GSC2205

Sociology of deviance

Lyle Munro

8 points
* Equivalent to 3 hours per week
* Second semester
* Gippsland and distance
* Prerequisites: GSC1201 and GSC1202 or equivalents

Objectives On successfully completing this subject students should be able to understand how deviant and moral identities are socially constructed and contested particularly in the mass media and develop further their capacity to distinguish between sociological and non-sociological explanations of deviant behaviour. They should be able to critically evaluate and apply sociological theories of deviance and crime to specific issues in Australian society including different kinds of social control particularly in relation to youth and women and crime control involving white collar offenders.

Synopsis The subject focuses on a sociological analysis of deviant behaviour by examining a wide range of theoretical perspectives on deviance. The subject considers why and how some behaviours are defined as deviant (eg sexual deviance, delinquency, mental disorders) and other important social problems are not (eg speciesism, sexism, racism). The role of social control agents, particularly in relation to young people, will be examined. Topics to be studied within the context of both Australian and overseas experience include marginality, the construction of deviant and moral identities and the uses of shaming in crime control.

Assessment Two assignments (2000 words each): 30% each
* Examination (2 hours): 40%

Prescribed texts

Aggleton P Deviance Tavistock Publications, 1987
Roach A S Deviance, conformity and control Longman Cheshire, 1991
White R and Haines F Crime and criminology: An introduction, OUP, 1996