Sociology and Psychology of Deviance and Disorders

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key sociological theories of deviance, control mechanisms, and major psychological disorders discussed in the lecture.

Deviance

Behavior or physical appearance that violates social norms and expectations.

Deviant

A person who engages in behavior that departs from societal norms.

Deviant Behavior

Actions that do not conform to a group’s social expectations.

Admired Behavior

Rule-breaking conduct viewed positively, e.g., heroism.

Odd Behavior

Non-criminal actions considered unusual or eccentric.

Bad Behavior

Deviance involving law-breaking or clearly harmful acts.

Objectivist Conception of Deviance

Defines deviance as norm-violating behavior based on objective standards.

Subjectivist Conception of Deviance

Sees deviance as behavior labeled deviant by a social audience.

Strain Theory

Merton’s idea that deviance arises from a gap between cultural goals and legitimate means.

Conformity (Merton)

Pursuit of cultural goals through approved means.

Innovation (Merton)

Achieving cultural goals with illegitimate or unapproved means.

Ritualism (Merton)

Strict adherence to approved means while abandoning cultural goals.

Retreatism (Merton)

Rejection of both cultural goals and approved means.

Rebellion (Merton)

Replacing existing goals and means with new revolutionary ones.

Differential Association Theory

Sutherland’s view that criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others.

Social Control

Society’s efforts to regulate thoughts and behaviors and limit deviance.

Informal Sanctions

Unwritten social reactions to conformity or deviance.

Negative Sanction

An adverse informal reaction to deviant behavior.

Positive Sanction

An approving informal reaction to conformity.

Formal Sanction

Official penalties or rewards codified in law.

Social Control Theory

Hirschi’s theory that strong social bonds deter deviance.

Attachment (Hirschi)

Emotional ties and concern for others’ opinions.

Commitment (Hirschi)

Investment of time and energy in conventional pursuits.

Involvement (Hirschi)

Participation in legitimate activities leaving little time for deviance.

Belief (Hirschi)

Acceptance of conventional moral values and norms.

Deterrence Theory

View that swift, certain, and severe punishment discourages crime.

Severity of Punishment

Degree of harshness intended to deter wrongdoing.

Certainty of Punishment

Likelihood that criminal acts will be punished.

Celerity of Punishment

Swiftness with which punishment is administered.

General Deterrence

Punishing offenders to discourage the broader public.

Specific Deterrence

Punishing an individual to prevent that person’s future offenses.

Symbolic Interactionism

Perspective focusing on how people interpret and give meaning to social symbols.

Labeling Theory

Becker’s idea that deviance results from societal labels accepted by individuals.

Stigma

A powerful negative label that alters self-concept and social identity.

Primary Deviance

Initial norm violation with little effect on self-image.

Secondary Deviance

Behavior that follows and is influenced by societal labeling.

Master Status

A dominant label that shapes an individual’s entire identity.

Shaming

Social disapproval intended to evoke remorse.

Disintegrative Shaming

Condemns both the act and the person, leading to exclusion.

Reintegrative Shaming

Condemns the act but accepts the person back into society.

Retrospective Labeling

Reinterpreting someone’s past based on present deviance.

Projective Labeling

Using a deviant label to predict future behavior.

Phenomenological Sociology

Approach emphasizing shared subjective reality constructed by individuals.

Ethnomethodology

Study of everyday methods people use to make sense of social life.

Conflict Theory

Marx-inspired view that social order is maintained by domination and power.

Bourgeoisie

Class that controls wealth and means of production.

Proletariat

Working class that sells labor to the bourgeoisie.

Feminist Perspective

Analysis of gender inequality and women’s subordination.

Liberal Feminism

Sees unequal institutional access as the root of women’s oppression.

Radical Feminism

Attributes oppression to patriarchal control of sexuality.

Marxist/Socialist Feminism

Links gender inequality to capitalist exploitation.

Psychoanalytic Feminism

Uses Freudian ideas to explain gender differences and advocates androgyny.

Critical Perspective

Normative approach questioning power, exploitation, and the legitimacy of social arrangements.

Chicago School

Criminological tradition emphasizing environmental influences on crime.

Social Disorganization Theory

View that weakened social bonds in neighborhoods lead to crime.

Gender Perspective

Approach analyzing how power differences based on sex shape social outcomes.

Psychological Perspective (Deviance)

Focus on individual abnormality or unsuccessful socialization as sources of deviance.

Abnormal Psychology

Branch studying unusual behavior, emotion, or thought patterns.

Abnormal Behavior

Actions that violate social norms or are statistically rare.

Maladaptive Behavior

Dysfunctional actions that hinder effective coping and adaptation.

Anxiety Disorder

Mental health condition involving persistent, excessive fear or worry.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Chronic, widespread anxiety lasting months or years.

Panic Disorder

Condition marked by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Intense fear of being watched and judged in social situations.

Phobia

Irrational, intense fear of a specific object or situation.

Bipolar Disorder

Mood disorder with alternating episodes of mania and depression.

Bipolar I

Severe mania and severe depression episodes.

Bipolar II

Severe depression with hypomanic (less intense) episodes.

Conduct Disorder

Childhood pattern of violating rules and others’ rights.

Eating Disorder

Psychological condition characterized by unhealthy eating habits.

Anorexia Nervosa

Eating disorder involving self-starvation and extreme weight loss.

Bulimia Nervosa

Cycles of binge eating followed by purging to avoid weight gain.

Binge Eating Disorder

Recurrent episodes of uncontrolled overeating without regular purging.

Pica

Persistent eating of non-food substances such as dirt or paper.

Rumination Disorder

Re-chewing and re-swallowing or spitting out previously swallowed food.

ARFID

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder involving extreme food aversions.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

Personality disorder marked by perfectionism, orderliness, and control.

Psychotic Disorder

Group of illnesses involving loss of contact with reality.

Schizophrenia

Chronic psychotic disorder with delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thought.

Schizoaffective Disorder

Combination of schizophrenia symptoms and mood disorder episodes.

Schizophreniform Disorder

Schizophrenia-like symptoms lasting 1-6 months.

Brief Psychotic Disorder

Sudden short-term psychosis often triggered by stress, lasting <1 month.

Delusional Disorder

Persistent non-bizarre delusions without other major psychotic symptoms.

Shared Psychotic Disorder

Adoption of another person’s delusional beliefs (folie à deux).

Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder

Psychosis caused by drug use or withdrawal.

Psychotic Disorder Due to Medical Condition

Hallucinations or delusions arising from a brain-impacting illness.

Paraphrenia

Late-life psychosis resembling schizophrenia, not in DSM-5.

Hallucination

Perception of stimuli (voices, visions) that are not present.

Delusion

Fixed, false belief resistant to contrary evidence.

Antipsychotics

Medications used to manage symptoms of psychotic disorders.