NW

Deviance and Social Control Notes

Introduction to Deviance and Social Control

  • Focus on understanding key concepts related to deviance, social control, and crime in sociology.

Course Objectives

  • Definition of Deviance and Crime: Understanding the differences between deviant behavior (violating social norms) and crime (violating laws).
  • Social Control: Explore conformity and obedience with respect to societal norms.
  • Theoretical Perspectives: Gain insight into various sociological theories regarding crime and deviance.
  • Practical Applications: Relate theoretical perspectives to real-world scenarios.

Course Summary

  1. Deviance, crime, and social control.
  2. Concepts of conformity and obedience.
  3. Sociological perspectives on deviance and crime.
  4. The social construction of crime.

Key Definitions

Deviance

  • Definition: Violations of societal norms and expectations, leading to potential punishment.
  • Scope: Applies broadly; not limited to criminal acts. Example behaviors include unusual fashion, disrespecting civil laws (e.g., jaywalking), and criminal acts (e.g., murder).
  • Consequences: Stigmatization, labeling, and marginalization.

Crime

  • Definition: Behavior violating laws set by society, carry formal punishments (e.g., incarceration, fines).
  • Relationship: All criminal acts are deviant, but not all deviant acts are considered crimes.

Social Control

  • Definition: Mechanisms that prevent deviant behavior.
  • Components: Learning and internalizing social norms through family, peers, and societal institutions.

Sanctions

  • Role: Enforce social norms through positive (rewards) and negative (punishments) responses.
  • Types:
    • Formal: Enforced by official agents (e.g., law enforcement).
    • Informal: Results from personal interactions (e.g., peer pressure).

Conformity vs. Obedience

  • Conformity: Adhering to peer behaviors and expectations.
  • Obedience: Compliance with authority figures' rules.

The Milgram Experiment

  • Objective: Investigate obedience to authority.
  • Method: Participants administered electric shocks to "students" for incorrect answers.
  • Conclusion: Many continued to administer shocks despite moral objections, illustrating the power of authority in dictating behavior.

Sociological Perspectives on Crime and Deviance

Biological and Psychological Theories

  • Focus on individual causes of deviance; flawed individuals or disorders lead to crime.

Sociological Perspectives

  • Reject individualism; focus on social causes of deviance.

Functionalism

Emile Durkheim's Influence and Anomie

  • Anomie: A breakdown of social norms during periods of change.
  • Impact: Normlessness increases feelings of isolation and deviance.
  • Functions of Deviance:
    • Adaptive: Encourages innovation and new social norms.
    • Boundary Maintenance: Reinforces group solidarity through collective responses to deviance.

Merton’s Theory of Anomie

  • Adaptation types in relation to societal goals and means:
    1. Conformists: Accept both goals and means.
    2. Innovators: Accept goals but not means (e.g., theft).
    3. Ritualists: Follow means but reject goals.
    4. Retreatists: Abandon both goals and means.
    5. Rebels: Reject existing goals and means in favor of alternative values.

Critique of Functionalism

  • Accepts deviance as natural but lacks consideration of opportunity disparities and community values.

Social Constructionism/Interactionism

  • Deviance is socially constructed; no inherently deviant actions.
  • Power dynamics influence perceptions of deviance.

Labeling Theory

  • Examines societal definitions of deviance versus individual characteristics.
  • Primary Deviance: Initial acts not labeled, do not affect identity.
  • Secondary Deviance: Internalization of deviant labels by individuals.

Varying Definitions of Deviant Behavior

  • Deviance definitions evolve over time (e.g., homosexuality, marital rape).

Critics of Interactionist Approaches

  • Theories insufficiently explain primary deviance causes; fail to address socialization factors.

Types of Crimes

  • Victimless Crimes: No direct harm; e.g., prostitution, drug use.
  • Hate Crimes: Target specific groups based on identity.
  • White-Collar Crimes: Financial crimes committed by professionals; often under-punished.
  • Organized Crime: Illegal operations run like businesses.

Importance of Theoretical Understanding

  • Understanding crime informs social policy and community strategies to combat crime effectively.

Exercise Activity

  • Explore a behavior that has changed in its legal status; identify the process and agents involved in its criminalization or decriminalization.