Sociology Study Notes on Deviance, Crime, and Social Control

Updates on Course Activities

  • Extra Credit Opportunities:

    • Participate in studies, detailed information will be shared on BB (Blackboard) tomorrow.

    • RCA survey for Topic 5 is due tomorrow.

Upcoming Class Session Details

  • Next Class:

    • Activities include a video on norm violations; students are encouraged to brainstorm beforehand.

Overview of Deviance, Crime, and Social Control

  • Topic 6

    • Date of discussion: March 3, 2026.

Pre-Class Reading Quiz Insights

  • Question 1:

    • According to George Sumner’s typology on deviance, norms can be categorized into three types based on seriousness of violation:

    • Laws, Mores, Folkways

    • Correct ordering from least serious to most serious: Folkways, Mores, Laws.

  • Question 2:

    • Context of guards' strike at Walpole led to an increase in violence inside the prison.

  • Question 3:

    • Actions by the state after NPRA's self-governance ended would be interpreted by a conflict theorist as:

    • The dominant group using its control over norms and institutions to suppress a challenge to its power.

  • Question 4:

    • Personal experience reflection on cheating:

    • Aiming for an A or C, passing/failing exams, or deciding between graduating on-time or failing out.

Theories of Deviance and Social Control

  • Classical perspectives on deviance arise; explanations can be viewed as:

    • Functionalist

    • Conflict-oriented

    • Macro-level or Micro-level perspectives

    • Positivist (empirical) or Interpretivist (critical)

Defining Deviance

  • What is Deviance?

    • Social deviance is defined as any transgression of socially established norms.

  • iClicker Poll (Examples):

    • Engagement in underage drinking: Responses varied.

    • Cheating on exams: Responses varied.

    • Use of illegal drugs for fun: Varied responses, indicating a spectrum of experiences.

Suicide - A Case Study

  • Durkheim's Famous Example:

    • Suicide stands as a critical focus in studying deviance.

  • Statistics and Data:

    • More than 1,200 individuals have jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge since 1937, with only 26 survivors.

Homicide Rates Globally

  • Comparison of Homicide Rates per 100,000 Population (2012):

    • El Salvador: 92.0

    • Honduras: 85.5

    • Venezuela: 53.7

    • Belize: 44.7

    • Jamaica: 40.6

    • Guatemala: 34.7

    • Swaziland: 33.8

    • Colombia: 33.8

    • USA: 4.7

    • Australia: 1.1

    • UK: 1.0

Causes of Social Deviance

  • Causes include tension between:

    • Structure vs. Agency

Sociological Perspectives on Deviance

  • Key comparative frameworks:

    • Functionalism versus other fields

    • Classic Perspectives utilize:

    • Functionalist

    • Conflict

    • Symbolic Interaction

    • Typologies of Deviance explained:

    • Informal Deviance (non-legal, minor) versus Formal Deviance (legal).

    • Categories from Sumner: Folkways, Mores, Laws.

    • Also impacted by Structural/Cultural Causes, Strain Theory (Merton), Opportunity Theory (Cloward and Ohlin), Societal Imbalances (Durkheim), Labeling Theory (Becker), measures of “correcting” deviance.

Understanding Strain Theory

  • Developed by Merton, whereby anomie leads to lack of consensus regarding:

    • Desired cultural goods

    • Legitimate means of obtaining them

  • Influence of one’s economic conditions on actions, possibly leading to rejection of societal means or goals.

Merton’s Strain Theory Matrix

  • Acceptance of Institutionalized Means: Yes or No

    • Acceptance of Cultural Goals: Yes or No

Accepts Cultural Goals

Yes

No

Accepts

Conformity

Innovation

Institutionalized Means

Ritualism

Retreatism

  • Examples in Practice:

    • Conformity: Class Presidents,

    • Innovation: Gang Members,

    • Ritualism: Local Comedians,

    • Retreatism: Hippies,

    • Rebellion: January 6th Protestors.

Questions on Anomie and Social Cohesion

  • Inquiry into social cohesion levels and their relationship with number of means rejectors (i.e., innovators and retreaters).

  • Responses may vary based on the understanding of social cohesion's role in societal behavior.

Deviance and Social Cohesion Theories

  • Durkheim's Views:

    • Social cohesion achieved via:

    • Mechanical Solidarity: Homogeneity among members

    • Organic Solidarity: Interdependence among diverse members.

  • Punishment in Mechanically Solidary Societies:

    • Punitive Justice: Focus on punishment of the violator to affirm societal norms; associated with less complex societies.

  • Rehabilitative Justice in Organically Solidary Societies:

    • Focus on consideration of individual circumstances to promote rehabilitation, relating to more complex societies.

The Consequences of Social Cohesion Breakdown

  • Deviance is often seen as a symptom of social disintegration and indicators of unrest or conflict.

    • Suicide defined as an “anti-social” act and reflective of deeper social issues.

    • Lack of integration leads to deviant behaviors, with Durkheim's view suggesting that individual unhappiness stems from systemic societal disorganization.