Final answer:
Deviance in sociology is a violation of norms, explained through paradigms such as functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism; each offers a different perspective on why deviance occurs and how society responds.
Step-by-step explanation:
Deviance, as defined in sociology, is the violation of contextual, cultural, or social norms. The three major sociological paradigms that explain deviance and crime are functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theory. Functionalism views deviance as a necessary part of society that reinforces norms by demonstrating the consequences of violating them and can also help society examine injustices within the system. Conflict theory explains crime as a result of social inequality, with those in power maintaining their position at the expense of the powerless. Symbolic interactionism focuses on the socially constructed nature of deviance, especially through mechanisms like labeling, as defined by the labeling theory.
Each paradigm provides a different explanation for the factors behind deviance and crime, as well as the societal reactions to these behaviors. Erving Goffman's dramaturgical analysis illustrates the cultural patterns and life scripts (or sense of self) that individuals enact in social situations. This is an example of how symbolic interactionists view the enactment of deviant roles as learned and improvised in different contexts.Content loaded with respect to theories of deviance and crime includes an understanding of how formal and informal sanctions, legal codes, and societal reactions contribute to both limiting and defining deviant behavior. How individuals learn deviance through differential association theory and how they are labeled by society are also key components of understanding deviance and crime content.