SO 334: Deviance: Changing Sociological Perspectives on Race, Class, and Gender

Deviant behavior is often defined as an act that violates a social norm while social control is a reaction to deviant behavior that seeks to regulate or punish this behavior. This course examines what constitutes deviant behavior in our society. Then, several major theoretical perspectives on deviance are introduced to explore specific areas of deviant behavior and social control such as interpersonal violence, self-destructive deviance, diverse lifestyles, and substance use and abuse.