Deviance (sociology)

Deviance or the sociology of deviance^[1]^[2] explores the actions and/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. 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.

[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.

[:22-5] "Introduction to Sociology 2e". OpenStax CNX (Open source textbook). Rice University. 24 April 2015. Deviance and Control. Retrieved 2019-02-28.

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