Sociological Theories of Deviance

COURSE INFORMATION - TOPICS AND REQUIREMENTS

 

 

Course name: Sociological Theories of Deviance

Course code: MSP2102English

 

Number of lessons per week: 2

Course coordinator/teacher: Katalin Torkos Ph.D., associate professor

Email address: torkos.katalin@nye.hu

 

Course Outline, Course Objectives, Topics: (topics based on literature below)

 

1.      Introduction to the Sociology of Deviance. Research subject of Sociology of Deviance.

2.      Rules of Behaviour. Norms, Social Norms – deviate from norms or conform to them. Social control. Norm breaking.

3.      Concept of Deviance. Forms of Deviant Behaviour. Forms of Deviant Behaviour not sanctioned.

4.      Forms of Deviant Behaviour – Crime, Types of Crime, Crime and Young, Crime and Social Order, Answers to Crimes in the society. Crime Statistics,

5.      Forms of Deviant Behaviour – Mental Problems, Suicide, Methods, Statistics and Policy

6.      Forms of Deviant Behaviour – Drug use, Methods, Statistics and Policy

7.      Forms of Deviant Behaviour – Alcoholism, Methods, Statistics and Policy

8.      Deviant subculture. Individual behaviour or activity of groups.

9.      Deviance and social classes.

10.  Theories explaining deviance - Biological, Psychological, Economic and sociological approaches.

11.  Sociological theories – Functionalist theories (Anomie – Durkheim, Merton)

12.  Sociological theories – Interactionist theories (Labelling theory, Primary and Secondary Deviance. Stigma.)

13.  Sociological theories – Conflict theories (Taylor, Walton, Young) (Left Realism)

14.  Sociological theories – Control theories (Travis Hirsch) (Right Realism)

 

Course Design

Lectures, class discussions will be the procedures employed to cover the topics of this course. Students are regularly expected to read class material before coming to class.

 

Attendance at classes: The permissible degree of absence during the semester in full-time education is three times the number of contact lessons per week of the subject. If this is exceeded, the course cannot be evaluated.

 

Requirement: exam

 

Evaluation method and schedule, the way the grade is formed: oral exam during the exam period

 

 

 

Student Learning Outcomes

·         Students will be able to define deviant behaviour and explain its social significance.

·         Students will demonstrate their familiarity with the sociological usage of majority and      minority groups.

·         Students will employ critical thinking about norms, norm breaking and social control through their ability to discuss or write about these terms and other information associated with them.

·         Students will elaborate on the experiences of the various deviant groups studied within this class.

·         Students will demonstrate their familiarity with the theoretical explanations of deviance through their writings, discussions and other activities.

 

Exam topics:

1.      Sociology of Deviance. Norms. Social control. Norm breaking.

2.      Concept and forms of Deviance. Forms of Deviant Behaviour not sanctioned.

3.      Forms of Deviant Behaviour – Crime

4.      Forms of Deviant Behaviour – Mental Problems, Suicide, Methods, Statistics and Policy

5.      Forms of Deviant Behaviour – Drug use, Methods, Statistics and Policy

6.      Forms of Deviant Behaviour – Alcoholism, Methods, Statistics and Policy

7.      Deviant subculture. Individual behaviour/ group activity. Deviance and social classes.

8.      Theories explaining deviance - Biological, Psychological, Economic, Sociological approaches.

9.      Sociological theories – Functionalist theories

10.  Sociological theories – Interactionist theories

11.  Sociological theories – Conflict theories

12.  Sociological theories – Control theories

 

Readings and Supplementary Readings:

·         Giddens, Anthony (2006) Sociology. Policy Press, UK (Chapter: Deviance)

·         Deviant behaviour. Journal. Editor-in-Chief: Craig J. Forsyth. Taylor & Francis, Philadelphia, Print ISSN: 0163-9625 Online ISSN: 1521-0456 Print ISSN: 0163-9625 Online ISSN: 1521-0456

·         EU and OECD documents (Young people, Youth Portal, Deviance)

·         McCaghy, C., Capron, T., Jamieson, JD., & Carey, S. H. (2016). Deviant Behavior (8th ed.). Taylor and Francis.

·         Malizia, Nicola (2018) Boredom and Social Deviant Behaviour: An Empirical Study. Advances in Applied Sociology Vol.8 No.2. February 13, 2018.

·         Anis, Marwa – Emil, Dina (2022) The Impact of Job Stress on Deviant Workplace Behaviour: The Mediation Role of Job Satisfaction. American Journal of Industrial and Business Management Vol.12. No.1, January 30, 2022

·         Mwanza, Jason (2016) Sickrole Compliance and Sickrole Deviance among Tuberculosis Patients on Treatment in Kanyama, a Zambian Shanty Compound. Advances in Applied Sociology Vol.6. No.1. January 19, 2016

·         T.Wing Lo et. al. (2011) Self-Esteem, Self-Efficacy and Deviant Behaviour of Young People in Hong Kong. Advances in Applied Sociology Vol.1. No.1, December 28, 2011

·         Halpern, E.– Leite, L.C. (2015) The Role of the Researcher When Using the Socio-Anthropoligical Method to Understand the Phenomenon of Alcoholism. Open Journal os Social Sciences Vol.3. No.5, 2015