What is Deviance?

1
What is Deviance?
2
Definitions of Deviance

• Statistical
• Pathological (medical analogy)
• Relativistic

3
Two Ways to Study Deviance

• Positivists want to understand the causes of
  deviant behavior
• Constructionists focus on the rules, norms, and
  laws that define deviance

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• Consider the following types of deviance
• What kinds of questions would a positivist ask?
• What kinds of questions would a constructionist
  ask?