SOC 210 - Chapter 7: Deviance, Crime and Social Control

Deviance

William Graham Sumner

Violation of established or enforced social norms.(Can be deviant but not illegal and vice versa!)

Informal Sanctions

Emerge in face to face interactions

Positive Informal and Negative Informal

Formal Sanctions

Officially recognize and enforce norm violation

Positive Formal and Negative Formal

Functionalist view on deviance

Key component of a functioning society

The Essential Nature of Deviance

Emile Durkheim

Challenges existing social views

When punished, reaffirms current norms

• Size of society impacts punishment (Industrial = small punishment, Small = large)

Strain Theory

Robert Merton, Expansion on Durkheims Essential Nature

Access to societally acceptable goals plays big part in whether someone deviates or conforms

5 ways people respond to gap in opportunity

5 Parts of Strain Theory

Conformity, Innovation, Ritualism, Retreatism, Rebellion

Innovation - Strain Theory

Reach goals through deviance

Ritualism - Strain Theory

Lower goals until they can be met through conformity

Retreatism - Strain Theory

Reject societies goals, no goals

Rebellion - Strain Theory

Replace a societies means and goals with their own

Conformity - Strain Theory

Attain goals to best of ability through conforming

Social Disorganization Theory

Crime more likely in communities with less social ties

Conflict Theory view on deviance

Conflict Theory posits that deviance arises from social conflict and inequality, where those in power define deviant behavior to maintain control over marginalized groups.

An Unequal System

Karl Marx

Bourgeois(control production means) vs Proletariat(labour)

• Bourgeois control government and expand power

The Power Elite

C. Wright Mills(book)

Small group of wealthy and influential people at the top of society controlling everything

Decisions of this group affect everybody, manipulate to stay in power

Symbolic Interactionist view on deviance

How people and societies come to view certain behaviors as deviant

Labelling Theory

Ascribing of deviant behavior onto a person or group, causes them to label themselves deviant. Self fulfilling prophecy

What is deviant determined by reaction to behavior, not actual behavior

Two types of Deviance Affecting Identity Formation

Expansion on Labelling Theory, by Edwin Lemert

Primary and Secondary Deviance

Primary Deviance

Deviance not resulting in any long lasting effects, ie. speeding ticket

• Can become secondary deviance!

Secondary Deviance

Deviance causing life long self concept/behavior changes. Self fulfilling prophecy.

• Master Status

Master Status

Can come from secondary deviance

Chief characteristics of individuals

Techniques of Neutralization

Sykes and Mata - 5 ways people deal with the labels they are given

Denial of responsibility, Denial of injury, Denial of the victim, Condemnation of Condemners, Appeal to a Higher Authority

Denial of the Victim - Neutralization Techniques

Claiming there was no victim

Differential Association Theory

Edwin Sutherland

concept that suggests deviance is learned through interaction with others.

Control Theory

Travis Hirschi

Social control directly affected by strength of social bonds. Lack of bonds = more deviance

4 types of social connections

Control Theory - 4 types of Social Connections

Attachment, commitment, involvement, belief

Attachment - Control Theory

bonds with others, emotional

Commitment - Control Theory

the investment individuals make in conventional activities and goals, which can deter them from deviance.

Involvement - Control Theory

the participation in conventional activities that limits opportunities for deviance.

Belief - Control Theory

the acceptance of social norms and values that constrain deviant behavior.

Types of Crime

Violent, Nonviolent, Street, Victimless, Hate, Corporate.

Self Report Study

US Bureau of Justice, Voluntary response

Levels of Police

Federal, State, Local/County

Levels of Court

Federal, State(Trial, Appellate, State Supreme)

Levels of Trial Court

Traffic/Small Claims

Criminal(goes up to higher levels if guilty)

Difference between Prison and Jail

Prison sentence longer than 1 year, Jail temporary and awaiting trial

Parole

Temporary release from prison/jail, requires supervision of officials

Probation

Supervised time, alternative to prison

Three Strike Laws

Harsh cocaine law, long sentences for repeat offenders who commit three or more serious crimes.

Civil Forfeiture

Seizing of cash before conviction. Harsh cocaine law

The term crime can be defined as:

A behavior that violates official law and is punishable through formal sanctions.

In first grade, Scott is unfairly singled out by his teacher for bad behavior, partly because his older brothers had behavioral problems themselves. Throughout grade school, Scott gains a reputation as a "problem" child. Scott eventually drops out of school, thinking he was born to fail anyway. Which school of thought best fits Scott's experience?

Labeling theory

Which theorist studied the power elite, and the influence they had over society?

C. Wright Mills