SY2003:04
Deviance, Difference and Social Control
Townsville, Cairns
HECS Band 1
26 hours lectures, 24 hours tutorials. Semester 1.
Staff: Dr M Bendle.
A wide variety of behaviour has been or is considered deviant, for example, murder, prostitution, drunkenness, homosexuality, women wearing trousers and men wearing earrings. This subject explores why there are variations in acceptable social behaviour over time and in different cultures. It analyses the major institutions and agents used to exercise social control in Australian society. Various explanatory sociological theories will be examined.
Learning Objectives:
- discuss ‘deviance’ and ‘social control’ as sociological concepts and use the terms appropriately;
- demonstrate an understanding of the relativity of ‘deviance’ over time and across different societies and the processes involved in defining and containing ‘deviant’ behaviour;
- distinguish between selected social theories as they are applied to the analysis of ‘deviance’ and ‘difference’, and critically assess their strengths and weaknesses;
- apply a critical sociological approach to analysis of current behaviour defined as ‘deviant’ and to social problems in this area.
Assessment by essay/assignment (30%); tutorial presentation/assignment (20%); examination (50%).