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Term4
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Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

Unit aim

Explores the notion of deviance using different sociological perspectives. Students will examine the ways by which morally questionable behaviours come to be defined as deviant, and explore the process by which people, who perform actions perceived as deviant, acquire a certain identity and respond to their label. In particular, students are encouraged to analyse an example of constructed meaning by drawing on the accounts which various people have used to explain their actions.

Unit content

Module 1: What is Deviance?

Module 2: Normative and Labelling theories

Module 3: The Body

Module 4: Criminalisation and Decriminalisation

Module 5: Moral Panic

Module 6: Deviance in Cyberspace

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
1 critically analyse sociological perspectives about the nature of deviance in a changing society
2 identify the formal and informal processes by which people come to be regarded as being deviant in terms of power relations within society
3 recognise the problems and uncertainties which are associated with people being cast as deviant
4 relate an example of contemporary deviant behaviours to processes of personal and societal change.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. critically analyse sociological perspectives about the nature of deviance in a changing society
  2. identify the formal and informal processes by which people come to be regarded as being deviant in terms of power relations within society
  3. recognise the problems and uncertainties which are associated with people being cast as deviant
  4. relate an example of contemporary deviant behaviours to processes of personal and societal change.

Prescribed texts

  • Prescribed text information is not currently available.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.