SOC 210 Introduction to Sociology
Group Dynamics and Personal Deviance
Assignment: You are to write a short paper (5-6 pages) describing a situation in which you were considered
“deviant” by others. You are required to utilize at least 10 sociological terms from class texts and lectures.
Put all terms used in bold type and define each term. Place definitions in parentheses; quote from the text or
state definitions in your own words. Be sure each term is used in an appropriate manner. The paper is worth
10% (120 points) of your final grade.
Disclaimer: Deviance is relative and does not necessarily entail criminal activity. Do not describe any criminal
deviance in which you may have engaged. I don’t want to know about your crimes, and you don’t want to put
them in writing.
Paper Outline
Your paper must address each section outlined below. The bold words represent terms that must be included
in your paper. Refer to Chapters 3, 4, 5, and 6 in the text as well as lectures for terms and definitions.
1. Group Norm Violations
Begin the paper by discussing the nature of your group membership. Is the group a 1) primary or
secondary group? 2) In-group or out-group? What is your 3) status and 4) role in relation to the group?
The particular 5) norm you violated should be addressed next. Focus on deviance that applies to group
practices or values, such as appearance folkways (hair styles, fashion, etc.), group tastes (music, foods,
etc.) activities (sports, hobbies, etc.) and beliefs (religion, politics, etc.).
2. Group Response to Deviance
In this part, address how the group reacted to your norm violation. What were the 6) negative sanctions
and/or positive sanctions for deviance? Were the sanctions 7) formal or informal? What kinds of
pressure for group conformity did you experience?
3. Your Response to Group Pressure
Conclude your paper by discussing whether or not you continued the deviant behavior. Did you leave the
group or stop the deviant behavior? Would you characterize your behavior as 8) primary, secondary, or
tertiary deviance? Which 9) techniques of neutralization did you use or could apply to your experience?
See the Everyday Sociology blog for further discussion of techniques of neutralization.
http://www.everydaysociologyblog.com/2008/10/techniques-of-n.html
4. Application of Theory of Deviance
Which 10) theory of deviance: structural strain theory, labeling theory, differential association theory,
control theory, or conflict theory (choose only ONE) best applies to your situation? Explain why you think
this theory is most applicable.
Formatting and Submission Requirements
Any additional sources consulted in preparing this assignment must be cited using American Psychological
Association (APA) format. Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Papers must:
• Be typed and double spaced using 1 inch margins and 12 point Arial or Times New Roman font.
• Include a single-spaced heading with the student’s name, course and section number, assignment
name and date of submission in the upper right corner.
• Be submitted through TurnItIn on the Moodle course page by 11:55 pm on March 28th. Late
submissions will not be accepted.
ScholarMatic: Explanation & Answer
Your ready answer from a verified tutor is just a click away for as little as $14.99
Click Order Now to get 100% Original Answer Customized to your instructions!
