MCAT Basics (from MedSchoolCoach) Social Norms & Deviance
16 snips
Feb 3, 2026 Explore the intriguing world of social norms and deviance. Discover how folkways, mores, and taboos shape societal values, and learn about anomie, the breakdown of these norms. Delve into collective behaviors like fads and mass hysteria, exemplified by the famous Orson Welles broadcast. Analyze different theories explaining deviance, including labeling and strain theory, and observe how weak community ties influence crime. This engaging discussion connects theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios, making it highly relevant and thought-provoking.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Labels Can Create Deviant Identities
- Labeling theory argues deviance arises from society labeling acts or people as deviant.
- Labels can produce secondary deviance by causing individuals to internalize a deviant identity.
Deviance Is Learned From Others
- Differential association says deviance is learned through interactions and observation of others.
- People adopt deviant behaviors when they see peers model and rationalize them.
Strain From Blocked Goals Fuels Deviance
- Strain theory posits social structures pressure disadvantaged people toward deviance to achieve goals.
- Deviance can function to challenge norms and prompt social change from a functionalist view.
