How do we as a community decide what is a crime? Often, this has to do with social norms. Social norms are all around us and are accepted norms and behaviors within a specific group. The group you are in can change, which means the norms and behaviors that are acceptable at any given time may change.

Deviance is behavior that departs from or violates the established social norm. Erich Goode, an American sociologist, argues that four things must happen for something deviant to take place or exist:

1. a rule or norm must be established;
2. someone has to violate that rule or norm;
3. there must be an audience or someone that witnesses the act and judges it to be wrong; and
4. there is likely going to be a negative reaction from that audience that can come in many forms (i.e., criticism, disapproval, punishment, and more) (Goode, 2015).

Watch this video on deviance [Streaming Video] to understand the historical context of the term deviant and learn how what is considered “deviant” can actually change over time.

Deviance is like a shifting landscape influenced by the culture, history, and societal norms of a particular time and place. What might be labeled as deviant in one society or era could be entirely acceptable in another. This challenges us to question what is considered normal or abnormal.

Adding to this problem is the tendency to brand certain groups, especially marginalized communities, as “deviant.” People of color, individuals with mental health conditions, and those with disabilities have often been unfairly labeled as deviant, marking them as different from what is considered the norm. This labeling is deeply rooted in historical prejudices and societal biases, showcasing how power dynamics play a role in defining and stigmatizing certain behaviors. Should something be deemed criminal simply because it is different?

Licenses and Attributions for Deviance, Rule Violations, and Criminality

Open Content, Shared Previously

“1.3. Deviance, Rule Violations, and Criminality” is adapted from “1.2. Deviance, Rule Violations, and Criminality by Shanell Sanchez in SOU-CCJ230 Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System by Alison S. Burke, David Carter, Brian Fedorek, Tiffany Morey, Lore Rutz-Burri, and Shanell Sanchez, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Modified by Sam Arungwa and revised by Roxie Supplee, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, for content and DEI.

All Rights Reserved Content

“Deviance: Crash Course Sociology #18” by Crash Course is licensed under the Standard YouTube License.