Deviance

Synonyms

Crime; Deviant identity; Outsiders; Social stigma

Definition

At base, deviance simply refers to any variation about some cultural norm: a societal expectation about how to think or behave. It represents a departure or violation, trivial or significant, from some socially accepted normative structure in society. This general definition implies that a vast range of beliefs, behaviors, and conditions can be considered deviant, depending on broader historical and cultural contexts, and specific social situations within those contexts.

Introduction

Deviance cannot be understood apart from the concept of norms. There are two basic types of norms, folkways and mores. The former refers to routine expectations such as standing the appropriate distance from a stranger in an elevator. The latter deal with more serious acts of deviance and have stronger moral implications, such as harming another person. This distinction is important as it has relates to how and whether deviance is...