Outsiders

Howard S. Becker's book Outsiders (1963) is a foundational work in the sociology of deviance. It proposes that deviance is not an inherent quality of an act but rather a social construct created by group interactions. Becker argued that deviance arises when social groups create rules and then label individuals as "outsiders" when those rules are broken.12

The theory suggests that society's reaction to an act is crucial in defining it as deviant. This labeling process can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy, where individuals internalize the deviant label and continue to engage in such behaviors. Becker's work shifted the focus from the individual's actions to the social processes and power dynamics involved in defining and responding to deviance.21