Final answer:
The theory that society creates deviance by identifying members as deviant is called the Labeling Theory, which is part of the broader symbolic interactionism approach. Deviance is seen as a relative concept in society, and the labeling of individuals can lead to acceptance of the deviant identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory that society creates deviance by identifying certain members as deviant is known as the Labeling Theory. In sociology, this theory is part of symbolic interactionism, which looks at the way certain behaviors are defined as deviant. According to this theory, individuals who have been labeled as 'deviant' begin to accept this label as part of their identity.
Over time, what society considers to be deviant can change, and it can vary across different cultures. Sociologist Edwin Lemert discussed the concept of primary deviance, which doesn't result in long-term effects on the person's self-image, unlike secondary deviance which can lead to an individual's self-concept as a deviant.
Émile Durkheim, a pioneering sociologist, believed that deviance has an essential role in society by promoting social change and reinforcing societal norms through the punishment of deviant acts, thus upholding the social order. Sociological paradigms, including functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theory, provide different perspectives on the causes and effects of deviance and crime in society.