This document discusses several theories of deviance. It defines deviance as violating social norms and norms as rules that guide society. The structural strain theory explains deviance as resulting from social strains caused by an imbalance between cultural goals and means of achieving them. Labeling theory states that deviance is a social process where some label others as deviant. Differential association theory argues that the environment determines which norms people learn to violate through socializing agents like family and friends.

1. DEVIANCE
Presented by: Frencis Joy Panerio

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5.  Deviance - describes actions or behaviors that
violate social norms, including formally enacted
rules as well as informal violations of social norms
 Norms - are rules and expectations by which
members of society are conventionally guided.
NOTE: Social norms differ from
culture to culture or it is relative.

6. Theories on Deviant Behavior

7. Structural Strain
Theory/Anomie
• This theory explains deviance as the
outcome of social strains due to the way
the society is structured.
• Robert Merton used the term to
describe the differences between
socially accepted goals and the
availability of means to achieve those
goals
• It is when the goals and means are not
in balance with each other that deviance
is likely to occur. This imbalance
between cultural goals and structurally
available means can actually lead an
individual into deviant behavior.
Robert K. Merton

8. 5 Categories of People:
 Conformist - are people who believe in
both the established cultural goals of
society as well as the normative means for
attaining those goals.
 Ritualists - are individuals who do not
believe in the established cultural goals of
society, but they do believe in and abide
by the means for attaining those goals.

9.  Innovators - are those individuals that accept the
cultural goals of society but reject the
conventional methods of attaining those goals
 Retreatists - are individuals who reject both the
cultural goals and the accepted means of
attaining those goals.
 Rebels - not only reject both the established
cultural goals and the accepted means of
attaining those goals, but they substitute new
goals and new means of attaining those goals.

10. Labeling
Theory
• The theory explains deviance as a
social process whereby some people
are able to define others as deviant. It
emphasizes that the deviance is
relative -- it is not until a label is given
to someone by someone else in a
position of social power that the
person actually "becomes" a deviant.
• Labeling theory is the most
important approaches to
understanding deviant and
criminal behavior within
sociology.
Frank Tannenbaum
Howard S. Becker

12. Differential-association
Theory
• According to this theory, the environment
plays a major role in deciding which norms
people learn to violate.
• Socializing agents - parents, teachers,
ministers, family, friends, co‐workers, and
the media
• Criminal behavior is learned

13. THANK YOU 
References:
http://sociology.about.com/od/Sociological-Theory/a/Structural-
Strain-Theory.
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/sciences/sociology/deviance-crime-and-social-
control/theories-of-deviance
http://ww2.valdosta.edu/~klowney/devtheories.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deviance_(sociology)