Social Deviance Final

Sexual orientation ranges along a continuum and is influenced by..

biopsychosocial factor

About ____ of persons self-identify as L, G, B, or T

7%

Is homosexuality deviant?

Increasing societal tolerance; violation of sexual norms?

Higher rates of those who feel homosexuality is an

acceptable lifestyle, efforts by activist groups, procreation (nope) (ideal) family norms? Condemnation from others? sanctions? Yes, historically

Master role

A master role determines characteristics that are so important to an individual that he or she begins to identify with the role and to organize other roles around it. The individual may eventually develop a deviant self-conception through selective identification with the deviant role out of the many roles that he or she plays. “alcoholic” “criminal”

Formal Social Control

Agents of social control, external sanctions

Pos: awards, $, employee of the month

Neg: Fines, prison, shunning, revoke license, suspension

Informal Social Control

Interpersonal relations, shape behavior through: socialization of norms.

Pos: encouragement, gesture, shout-out, praise, looks

Neg: Withhold affection, ridicule, damage reputation, criticize, gossip

Subculture

groups with norms, values, etc. that differ from the dominant culture

Vandalism

Vandalism is almost exclusively a crime of juvenile offenders,

vandals world-wide target similar property: schools and their contents; public property, such as park equipment, road signs, and fountains; cars; vacant houses and other buildings

Most vandals have no criminal orientation, conceiving of their acts more as “pranks” or “raising hell” Often stealing nothing, a vandal’s limited actions reinforce this self-conception as prankster, not delinquent

Likewise, graffiti painted and scrawled on walls and public places require expensive measures to remove it

Anomie

The way a society is (dis)organized promotes deviance among some by making it a more viable choice…American Dream (goal), $$$ (means)

anomie (social disorder):

results when people possess varying levels of legitimate means/opportunities to attain culturally valued goals; those with fewer means may develop lesser goals or: conform and go with the rituals, rebel-try to change the social structure, be innovative (illigitimately) to attain goals, or retreat into addictions or mental illness

conflict theory

those in power (bourgeoise) create rules/norms that define “deviance” as acts that threaten their interests; focus on crime

labeling theory (aka interactionist perspective)

focus on society’s reaction to deviant acts: social control agents create/trigger deviance, the (primary) deviant is treated differently, perceives the label and conforms to expectations…assumes the role and becomes a secondary deviant

Control theory

Assumes all are naturally driven to deviate; deviance negatively correlates with social control, social integration/bond (affected by attachment, commitment, involvement, belief, personal self-control (a result of effective parenting))

Learning/socialization theory

Conformation and deviance are learned behaviors

White collar crime

Occupational

- Crime committed by a person of respectable status (professionals)

● Not dependent on violence

● Health care fraud, money laundering, ponzi scheme, identity theft

● Investigated by FBI, SEC, IRS

● 30 year old white males (average) highly skilled/educated and plan their offeneses

Corporate crime

Business executives exploit grey areas (e.g. Enron/Arthur Anderson) for financial gain.

use of capitalized gains to artificially inflate income statement

Sell company stock before expected downturn

Executives enjoy “fringe benefits” billed to company

Corporate crimes against:

1) consumers: unsafe/faulty products (ford pinto)

2) owners/stockholders: falsify financial reports, sales records; increase of tecno-crime

3) employees: unsafe working conditions

4) Community: pollute the environment, double-bill payer sources

Organized crime

“families” operate both legitimate and illegitimate businesses in a defined area

Steady shifting activities reflect effective responses to meet the needs/desires of the public jobs, goods, and services

Organized crime illegal activities

gambling (numbers games, sports betting)

racketeering/extortion

drugs

loan sharking (usery)

Prostitution (pornography, human trafficking)/Stealing & reselling goods

Hijacking/stealing

Harm reduction for D&A abuse

control supply: minimize drug imports; more laws vs. medical response: decriminalize drugs, put enforcement $ into treatment

Control demand: stiffer sanctions to deter sales/use; effective interventions

Primary intervention for D&A abuse

Primary: prevention seeks to reduce number of cases; warn off drug dealers & consequences, equip with skills to just say “no”

Secondary intervention for D&A abuse

intervenes; assess and treat; minimizes intensity & duration of problem (e.g. outpatient therapy, self-help groups, NA)

Address interpersonal and vocational skills; (re)learn non-addict roles; provide support…boost selfj-esteem

Tertiary intervention for D&A abuse

Treatment after problem is fully developed (e.g. impatient, “28-day” programs)

Motivation and length of treatment positively correlate with success

normative definition of deviance

deviance as a violation of a norm, a standard about “what human beings should or should not think, say, or do under given circumstances”

