Deviance, Crime, and Social Control
Rules and Rule-Breaking
Deviance
Deviance is behavior that violates social norms. It does not always mean criminal behavior; something can be deviant without being illegal.
Crime and social control
Crime is behavior that breaks formal laws. Social control includes the ways a society encourages conformity and discourages rule-breaking.
Important distinctions
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Deviance | Violation of norms |
| Crime | Violation of law |
| Social control | Methods used to encourage conformity |
| Stigma | Negative social label attached to a person or group |
Which statement is correct?
Deviance refers to breaking social norms.
Correct answer: Deviance means violating norms
What is social control?
It can be formal or informal.
Correct answer: The ways society encourages conformity and discourages rule-breaking.
Be careful with labels
Who is seen as deviant can depend on culture, context, and power.