Sociology 1027A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Sexual Assault, Stanford Prison Experiment, Edwin Sutherland

• School: Western University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: Sociology 1027A/B
• Professor: Wolfgang Lehmann

Document Summary

Deviant acts break societal norms, but are not punishable by law. An example is adultery, not punishable by law, but considered a contrast to normal/expected behaviour. Deviance is not always unusual, even if it breaks a norm. Jaywalking is illegal and breaks a norm, however it is considered normal to jaywalk. The severity of public response, degree of public agreement, and perceived harmfulness varies with each act of deviance. Severity of public response can be minor (i. e. giving a dirty look), or punishment that results in jail time. Perceived harmfulness has to do with the amount of harm that is inflicted on others by the perpetrator"s behaviour. This act could cause pain, death, or just discomfort/offense. Degree of public agreement shows the extent to which the public agrees whether the act is criminal or deviant. An example is marijuana, which people have different opinions on regarding if its deviant or criminal.