Risk factors for child abuse

larger family size

low household income; nonbiological, transient caregivers in the home

Parent characteristics: young, single; minimal education & support from others; past maltreatment, DA, ACE’s

suicide rates:  increase or decrease with age?

increase in developed countries

suicide rates:  increase or decrease within the last 20 years in the U.S.?

increase

__% (in U.S.) have a disability,

14%

those who have a disability are more likely to be

older, southern, minority, lower education, & income

Percentage of adults in the U.S. with a disability were _____ as likely to be unemployed and below the poverty level

twice

Special programs faced by

disabled people (NO) persons with physical disabilities

Stigma

recognized primarily by their socially undesirable trait…master role

Assumptions that those with physical disabilities have..

mental, emotional, etc. disabilities also (halo effect make assumptions about people based on first impulse)

Those with physical disabilities denied access to _________ which therefore limits their…

life choices

People focus on the disability rather than

different ability

People with physical disabilities

are pitied or sensationalized, more likely to smoke or be obese, may go through stages of grief/loss

Is having a physical disability deviant?

condemnation from others? Sanctions?

discomfort → avoidance → isolation/segregation

Persons that are blind are often relegated to beggers

Judgement: the disability is punishment for past sin, your choices brought this on (obesity, AIDs, not wearing a helmet or seatbelt etc.)

is having a physical disability a violation of..

appearance norms?: cultural variability (e.g. weight, old age, feminine beauty)

Secondary deviance (role adaptation) results from

ongoing treatment by society and reinforcement from subculture

Disabilities are more or less severe, visible, known

Disabilities impair more or less function

Disabilities bring more or less societal reaction

Total, legal (20/200 w/ connection in best eye) or..

functional blindness

Intellectual disability

deficits in intellectual and adaptive function

1% or population; M:F ratio of 1.5:1

Physical disabilities

Unable to meet societal values of independence/achievement

Obesity

Stigma focuses on blame for own condition

Stereotypes

Simplify non-deviant societal reactions to disability

Reactions by people with disabilities:

Pass- try to fit in with mainstream, deny impairment

Normalization/coping- “I’m different but that ‘s okay. Here’s how I fit in…”

Dissociation- learn that rejection brings pain → avoid, withdraw

Advocacy groups

legalization-increase awareness of issues/problems; promote inclusion

MDA, The Arc, Special Olympics

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (1975)

Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)

Prevalence of mental disorders in the U.S.

23% (2022) will experience a mental disorder in any given year (45% comorbidity) nearly 50% in lifetime

Societal reaction to mental disorders

Increased awareness = more identification, stigma/labeling, fear of violence

Sanctions: avoid, discriminate, limit freedoms, etc.

More responsible for mental disorder than those with physical disability(ies)?

Cause (“from etiology comes treatment”)

historically - evil spirits, moral wrongdoing, etc.

Organic - genetics, brain chemistry/structure changes, etc.

Functional/environmental - disordered thinking, life events, stressors, etc.

Schizophrenia (B&C causes)

1% of population, typical onset in young adulthood, chronic

Over-diagnosed in African-America with severe depression

Bipolar disorder

manic and depressive episodes, 2.6% prevalence

manic in bipolar disorder

a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood and abnormally and persistently increased goal-directed activity or energy causing marked impairment in [function]

Diagnosis and determining deviance

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) “…a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior…usually associated with significant distress or disability in social, occupational, or other important activities…”

Not: socially deviant behavior and conflicts between individual and society, an expectable or culturally approved response to a common stressor or loss

Diagnosis and determining deviance: statistically infrequent

pattern of behavior

Diagnosis and determining deviance: Violates social norms/behavioral expectations

does motivation for or setting of the behavior explain it?

Diagnoses are more common among

lower socioeconomic status (esp. SMI)

younger people

unmarried

Men: substance abuse, paraphilias (sexual nature) childhood, antisocial disorders

Women: depression, anxiety, eating disorders

Those with high stress…

and minimal coping skills (ability to anticipate and react to environmental demands, social role changes)

Eating disorders

Anorexia Nervosa (BMI < 17), Bulimia Nervosa (Binge-purge): distorted self-image

Eating disorders are more common among

90% female; commonly

• athletes, models

• young, white, affluent, dislike bodies

• developed countries

• conceal

Socialization of eating disorders

overly concerned with appearance, dieting, exercise; eating = loss of control = guilt/low self-esteem

Media: “thin is in”

Fashion: double-standard for women

Associating appearance/youthful looks with success, worth, etc.

Barbie: change your body image, not your body

Social control of mental disorders

fear social stigma

lack insurance, awareness, belief it will help

From mental hospitals (occupancy peaked in 1955) to..

community-based services…shift in focus from custodial care to treatment

Deinstitutionalization movement

Thorazine, etc.

Questions re: effectiveness and patient treatment “being sane in insane places” by Rosenhan (1973)