SOC100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Anal Sex, Impression Management, Misogyny
23 Sep 2016
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Deviance means straying from the norm or the usual. Does not necessarily mean that the one engaging in deviance is bad, criminal, perverted, sick, or inferior in any way. Overt characteristics of deviance are the actions or qualities explicitly violating the cultural norm. Covert characteristics are the unstated qualities that might make a particular group a target for sanctions. Deviance comes down to how we de ne the norm. The power of those who share the norm to de ne and treat others as inferior or dangerous. As the norm changes, so do de nitions of deviance. When we invoke the norm, we are usually talking about dominant culture. Subculture is a group existing within a larger culture and possessing beliefs or interests at variance with those of the dominant culture. Three theories of deviance: strain theory, subcultural theory, and labelling theory. Robert merton developed strain theory to explain why some individuals chose to be criminally deviant.
