primary deviance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Technical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “primary deviance” mean?
The initial act of breaking a social rule or norm, before any societal labeling or consequence has occurred.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The initial act of breaking a social rule or norm, before any societal labeling or consequence has occurred.
In sociological labeling theory, the first, often minor or unnoticed, transgression that has not yet been labeled as deviant by society, and thus does not yet define the individual in the eyes of others.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; the term is identical in spelling and use. The conceptual framework is standard in sociology on both sides of the Atlantic.
Connotations
Purely academic and theoretical; carries no additional cultural connotations.
Frequency
Exclusively used in sociology and criminology textbooks, papers, and lectures. Extremely rare in general discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “primary deviance” in a Sentence
Primary deviance + often + goes + unnoticed.The + theory + distinguishes + between + primary deviance + and + secondary deviance.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “primary deviance” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (The term is a noun phrase; not used as a verb.)
American English
- (The term is a noun phrase; not used as a verb.)
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb.)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- (Used attributively as in 'primary deviance theory'.)
American English
- (Used attributively as in 'primary deviance concept'.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in sociology, criminology, and social psychology to describe the first stage in the labeling process of deviant behavior.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary context; used in theoretical discussions of deviance and social control.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “primary deviance”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “primary deviance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “primary deviance”
- Using it as a general synonym for 'main problem' or 'major crime'.
- Confusing it with 'secondary deviance'.
- Using it outside an academic sociological context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It refers to any initial violation of a social norm, which can be minor (e.g., dressing unconventionally) and not necessarily illegal.
It is most associated with the sociologist Edwin Lemert as part of his development of labeling theory in the mid-20th century.
Within the theory, 'deviance' is neutral, meaning 'departure from the norm'. A positive innovation could be technically 'deviant', but the term is overwhelmingly used for negatively perceived rule-breaking.
It highlights that societal reaction, not the act itself, is often what turns a minor transgression into a person's defining 'deviant' identity, influencing future behavior.
The initial act of breaking a social rule or norm, before any societal labeling or consequence has occurred.
Primary deviance is usually technical / academic in register.
Primary deviance: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpraɪməri diːˈvaɪəns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpraɪˌmɛri diˈvaɪəns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(none — a technical term)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PRIMARY comes first, like primary school. PRIMARY DEVIANCE is the first, primary act of stepping out of line.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEVIANCE IS A LABEL APPLIED (The act is neutral until society 'labels' it; primary deviance is the unlabeled seed.)
Practice
Quiz
According to labeling theory, what differentiates 'primary deviance' from 'secondary deviance'?