Exam Revision #2 deviance Flashcards
Deviance
Describes a person or an action that deviates from a
society’s understood and accepted standards of
behaviour.
Reverse deviance
When behaviour/actions that were once acceptable in
society become deviant in contemporary society
and vice versa. For example: smoking.
Sanction
Society’s reaction to deviant behaviours and can be
positive or negative. Positive behaviours adhere to social
norms, whilst negative reactions aim to discourage
behaviours by punishing them.
Non-conformistst
Refers to people who do not comply with the
general norms set out by society.
Self-fulfilling prophecy
Refers to a person deciding to further engage in deviant
behaviour that reinforces and fulfils the label given to
them.
Social control
Society’s way of ensuring conformity by employing
methods that focus on regulating and
changing behaviour.
Moral panic
A feeling of fear spread among many people that some
problem threatens the wellbeing of society. It is the
process of arousing social concern over an issue – usually
the work of moral entrepreneurs and the mass media.
Moral entrepreneur
An individual, group, or formal organisation that generates
moral panic as it seeks to influence a group to adopt and
maintain a norm. They take the leaders in labelling a
particular behaviour and popularizing this label
throughout society.
Folk devils
People/things that are depicted as deviant
by the media.
social control theory
Proposes that the more invested and connected a person
feels to others and their general environment, the less
likely they are to engage in deviant behaviour.
Interactionist (labelling) theory
Examines the consequences of labelling on an individual or
group and says it can be quite serious as these
labels can lead to further deviance.
Functionalism
Functionalists affirm that deviance is necessary for social
stability for several reasons – the main being that deviance
reveals which actions and behaviours are acceptable
and unacceptable.
