ABSTRACT
Deviance and social control are embedded in everyday life. For sociologists, the concept of deviance encompasses any behaviour subject to regulation and control, that is, transgresses social norms; activities that contravene criminal laws are just one example. The sociology of deviance seeks to understand deviance as a social process: how is deviance defined, who sets and enforces rules, and why do some people challenge those rules, or deviate, or are perceived as deviating, from them? Alcohol-use, or eating and drinking, are not intrinsically deviant, but they are under certain circumstances or in particular locations, or when certain people or groups engage in those behaviours. This chapter provides an overview of the interconnections between deviance and social control by examining broad theoretical approaches and drawing on contemporary Australian examples. The focus is on the behaviour and activities of individuals or groups, not on the individuals or groups that might be labelled deviant per se. The chapter concludes by considering the value and continuing relevance of the concept of deviance; an umbrella term that encompasses diverse behaviour, activities, and situations.
