Deviance, Theories, Homicide, and Domestic Violence (Ch 1-5)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the lecture notes.

Normative perspective

A view of deviance defined as violations of generally accepted social norms.

Situational perspective

A view that deviance depends on the social context—when and where it occurs.

Conformist

Behaviors that fit normative and situational expectations and are accepted.

Deviant behavior

Actions that contravene social norms or norms in a given situation; defined by culture and social context.

Culture

Widely shared customs and values of a group.

Social organization

How a society is arranged to function among individuals, groups, and institutions.

Social norms

Expected standards of behavior that guide social interaction.

Social roles

Positions or statuses that individuals occupy in society.

Expectational norms

Behavioral norms that guide expected conduct.

Folkways

A mild norm shaping casual interactions.

Mores

A norm that structures the difference between right and wrong.

Taboo

A strong negative norm whose violation elicits extreme disgust or condemnation.

Law

A norm formally inscribed at state or federal level.

Patterned deviance

Deviance that repeats in patterned ways across society.

Unusual deviance

Deviance that is idiosyncratic or unusual.

Positive deviance

Nonconformity that yields positive outcomes.

Negative deviance

Deviance with negative consequences for individuals or society.

Innovative deviance

Innovation: combining two or more concepts in a new way—may be negative or positive.

Positive innovative deviance

Innovative deviance that yields positive outcomes.

Routine deviance

Deviant acts that are more common and involve little thought or planning.

Individual deviance

Deviance committed by a single offender.

Group deviance

Deviance that involves a group; may be planned or spontaneous.

Organized crime

Criminal activity requiring networks and organizational complexity.

Gang violence

Violence typically associated with gangs; often less organized.

Episodic deviance

Occasional, isolated nonconformity to social norms.

Chronic deviance

A pattern of behavior where deviance is ongoing and persistent.

Inherently deviant behavior

Acts like murder, rape, robbery that are deviant in most contexts.

Social characteristics in deviance

Involves the actor, the victim, and the context.

Societal response

Public condemnation and use of formal/informal controls (e.g., justice system) in response to deviance.

Master status

A dominant label (e.g., felon) that shapes social identity.

Looking-glass self

Self-concept formed through how others perceive us (Cooley/Mead).

Primary deviance

Initial deviance not yet labeled or defined by society.

Secondary deviance

Deviance that results from societal labeling and reactions.

Reintegrative shaming

Braithwaite: disapproval that preserves respect for the person, aiding reintegration.

Attachment (Hirschi)

Emotional/social ties that deter crime; the stronger the attachment, the less crime.

Commitment (Hirschi)

Investment in conventional activities and goals.

Involvement (Hirschi)

Time and energy spent on conventional activities; reduces crime opportunities.

Belief (Hirschi)

Acceptance of conventional morals and norms.

General theory of crime

Hirschi & Gottfredson: lack of self-control, not social bonds, drives most crimes.

Self-control

Ability to restrain impulses; central to the General Theory of Crime.

Differential association (Sutherland)

Learning criminal behavior occurs through interactions with deviants.

Definitions (Akers)

Perceived good/bad definitions that justify or condemn behavior.

Differential reinforcement (Akers)

Rewards or punishments that affect the likelihood of repeating a behavior.

Imitation (Akers)

Modeling behaviors after admired others.

Differential associations (Sutherland) vs. Social learning (Akers)

Both: deviant behavior learned through social interaction; social learning adds reinforcement and definitions.

Routine activities theory

Crime results when a motivated offender, a suitable target, and lack of guardianship converge.

Target hardening

Strategies to make potential targets less attractive to offenders.

Crime displacement

Crime moves to different times/places if opportunities are blocked.

Anomie

A state of normlessness from a disjunction between goals and means.

Merton’s modes of adaptation

Conformity, Innovation, Ritualism, Retreatism, Rebellion.

Concentric Zone Model (Shaw & McKay)

Urban zones from center to suburbs; crime patterns vary by zone.

Zone 2 (Transitional zone)

Immigrants, poverty, high mobility; high disorder and crime risk.

Walter Miller’s focal concerns

Trouble, Toughness, Smartness, Excitement, Fate, Autonomy as key lower-class concerns.

