the sociology of deviance & crime

The Sociology of Deviance & Crime

Part 1: What is Deviance?

• DEFINITION: any behavior that violates social norms, and is of sufficient severity to warrant disapproval from the majority of society

• Criminal or non-criminal

What is Deviance?

• No act is inherently deviant• For something to be deviant

it has to be judged by the larger culture as so

• Deviance is socially constructed

What is Deviance?

Cultural Implications• Considerable variation of

norms across groups, time & place; therefore, definitions of deviance may vary

• EXAMPLES:• Female circumcision v. genital

mutilation • Taking someone’s life• Divorce

The Deviant• Two components:• Person must be detected

committing a deviant act• Person must be stigmatized

by society• Stigma: mark of social

disgrace that sets the deviant apart from the rest of society

The Deviant

Part 2: The Social Functions of Deviance

Social Functions of Deviance

• In The Rules of Sociological Method, Durkheim observed that deviance has some uses in social life…

Social Functions of Deviance

• Clarifies cultural norms• Defines boundaries of

acceptable behavior• Promotes social unity• Draws the line between

conforming members & “outsiders”

• Reinforces sense of community & belief in shared values

Social Functions of Deviance

Social Functions of Deviance

• Diffuses social tension• When people are unhappy

with social conditions, may strike out at society

• Minor acts of deviance serve as a safety valve

Social Functions of Deviance

• Promotes social change• Identifies problem areas that

need to be addressed

Social Functions of Deviance

Social Functions of Deviance

• Provides jobs• Examples?

Part 3: Explaining Deviance - Theories

Structural-Functionalist Analysis

R. Merton: Strain Theory

• Deviance is a natural outgrowth of the values, norms, beliefs & structure of society

• BIG QUESTION:• How do individuals respond to

culturally approved goals & the means of achieving those goals?

R. Merton: Strain Theory

• Not everyone has legitimate means to achieve societal goals; the strain of incompatible goals & means leads to anomie

• Anomie:• Situation that arises when the

norms of society are unclear or no longer applicable

Mode of Adaptati

on

Cultural Goals

Cultural Norms

Deviant Respons

es

Conformity

Accept Accept

Innovation

Accept Reject

Ritualism

Reject Accept

Retreatism

Reject Reject

Rebellion

Reject &

Replace

Reject &

Replace

R. Merton: Strain Theory

• The Conformist:• Has access to and accepts the

conventional means and uses them to achieve cultural goals

• The Innovator:• Does not have access to or

rejects the conventional means but still accepts and achieves cultural goals

R. Merton: Strain Theory

• The Ritualist:• Has access to and accepts the

conventional means, but rejects the cultural goals

• The Retreatist:• “Drops out” of society;

rejecting both the conventional means and the cultural goals

R. Merton: Strain Theory

• The Rebel:• Seeks new goals through new

means

Conflict Theory

R. Quinney: Conflict Theory

• Competition & social inequality lead to deviance

• Why are people deviant?• To maintain position• To obtain economic reward• Low self-esteem & feelings of

powerlessness• RATES OF DEVIANCE

MISLEADING

Symbolic-Interactionist Analysis

Control Theory • Deviance is a natural

occurrence• Interested in the reasons for

which people conform, rather than the causes of deviance

Integrated into communityLikely to conform

Weak community tiesLikely to be deviant

Control Theory• Develop social bonds in 4

ways:• Attachment• Belief• Commitment• Involvement

Techniques of Neutralization

• Gresham Sykes & David Matza

• Some people, despite strong ties to the community, still perform deviant acts

• Suspend moral beliefs in order to do so

• HOW?

Techniques of Neutralization

• Denial of responsibility• Denial of injury• Denial of the victim• Condemnation of the

authorities• Appeal to higher loyalties

(Edwin Sutherland)• Suggests that deviance is

learned through association with those who encourage the violation of norms

Cultural Transmission Theory

• Differential association: If the majority of a person’s interactions are with deviant individuals, the person is likely to be socialized into patterns of deviant behavior

• Generally occurs in primary groups

Cultural Transmission Theory

Labeling Theory• Focuses on how individuals

come to be identified as deviant, rather than why people perform deviant acts

• ALL people commit deviant acts; not everyone is labeled as deviant

• Primary Deviance:• Nonconformity that

goes undetected by those in positions of authority

• Society does not consider individuals who commit primary acts deviance to be deviants

Labeling Theory

Labeling Theory• Secondary Deviance:• An act of deviance in

which the individual becomes labeled as deviant & accepts the label as true

• Alters self-concept & social identity (stigma)

• Degradation ceremony

Part 4: Crime

Types of Crime

• FBI defines 5 broad categories:

• Violent crimes• Crimes against property• Victimless crimes• White-collar crime• Organized crime

Types of Crime• Violent crimes: murder, forcible

rape, robbery, aggravated assault

• Crimes against property: burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, arson

• Victimless crimes: prostitution, illegal gambling, illegal drug use, vagrancy

• White-collar crime: Fraud, tax evasion, embezzlement, insider trading, forgery

• Organized crime: “business” – drug trafficking, illegal gambling, loan-sharking, etc

Statistical Limitations• Individuals are less likely to

report a crime if their friends or family are involved

• Members of the upper classes are more likely to file formal reports; police are more likely to follow through

• Some crimes are less likely to be reported

Criminal StatisticsPersons Arrested by Race

White

Black

Other

Criminal StatisticsPersons Arrested by Age

Under 18

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55+

Criminal StatisticsPersons Arrested by Gender

Male

Female

Criminal Statistics

Criminal Statistics

Criminal Statistics

Part 6: Juvenile Delinquency

Minor v. Juvenile

• Minor:• Anyone who is under

the age of 18; not all minors are considered “juvenile” in terms of criminal responsibility

• Juvenile:• Anyone who has not yet

reached the “age of majority” (threshold of adulthood)

• Juvenile status is defined by age, but varies by jurisdiction

Minor v. Juvenile

Upper Bound in U.S.(“Age of Majority”)• 40 states – 18 years of age• 10 states – 16 or 17 years of

age• Upper Bound of 17:• GA, IL, LA, MI, MA, MO, SC

and TX• Upper Bound of 16:• NY and NC

Lower Bound in U.S.(“Age of Reason”)• In the United States,

the lower bound used to be 7 years of age, though as of 1995 most states did away with the “age of reason”

• No lower age limit – controversial?

Special Privileges/Protections• Juvenile court, except

in extreme situations

• Parent/guardian MUST be present during questioning

• Confidentiality (when accused of a crime)

Special Privileges/Protections• May NOT be housed with

adult inmates (even if child is tried as an adult)

• Juveniles have a lower brain capacity than adults

• Evidence suggests that incarceration leads to a higher incidence of reoffending, than do other non-punitive consequences

Other Considerations

Other Considerations• Death penalty for juveniles

was discontinued in 2005 (Roper v. Simmons)

• Severe offenses (i.e. murder, gang-related acts) are treated as “adult crimes” in 44 states; the lower age limit is generally 14 years of age

0

50,000

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Burglary Larceny Auto Theft Arson

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Non-Index Violent Property

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