Explaining Deviance Notes

To reduce deviance, we must understand why it occurs. Sociological theories offer a more complete understanding, highlighting the importance of the social environment and interaction.
- These theories address why deviance rates differ, why some behaviors are considered deviant, and why some individuals are more likely to be labeled and punished.
Functionalist Explanations: These explanations emphasize the importance of societal aspects for social stability.

Durkheim argued that deviance serves important functions:
- Clarifies norms and increases conformity: Reminds people of norms and consequences of violation.
- Strengthens social bonds: Unites people in reaction to deviance.
- Leads to positive social change: Challenges existing norms
Herbert Gans (1996) added that deviance creates jobs (police, prison guards, etc.).
Durkheim believed that deviance is inevitable, normal and serves important functions but that doesn't mean that we should be happy with serious deviance.

The social ecology approach suggests that neighborhood characteristics increase the likelihood of deviance.
- Criminogenic characteristics include poverty, population density, dilapidated housing, residential mobility, and single-parent households.
- These factors contribute to social disorganization (weakened social bonds and institutions).

Robert Merton’s strain theory attributes deviance to the gap between the goal of economic success and the means of achieving it.

Richard Cloward and Lloyd Ohlin : Poor people have differential access to illegitimate means.

Crime arises from overemphasis on economic success, individualism, and competition.

Adolescents experience various strains (romantic relationships, family issues, bullying) leading to negative emotions, delinquency and drug use

Poverty and community conditions lead to subcultures that promote deviant behavior.
- Albert K. Cohen's status frustration theory: lower-class boys do poorly in school due to middle-class values, leading to gang involvement to regain status.
- Walter Miller: Delinquency stems from lower-class subculture including values such as trouble, toughness, cleverness, and excitement.
- Wolfgang and Ferracuti Subculture of violence thesis: inner-city areas foster violence in response to insults due to the need of lower-class males to prove their masculinity in light of their economic failure.

Travis Hirschi: Bonds to social institutions prevent deviance.
- Attachment: Loyalty and care for institutions/people.
- Commitment: Value participation in conventional activities.
- Involvement: Time spent in conventional activities.
- Belief: Acceptance of societal norms.

Society is a struggle between the "haves" and "have-nots."
- Those with power use the legal system to maintain their position and control the powerless.
Conflict explanations suggests that capitalism promotes egoism that leads to crime because people are likely to value money over morals.

Focus on crimes against women (rape, domestic violence).
Examine gender and legal processing (arrest rates).
Explore gender differences in serious crime, attributing it to gender socialization.
- Males are socialized into competitiveness promoting deviance.
- Females are socialized into gentleness that limits deviance.

Edwin H. Sutherland: Criminal behavior is learned from close friends and family members.
- Normal socialization can lead normal people to commit deviance.

Labeling someone deviant increases the chance that they will continue to commit deviance.
Nonlegal factors (appearance, race, social class) affect how often official labeling occurs.

The “Saints” (middle-class) vs. the “Roughnecks” (working-class) illustrates this point: The Saints, despite more harmful behavior, were never arrested and achieved respectable careers, whereas the Roughnecks faced trouble and ended up in low-paying jobs or prison.