Sykes & Matza techniques of neutralization

Pleas of guilt overcome by rationalizations like denial of responsibility or victim.

Code of the Street (Anderson)

Urban code emphasizing respect and self-protection in place of formal authority.

Chicago School

Sociological approach emphasizing social disorganization and cultural transmission in explaining crime.

Concentric Zone Model zones

Zone 1: CBD; Zone 2: Transitional; Zone 3: Working class; Zone 4: Residential; Zone 5: Commuter.

Shaw & McKay’s cultural transmission theory

Deviant values are learned and passed through generations in neighborhoods.

Subculture of Violence (Wolfgang & Ferracuti)

Violence is a learned norm in certain subcultures.

Victim-precipitated homicide (Wolfgang)

Homicide where the victim initiates the confrontation.

Homicide definitions

Criminal homicide: intentional killing without justification; Justifiable: self-defense, war; Excusable: accidental.

Murder and manslaughter

Criminal homicide with/without premeditation and malice; first/second degree distinctions.

Assault and battery

Assault: attempt or threat of bodily harm; Battery: actual physical contact.

Gun-related homicide

Homicides involving firearms; high in the U.S. compared to many developed nations.

Global homicide patterns

Higher rates in Africa/Americas; regional variation linked to poverty, violence, and development.

Age, gender, race patterns in homicide

Young males highest risk; males more often offenders; black-on-black and white-on-white predominance by race.

Victim–offender relationships in homicide

Most homicides involve people who know each other; many victims are family or friends.

Age-graded theory (Sampson & Laub)

Criminal behavior changes with life-course social bonds and experiences.

Social integration vs social regulation (Merton)

Integration binds individuals to values; regulation imposes guidelines on behavior.

Social disorganization (Wilson)

Concentration of poverty and weak social institutions escalate crime risk.

Strain theory (Agnew)

Deviant behavior results from strain and blocked goals, producing negative emotions.

Denial of injury (neutralization)

Justification that minimizes harm or shifts blame away from offender.

Drift and control theories overview

Different theories explaining why individuals refrain from crime or engage in it at different life stages.

Power Dominance Theory (Straus & Gelles, 1995)

Broad social and structural stress (e.g., lack of jobs, finances, stability) creates conflict in families. When combined with violent childhood experiences, it increases the likelihood of domestic violence.

Feminist/Gender Inequality Theory (Dobash, 1988; Ylio, 1984,

Patriarchy teaches men to use violence to maintain power and control over women. Violence is used as coercive control.

Exchange/Social Control Model (Gelles, 1979)

People abuse others “because they can.” Violence is more likely when rewards outweigh costs, privacy and inequality reduce social controls, and men use violence to assert dominance.

Subculture of Violence (Wolfgang & Ferracuti, 1967)

Customs and norms within certain groups encourage violence as a response to conflict. Children exposed to these values learn violence as acceptable behavior.

Routine Activities Theory (Cohen & Felson, 1979; Gelles, 1994)

Domestic violence occurs when there is a motivated offender (often men), a suitable target (women/children), and a lack of capable guardians (privacy at home).

Strain Theory (Agnew, 1992)

The more strain and negative emotions an individual experiences, the more likely they are to commit domestic violence. Ongoing family conflict sustains emotions like jealousy, rage, and resentment.

Frustration-Aggression Theory (Dollard, 1939)

High levels of frustration increase aggression, which may lead to domestic violence. Family frustration and unmet expectations escalate negative behaviors.

Unreciprocity Theory (Stuart Palmer, 1972)

When relationships lack reciprocity, frustration rises, increasing the likelihood of domestic violence.

Persistence Theory

Abusers maintain control by limiting a partner’s socialization, finances, and childcare resources.

Self-Control Theory (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990)

Individuals with higher self-control are less likely to commit domestic violence. Low self-control traits include impulsivity, risk-taking, and insensitivity.

Social Learning Theory (Akers, 1994)

Violence is learned through association with others, definitions of violence as acceptable, reinforcement (rewards), and imitation. Children model violent behavior seen at home.

Differential Identification Theory (Glasser, 1956)

People are more likely to commit domestic violence if they identify with someone who accepts it as normal, even if they were not directly abused themselves.