Sociology Unit 2: Deviance Study Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the key concepts, theories, and scholars within the Sociology Unit 2 Area of Study 1: Deviance coursework.

Deviance

Actions considered to be outside a society's understood and accepted standards of behaviour, formally defined as the violation of social norms.

Social norms

Expectations for daily life that inform behaviour in different contexts, underpinned by core values held by a group.

Non-conformists

Individuals who do not comply with the general norms set out by society and are often viewed with suspicion or unfavourably.

Social control

The process of enforcing conformity and minimising deviance by using authority to enforce norms.

Sanctions

A society's reactions to deviant behaviours, which can be positive (rewarding adherence) or negative (discouraging through punishment).

Social etiquette

Generally understood polite or impolite behaviour, such as greetings or manners in public spaces.

Relative concept of deviance

The idea that deviance varies according to time, space, age, social status, and social group, meaning no behaviour is universally viewed as deviant.

Social status

A person's standing or importance in a society or group, which influences and is influenced by their behaviour, profession, and education.

Functionalism

A perspective originating from Émile Durkheim that views society as a system of interconnected parts working together like organs in a body.

ACUP

The acronym for Durkheim's four functions of deviance: Affirmation of norms, Clarification of moral boundaries, Unification of others, and Promoting social change.

Affirmation of society's cultural norms and values

A function of deviance (ACUP) where deviant behaviour reinforces what is acceptable by clarifying and confirming social standards.

Clarification of society's moral boundaries

A function of deviance (ACUP) that uses consequences to define the line between conformity and deviance.

Unification of others in society

A function of deviance (ACUP) where individuals experience solidarity and mutual support in response to a distressing deviant act.

Promoting social change

A function of deviance (ACUP) where challenging existing norms can lead to them being modified or updated by society.

Social Control Theory

Travis Hirschi's (1969) theory suggesting deviance occurs due to inadequate inner personal restraint and a lack of outer social control.

ACIB

The acronym for Hirschi's four core bonds that reduce the risk of deviancy: Attachment, Commitment, Involvement, and Belief.

Attachment

A core bond (ACIB) involving emotional ties to others; individuals who care about the opinions of influential people are less likely to be deviant.

Commitment

A core bond (ACIB) involving an individual's investment in conventional behavior and legitimate goals, leading them to weigh deviance against potential costs.

Involvement

A core bond (ACIB) suggesting that participation in socially approved activities leaves less time and opportunity for deviant behaviour.

Belief in social values

A core bond (ACIB) relating to an individual's convictions about right and wrong and their desire to conform to established laws.

Interactionist theory

A perspective, such as Howard S. Becker's labelling theory, arguing that deviance is a process of interaction between deviants and non-deviants.

Labelling Theory

The suggestion that no status or behaviour is inherently deviant until others judge and categorise it as such.

Self-fulfilling prophecy

When a person behaves in a way that matches a label they have been assigned, thereby reinforcing that label.

Stigma

A state of being disgraced based on a particular quality or circumstance, often making it hard to remove a label like 'criminal' or 'addict'.

Positive deviance

Any action that deviates from social norms but results in beneficial outcomes for the individual or society.

Altruism

A category of positive deviance involving selfless actions performed to help others without expectation of reward or acknowledgement.

Charisma

A category of positive deviance involving personal charm and attractive qualities that allow an individual to inspire and lead others.

Innovation

A category of positive deviance where individuals introduce new ideas or methods that deviate from established traditions.

Supraconformity

A category of positive deviance where an individual excels to a level that approaches the 'ideal' expectations of a society.

Innate characteristics

A category of positive deviance involving inherent traits an individual is born with, such as high intelligence or talent, interpreted by social norms.

Moral panic

An intense emotional reaction, often communicated through mass media, to an issue perceived as a threat to social order.

Folk devils

Groups or individuals portrayed in the media as deviant or delinquent and perceived as threatening social norms.