Sociology 1027: Deviance, Law, and Crime

Symbolic Interactionism

Theory focusing on individual interactions shaping society.

Social Construction

Process of creating shared meanings through interactions.

Sociological Imagination

Understanding personal troubles in societal context.

Functionalist Perspective

Analyzes social functions and stability in society.

Conflict Perspective

Focuses on social struggles and power dynamics.

Feminist Perspective

Examines gender inequalities and societal roles.

Macro Analysis

Study of large-scale social processes and structures.

Meso Analysis

Focus on intermediate social groups and organizations.

Micro Analysis

Examination of small-scale interactions among individuals.

Thomas Theorem

Interpretation of situations influences behavior outcomes.

Deviance

Behavior that violates societal norms and expectations.

Social Norms

Rules governing acceptable behavior in society.

Inequality

Unequal distribution of resources and opportunities.

Upper-Class Symbolism

Behaviors indicating membership in affluent social groups.

Dish with One Spoon Covenant

Agreement promoting shared resource use among nations.

London Township Treaty

Historical agreement with Indigenous peoples in 1796.

Haudenosaunee

Indigenous confederacy in North America, known as Iroquois.

Anishinaabek

Indigenous peoples in Canada and the United States.

Lūnaapéewak

Indigenous group from the Delaware Valley region.

Chonnonton Peoples

Indigenous group historically located in southwestern Ontario.

Social Patterns

Recurring behaviors and trends observed in society.

Social Construction

Process of forming meanings and identities in society.

Thomas Theorem

Definition of situations influences their real consequences.

Labelling Theory

Initial beliefs about individuals affect long-term outcomes.

Deviance

Acts that violate accepted social standards.

Stigmatization

Labeling individuals leads to unjust treatment.

Rosenhan Study

Illustrates impact of mental illness labels on perception.

Social Interaction

Knowledge is derived from interactions among individuals.

Cultural Norms

Shared standards that define acceptable behavior in society.

Social Standards

Criteria that dictate normal and deviant behavior.

Macro Level Labelling

Labelling effects observed in large social structures.

Meso Level Labelling

Labelling effects seen in community or organizational contexts.

Micro Level Labelling

Labelling effects experienced in personal interactions.

Vicious Cycle of Labelling

Labeling leads to crime, reinforcing the deviant identity.

Institutional Reinforcement

Organizations uphold or challenge societal labels and stereotypes.

Power Dynamics

Authority influences who gets labelled as deviant.

Common Sense Knowledge

Everyday understanding shaped by social interactions.

Boundary Enforcement

Society clarifies right and wrong through deviance.

Perception of Reality

Individual views shaped by social interactions.

Social Roles

Expected behaviors associated with particular societal labels.

Cultural Values

Beliefs that guide behavior and define deviance.

Consequences of Labelling

Labels can lead to marginalization and exclusion.

Deviant Behavior

Actions that diverge from societal norms.

Deviance

Behavior that violates societal norms.

Social Change

Alteration of societal norms and values.

Kendrick Lamar & Drake Beef

Conflict highlighting authenticity and morality in hip hop.

Authenticity

Genuine representation within a cultural context.

Honour

Respecting traditions and cultural values.

Morality

Ethical considerations regarding behavior.

Symbolic Interactionism

Communication through symbols shapes societal interactions.

Conflict Lens

Focus on power dynamics in societal issues.

Functionalist Lens

Examines societal functions and structures.

Feminist Lens

Analyzes gender inequalities and their societal impact.

Strain Theory

Mismatch between societal goals and means.

Subcultural Theory

Distinct norms within subcultures differ from mainstream.

Milgram Experiment

Study on obedience to authority figures.

Stanford Prison Experiment

Research on situational influences on behavior.

Social Situations

Contextual factors influencing individual behavior.

Individual Explanations

Focus on personal traits for criminal behavior.

Social Explanations

Emphasis on societal influences on behavior.

Labelling Theory

Societal labels affect individual identity and behavior.

Stigmatization

Negative labeling leading to social exclusion.

Cultural Unity

Solidarity among groups based on shared identity.

Deviant Art Form

Art that challenges mainstream cultural norms.

Social Norms

Accepted standards of behavior within a society.

Learning Theory

Knowledge shaped by environmental influences.

Control Theory

Behavior influenced by social ties and beliefs.

Crime Rates

Variations in crime based on social groups.

Age and Crime

Most crimes committed by ages 16-30.

Gender and Crime

Women account for 25% of Canadian crime.

Ethnicity and Crime

Crime rates linked to poverty and education.

Crime Severity Index (CSI)

Weights offenses by court sentence severity.

Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Survey

Collects data on reported criminal incidents.

Crime Rate Measurement

Measured as incidents per 100,000 population.

Unfounded Sexual Assault Claims

High rates may indicate police resource issues.

Racial Disproportionate Incarceration

Higher incarceration rates among racial minorities.

Human Rights Concerns

Issues related to treatment of prisoners.

Prison History in the US

Historical context explains current incarceration patterns.

Racial Profiling

Discriminatory practice based on race.

Dee Brown Case

Impaired driving charge linked to racial profiling.

Masai Ujiri Incident

Accosted by police based on racial bias.

Perceptions of Police

Public attitudes towards police treatment of races.

Black Respondents' Attitudes

76% in 1994 felt police treated them worse.

Change Over Time

81% of Black respondents felt worse treatment in 2007.

Interpersonal vs Technical Matters

Negative perceptions differ between interactions and procedures.

Social Environment Impact

Crime influenced by exposure to dysfunction and gangs.

Use of Force

Percentage of police interactions involving physical force.

Black Population in Toronto

8.9% of Toronto's total population.

Police Stops

Black individuals less likely to be informed.

Use of Force Percentage

28.8% of police interactions involve force.

Civil Death Rate

61.5% of force incidents result in death.

Police Shootings

36% of police encounters involve shootings.

Civil Death from Shootings

70% of police shootings result in death.

Black Contact with Police

Higher levels of stop and search incidents.

Racial Inequalities

COVID-19 highlighted systemic racial disparities.

Black Lives Matter Movement

Challenges systemic anti-Blackness over 10 years.

Social Constructs of Crime

Crimes defined by societal values and policies.

Changing Laws

Laws evolve to reflect societal value shifts.

LGBTQ Relationships

Acceptance reflected in changing marriage laws.

Sociological Perspective on Deviance

Broader view beyond cultural biases and stigma.