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Understanding deviance isn't just about memorizing theorists' names—it's about grasping how society constructs, enforces, and responds to rule-breaking behavior. You're being tested on your ability to explain why certain behaviors get labeled as deviant, who has the power to define deviance, and what functions deviance serves in maintaining or disrupting social order. These perspectives connect directly to core sociological concepts like social structure, power, socialization, and social change.
Each theory offers a different lens for analyzing the same behavior. A functionalist sees deviance as socially useful; a conflict theorist sees it as a tool of oppression; a labeling theorist questions whether the act was even "deviant" before someone in power said so. Don't just memorize definitions—know what question each theory answers and when to apply it on exams.
These theories argue that deviance emerges from the way society itself is organized. The structure of opportunities, goals, and norms creates conditions that push individuals toward deviant behavior.
Compare: Strain Theory vs. Anomie Theory—both address structural disconnection, but Merton focuses on blocked access to goals while Durkheim emphasizes breakdown of norms themselves. If an FRQ asks about deviance during economic recession, anomie explains the social instability while strain explains individual responses.
These perspectives emphasize that deviance is learned behavior, acquired through interaction with others. People aren't born deviant—they're socialized into it.
Compare: Differential Association vs. Social Learning Theory—both see deviance as learned, but Sutherland emphasizes direct interaction while social learning theory includes observation and cognitive processing. Use differential association for questions about peer influence; use social learning for questions about media effects.
Rather than asking "why do people deviate?", these theories flip the question: why do most people conform? The answer lies in social attachments and institutional control.
Compare: Social Control Theory vs. Strain Theory—control theory asks why people don't deviate (answer: bonds), while strain theory asks why they do (answer: blocked goals). Both are structural but focus on opposite sides of the same coin.
These perspectives shift attention from the act itself to society's response. Deviance isn't a quality of behavior—it's a consequence of how others react to that behavior.
Compare: Labeling Theory vs. Functionalism—functionalists see deviance as objectively identifiable and socially useful, while labeling theorists argue deviance exists only because society creates it. This is a fundamental epistemological divide—know it for essay questions.
These critical perspectives argue that deviance reflects and reinforces existing power structures. Laws don't neutrally protect everyone—they protect the interests of those who write them.
Compare: Conflict Theory vs. Feminist Perspectives—both focus on power, but conflict theory emphasizes class inequality while feminist perspectives center gender inequality. Use feminist theory specifically when questions address gendered double standards or women's experiences.
These approaches recognize that what's "deviant" depends on which group's standards you're applying. Behavior conforming to subcultural norms may violate dominant culture expectations.
Compare: Cultural Deviance Theory vs. Differential Association—both involve learning from groups, but cultural deviance emphasizes subcultural values as legitimate alternatives while differential association treats deviance as learned deviation from mainstream norms.
| Concept | Best Examples |
|---|---|
| Structure creates deviance | Strain Theory, Anomie Theory |
| Deviance is learned | Differential Association, Social Learning Theory |
| Bonds prevent deviance | Social Control Theory |
| Labels create deviance | Labeling Theory |
| Power defines deviance | Conflict Theory, Feminist Perspectives |
| Deviance serves functions | Functionalist Perspective |
| Culture shapes deviance | Cultural Deviance Theory |
| Individual adaptation to blocked goals | Strain Theory (five modes) |
Both strain theory and anomie theory address structural causes of deviance—what's the key difference in what each theory emphasizes?
A teenager joins a gang and learns both criminal techniques and justifications for violence from older members. Which two theories best explain this process, and how do they differ?
Compare and contrast how a functionalist and a labeling theorist would analyze the same act of shoplifting. What questions would each ask?
If an FRQ asks you to explain why wealthy white-collar criminals often receive lighter sentences than poor street criminals, which theoretical perspectives would you apply and why?
How would feminist perspectives critique traditional strain theory's explanation of deviance? What's missing from Merton's framework?