Purpose
This assignment is intended to assess your ability to:
Discuss the impact of characteristics of the deviant and the victim (if there is one) on the exercise of social control.
Discuss potential functions as well as dysfunctions of deviance within society and within subcultures of society.
Analyze a theory’s effectiveness as a social control mechanism.
Action Items
Select a form of deviance for your topic in this paper. Keep in mind
that social deviance is not necessarily crime and can include
characteristics and beliefs or opinions as well as behavior. Also keep
in mind that social deviance may be socially desirable, such as great
intelligence.
Write a 2- to 3-page paper (about 750 words) describing the
behavior, belief or opinion, or characteristic that you have selected.
Describe what social norm it breaks and the consequences incurred when
the deviance becomes known to official agents of social control as well
as to social equals. Then consider the following questions:
Applying Emile Durkheim’s functionalist analysis of social deviance,
how is this form of deviance functional and how is it dysfunctional for
society as a whole and for particular subcultures involved or affected
How does the essence of social control vary depending upon
characteristics of the deviant, of the victim if there is one, of the
situation and/or the historical era?
If there are other mitigating factors that affect perceptions and reactions, what are they?
Save your answers in a Word document.
Cite any sources, including assigned readings, according to APA citation guidelines.
Submit your assignment. Your work will automatically be checked by Turnitin.
Review your Submission Details and access your Turnitin report. Revise your work as needed based on the feedback.
By the due date indicated, re-submit the final version of your work.