Social Control and Deviance

These flashcards cover key concepts related to social control and deviance as discussed in the lecture notes.

What is social deviance?

Social deviance refers to behaviors, beliefs, or conditions that violate societal norms.

What is informal deviance?

Informal deviance is behavior that goes against social norms but is not codified into law.

What is crime?

Crime is defined as behavior that violates formal laws and is punishable by the state.

What is social control?

Social control refers to the mechanisms, strategies, and institutions that regulate individual behavior to maintain social order.

What are formal social sanctions?

Formal social sanctions are established rules or laws that govern behavior and are enforced by official authorities.

What are informal social sanctions?

Informal social sanctions are unwritten rules and expectations that guide behavior in society.

What is social cohesion?

Social cohesion is the bonds that bring members of a society together, facilitating cooperation and conformity.

What is mechanical or segmental solidarity?

Mechanical solidarity is social cohesion based on shared beliefs and values in a society; typical of pre-industrial societies.

What is organic solidarity?

Organic solidarity is social cohesion based on the interdependence of specialized roles in a society; often seen in industrialized societies.

What is social integration?

Social integration refers to the process by which individuals from different backgrounds become part of a cohesive society.

What is social regulation?

Social regulation refers to the norms and rules that dictate the boundaries of acceptable behavior in society.

What is egoistic suicide?

Egoistic suicide occurs when individuals feel detached from society and have a lack of social ties.

What is altruistic suicide?

Altruistic suicide occurs when individuals are overly integrated into social groups, leading them to sacrifice themselves for the group.

What is anomie?

Anomie is a state of normlessness where societal norms are unclear or not present, leading to confusion and dissatisfaction.

What is anomic suicide?

Anomic suicide occurs when individuals feel disconnected due to a lack of social regulation or changes in societal norms.

What is fatalistic suicide?

Fatalistic suicide occurs when individuals experience excessive regulation and feel oppressed by societal constraints.

What is strain theory?

Strain theory posits that society sets culturally approved goals and socially acceptable means to achieve them; when individuals cannot achieve goals, it can lead to deviance.

What is a conformist?

A conformist is an individual who accepts both societal goals and the prescribed means to achieve them.

What is a ritualist?

A ritualist is an individual who abandons societal goals but continues to rigidly adhere to the accepted means.

What is an innovator?

An innovator is an individual who accepts societal goals but rejects the means to achieve them, often resorting to deviance.

What is a retreatist?

A retreatist is an individual who rejects both societal goals and the means to achieve them, often withdrawing from society.

What is a rebel?

A rebel is an individual who rejects both the established societal goals and means, seeking to create their own set of alternatives.

What is labeling theory?

Labeling theory posits that individuals become deviant when labeled as such by society.

What is primary deviance?

Primary deviance refers to the initial act of rule-breaking that may not result in labeling.

What is secondary deviance?

Secondary deviance occurs when a person begins to take on the label of deviant as a result of being labeled.

What is stigma?

Stigma is a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.

What is street crime?

Street crime refers to criminal offenses that occur in public places and typically involve direct harm to individuals.

What is white-collar crime?

White-collar crime encompasses non-violent financial crimes committed for monetary gain during the course of a legitimate business.

What is corporate crime?

Corporate crime refers to illegal actions committed by corporate entities or their representatives while pursuing business interests.

What is deterrence theory?

Deterrence theory posits that the threat of punishment will discourage individuals from committing crimes.

What is recidivism?

Recidivism refers to the tendency of previously incarcerated individuals to re-offend and return to criminal behavior.

What is a total institution?

A total institution is an organization where individuals reside and are isolated from society, leading to a change in identity.

What is the Panopticon?

The Panopticon is a design for a prison created by Jeremy Bentham where inmates are always visible to a central watchtower.

What is the U.S. Criminal Justice System?

The U.S. Criminal Justice System encompasses the institutions and processes by which crime is identified, prosecuted, and punished.