Soc 201

Dr. Gray

What is Deviance

Deviance is the violation of social norms that is usually accompanied by a stigma, a negative label that devalues a person and changes his or her self-concept and social identity.

Perceptions of deviance vary across and within societies, and can change over time.

Those in authority or power decide what's right or wrong.

What is Crime

Crime-a violation of societal norms and rules for which punishment is specified by law.

Many sociologists are criminologists, researchers who use scientific methods to study the nature, extent, cause, and control of criminal behavior.

Violent crimes are most likely to be covered by the media, but Americans are much more likely to be victimized by theft or burglary than to be murdered, raped, robbed, or assaulted with a...