ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Sociology of deviance

Hello there! So, the sociology of deviance is all about how society sees and labels people or actions as "bad" or "wrong".

Imagine you're playing with your friends, and someone does something that your parents told you is not okay, like taking a toy without asking. Your friends might call that person a "meanie" or say they are being "bad". They are labeling that action as deviant.

Now, this happens all the time in the real world too. Society creates rules or norms that everyone is expected to follow. When someone breaks those rules, they are seen as going against what is expected, and we call that deviant behavior.

But here's the thing: what society considers deviant can be different from place to place and from time to time. For example, in some cultures, it's perfectly acceptable to eat bugs, but in others, it's seen as disgusting. In some societies, it's normal to get married at a very young age, but in others, it's considered inappropriate.

So, the sociology of deviance studies how these rules and norms are created and enforced, and how different societies view deviance differently. It also looks at how labels of deviance can affect a person's life and how they are treated by others.

In summary, the sociology of deviance is all about how society decides what is "good" and what is "bad", and how those labels can impact people and their behaviors.