Final answer:
Deviant behavior is relative and denotes actions that violate societal norms. Social control mechanisms, including both informal and formal sanctions, are employed to manage these behaviors. Sociological paradigms offer diverse explanations for the motivations and implications of deviance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Deviant Behavior
Deviant behavior is relative and is defined as a violation of contextual, cultural, or social norms. Such behavior is complex because evaluating it demands considering multiple factors, including the use of human and monetary resources. For instance, excessive gambling might be seen as deviant, but perceptions vary widely with context and legality. Social norms and legal codes shape what is considered deviant, influencing responses from informal sanctions like social disapproval to formal sanctions such as legal penalties. Sociologists study how social structures and interactions influence views on deviance, considering theories like differential association, labeling theory, and the notion of master status. Whether an act is deviant depends on factors like location, timing, societal values, and the nature of the act itself.
The Role of Social Control in Deviance
Society employs various forms of social control to limit and respond to deviance, from informal judgments to legal repercussions. Sociological paradigms provide different perspectives on motivation behind deviant behavior: functionalists see it as a means to reinforce norms, while conflict theorists tie it to social inequality. Symbolic interactionists focus on the constructed nature of social labels and their implications on individuals' reputations and behaviors. Understanding these theories can illuminate why certain behaviors are labeled as deviant and others are not, and why that varies across different societies and time periods.