive sanctions or punishments within one society and be seen as a normal behaviour in another society. Additionally, as a society's understanding of social norms changes over time, so too does the collective perception of deviance.^[5]

Deviance is relative to the place where it was committed or to the time the act took place.^[6] Killing another human is generally considered wrong for example, except when governments permit it during warfare or for self-defense. There are two types of major deviant actions: mala in se and mala prohibita.^{[citation needed]}

^ Erikson, Kai T. (1962). "Notes on the Sociology of Deviance". Social Problems. 9 (4): 307–314. doi:10.2307/798544. ISSN 0037-7791. JSTOR 798544.
^ Goode, Erich (2015), "The Sociology of Deviance", The Handbook of Deviance, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, pp. 1–29, doi:10.1002/9781118701386.ch1, ISBN 978-1-118-70138-6, retrieved 2021-11-05
^ Macionis, John; Gerber, Linda (2010). Sociology (7th Canadian ed.). Toronto: Pearson. ISBN 978-0-13-511927-3.
^ Heckert, Alex (2002). "A new typology of deviance: Integrating normative and reactivist definitions of deviance". Deviant Behavior. 23 (5): 449–79. doi:10.1080/016396202320265319. S2CID 144506509.
^ "Introduction to Sociology 2e". OpenStax CNX (Open source textbook). Rice University. 24 April 2015. Deviance and Control. Retrieved 2019-02-28.
^ Little, William; McGivern, Ron (2014). "Introduction to Sociology – 1st Canadian Edition. Chapter 7. Deviance, Crime, and Social Control". OpenTextBC. Retrieved January 11, 2025.

[1] Erikson, Kai T. (1962). "Notes on the Sociology of Deviance". Social Problems. 9 (4): 307–314. doi:10.2307/798544. ISSN 0037-7791. JSTOR 798544.

[2] Goode, Erich (2015), "The Sociology of Deviance", The Handbook of Deviance, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, pp. 1–29, doi:10.1002/9781118701386.ch1, ISBN 978-1-118-70138-6, retrieved 2021-11-05

[Macionis,_J._2010-3] Macionis, John; Gerber, Linda (2010). Sociology (7th Canadian ed.). Toronto: Pearson. ISBN 978-0-13-511927-3.

[4] Heckert, Alex (2002). "A new typology of deviance: Integrating normative and reactivist definitions of deviance". Deviant Behavior. 23 (5): 449–79. doi:10.1080/016396202320265319. S2CID 144506509.

[OpenStax_CNX-2015-5] "Introduction to Sociology 2e". OpenStax CNX (Open source textbook). Rice University. 24 April 2015. Deviance and Control. Retrieved 2019-02-28.

[:0-6] Little, William; McGivern, Ron (2014). "Introduction to Sociology – 1st Canadian Edition. Chapter 7. Deviance, Crime, and Social Control". OpenTextBC. Retrieved January 11, 2025.

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Deviance (sociology)

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