Time Schedule:
Daniel G. Renfrow
SOC 271
Seattle Campus
Examination of deviance, deviant behavior, and social control. Deviance as a social process; types of deviant behavior (e.g., suicide, mental illness, drug use, crime, "sexual deviance," delinquency); theories of deviance and deviant behavior; nature and social organization of societal reactions; and social and legal policy issues.
Class description
Sociology can be an enlightening yet unsettling endeavor, as the sociological perspective forces us to question many of the assumptions we carry with us and to see the unfamiliar in the familiar. Perhaps no specialty area exemplifies this tendency more so than the study of deviance. This course will serve both as an introduction to the study of deviance, as well as an introduction to sociology. During the first half of this course, you will be introduced to the sociological perspective. We will discuss definitions of social deviance and explore the ways sociologists explain deviance. Our discussions will draw upon readings from classic texts, as well as specific accounts we will treat as case studies. The second half of the quarter will be devoted to exploring more fully the ways deviance is constructed in everyday life, paying attention to how certain social groups are subject to labels more so than others and how images of these groups are presented in society.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
Exams, Journal, Visual Essay Project
