sociology unit 3 vocab

Deviance

behavior that departs from societal or group norms Example: wearing certain clothes (emo, etc.)

Negative deviance

behavior that underconforms to accepted norms Example: cheating on a test

Positive deviance

behavior that overconforms to social expectations

Social control

ways to encourage conformity to society's norms

Anomie

a social condition in which norms are weak, conflicting, or absent; Example: winning the lottery

Strain theory

the theory that deviance is more likely to occur when a gap exists between cultural goals and the ability to achieve them

Control theory

the theory that compliance with social norms requires strong bonds between individuals and society

Differential association theory

the theory that individuals learn deviance in proportion to the number of deviant acts and norms in which they are exposed

Labeling theory

the theory that society creates deviance by identifying particular members as deviant

Victim discounting

the process of reducing the seriousness of the crimes that injure people of lower status

Social sanctions

rewards or punishments that encourage conformity to social norms

Stigma

an undesirable label that is used to deny a deviant social acceptance

Primary deviance

deviance involving occasional breaking of norms that is not a part of a person's lifestyle or self-concept

Secondary deviance

deviance in which an individual's life and identity are organized around breaking society's norms

White-collar crime

job-related crimes committed by high-status people; Example: embezzlement

Deterrence

discouraging criminal acts by threatening punishment

Incarceration

a method of protecting society from criminals by keeping them in prison

Retribution

punishment intended to make criminals pay compensation for their acts

Rehabilitation

the process of changing or reforming a criminal through socialization

Recidivism

a repetition of, or return to, criminal behavior; Example: stealing from a store after getting out of jail