What is Howard Becker's famous definition of deviance ?
Correct answer: D. deviant behavior is behavior that people so label
- A. deviant behavior is behavior that is labelled so by the law
- B. deviant behavior is that which causes public offence
- C. deviant behavior is that labelled by the perpetrators
- D. deviant behavior is behavior that people so label
Explanation
Howard Becker defined deviance as behaviour that people successfully label as deviant, making social reaction central to the concept. The act itself is not automatically deviant independently of how others define and respond to it.
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