Sociology of Deviance

Catalog description

Theory and research concerning deviant behaviors and lifestyles viewed as significant departures from a group's normative expectations. SOC (CRIMJ/CRIM) 406 Sociology of Deviance (3) (BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements.Sociology of Deviance focuses on the theory and research in social construction of social norms, the violation of norms, and social reaction to the violation of norms. The course focuses on the role of social structure and power in the definition of deviance, on structural, cultural, and social psychological processes involved in deviant behavior, and the dynamics of social reaction to deviance. The course includes some content focusing on criminal deviance, but also emphasizes non-criminal deviance, as well as the role of social movements and social change in constructing and contesting deviance definitions. CRIMJ/SOC/CRIM 012 and CRIM/ CRIMJ 250W are prerequisites. This course may be counted toward the credits required for the B.A. and B.S. in Crime, Law, and Justice. It would fulfill one of the 400-level requirements in the 'Crime' component of the major. The course may also be counted toward credits required for the B.A. and B.S. in Sociology for students with the Deviance and Criminology specialization.