This unit looks at the contributions that culture, social structures and interpersonal relationships make to the formation of normal and deviant identities and behaviours in contemporary society. In addition to undertaking an analysis of competing theoretical perspectives of deviance and identity, you will be given the opportunity to explore key debates and controversies related to identified forms of deviant behaviour. You will also be required to compare and contrast beliefs and attitudes toward the major forms of personal deviance with focus on current formal and informal responses and practices. Special attention will be given to behaviours that are thought to be wild, risky, unacceptable or dangerous including: drug and alcohol use, sexual deviance, offensive behaviours, such as offensive humour and swearing, and body modification practices. You will be provided opportunities to consider questions such as, ‘is ‘being bad’ a form of resistance to, or a symptom of, a culture that has commodified deviant identities and can ‘bad behaviour’ ever be good? The unit will draw on a range of theoretical perspectives in Sociology and Cultural Studies and also use examples from The Arts, Philosophy, and Religious Studies.

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from SUTE Personal reflection

Tutorial engagement was often low and the discussion sometimes lacked direction.

Make tutorials more structured, with set discussion activities and time allocated to help with assessment preparation.

Feedback from SUTE Personal reflection

Amount of learning materials and mixed modality of delivery was overwhelming for some students.

The unit coordinator will signpost the essential and optional resources better in 2024 and provide summary sheets of key take-home learning outcomes for each week.

Feedback from Personal reflection Discussion with colleagues

Students submitted three focus questions for Assessment 1 but only two were marked summatively with accompanying feedback.

Students will be required to submit only two focus questions in 2024.