Deviance, Crime, and Social Control

DEVIANCE

Refers to norm violations that exceed the tolerance level of the community and result in negative sanctions.

Sociologist treat deviance as label attached to certain behaviors by certain groups within society.

It is relative

THEORIES ON DEVIANCE• Structural-Functional Theories

Anomie (Durkheim)Strain Theory (Robert Merton)

• Symbolic Interaction TheoriesDifferential Association Theory

( Edwin Sutherland) Self-Esteem TheoryControl TheoryLabeling Theory

• Conflict Theory

1. Structural-Functional Theories

Anomie (Durkheim) A situation where the norms of a society

are unclear or no longer applicable to current conditions.

Durkheim believed that it was a major cause of suicide in industrialization.

Strain Theory (Robert Merton) Suggests that deviance occurs when

culturally-approved goals cannot be reached by culturally-approved means.

Types of strain deviance

Modes of adaptation

Cultural goals

Institutional means

CONFORMITY Accepted Accepted

DEVIANCE

Innovation Accepted Rejected

Ritualism Rejected accepted

Retreatism Rejected rejected

Rebellion Rejected/Replaced

Rejected/Replaced

2. Symbolic Interaction Theories

Suggest that deviance is learned through interaction with others and involves the development of a deviant self-concept.

A. Differential Association Theory ( Edwin Sutherland)

- argues that people learn to be deviant when their associates favor deviance more than they do conformity.

B. Self-Esteem Theory- suggest that people choose deviance

or conformity depending on which will do the most to enhance their self-esteem.

C. Control Theory- Argues deviance occurs when individuals lack the ties to conventional society that are necessary

D. Labeling Theory- is concerned with the process by which the label deviant comes to be attached to specific people and

specific behavior.

3. Conflict Theory

• proposes that competition and class conflict within society create deviance.

Major Question

Major Assumption Cause of Deviance

Most Useful For Explaining Deviance

Of

STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL (Strain) THEORY

Why do people break rules?

Deviance is an abnormal characteristic of the social structure.

A dislocation between the goals of society and the means to achieve them.

The working and lower classes who cannot achieve desired goals by prescribed means

SYMBOLIC INTERACTION THEORIES

Differential association Theory

Why is deviance more characteristics of some groups than others?

Deviance is learned like other social behavior.

Sub cultural values differ in complex societies; some subcultures hold values that favor deviance. These are learned through socialization

Delinquent gangs and those integrated into deviant subcultures and neighborhoods.

Self-esteem Theory

Why do some people to be deviant?

Deviant roles are adopted if they enhance self-esteem.

Failure to reward conforming behavior.

Those who are unsuccessful in conventional roles.

Control Theory What keeps people from breaking the rules?

Deviance is normal and it is conformity which must be explained.

Absence of strong ties to others and to society’s values and activities.

Individuals who are poorly integrated into families, neighborhoods, and communities.

Labeling Theory How do acts and people become labeled deviant?

Deviance is relative and depends on how others label acts and actors.

People whose acts are labeled deviant and who accept that label become career deviants.

The powerless that is labeled deviant by more powerful individuals.

Forms of Social Deviation

Crime as deviance

Crimes- Acts that are

subject to legal or civil penalties

- Deviant act that violates a law

1. Street Crime • Murder• Rape• Robbery• Assault

2. Professional Crime• Burglary• Safecracking• Hijacking of Cargo• Pick pocketing• Shoplifting

Professional criminal- a person who pursues crime as a day-to-day occupation, developing skilled techniques and enjoying a certain degree of status among other criminals.

TYPES:

3. White Collar CrimeIllegal acts committed in the

course of business activities, often by affluent, “respectable” people.

4. Organized Crime- Secret, conspiratorial activity that generally invades law enforcement.

5. Political Crime- The abuse of a government or political office of position

Crimes involving use of force or the threat of force

TYPES:

1. Murder2. Rape3. Robbery4. Assault

Druga substance that has an effect upon body or mind. However once it was taken excessively, then it began a problem for it may harm both physical and mental faculties.

Druga substance that has an effect upon body or mind. However once it was taken excessively, then it began a problem for it may harm both physical and mental faculties.

Drug Dependence Is a state of psychological or physical dependence, or both which results from chronic, periodic or continuous use.

Drug Dependence Is a state of psychological or physical dependence, or both which results from chronic, periodic or continuous use.

Habituation a psychological desire to repeat the use of drug intermittently or continuously because of emotional reasons.

Habituation a psychological desire to repeat the use of drug intermittently or continuously because of emotional reasons.

Drug Addiction

a physical dependence upon a drug. Its scientific definition includes the development of tolerance and withdrawal. As person develops tolerance he requires larger and larger amounts of the drug to produce the same effect.

Identifying the Drug Abuser A drug Abuser will do everything possible to

conceal his habit. So it is important to be able to recognize the out ward signs and symptoms of a drug abuse

Common signs of Drug Abuse: Change in attendance at work or in school Change from normal capabilities (work habits,

efficiency, etc.) Poor physical appearance, including inattention to

dress and personal hygiene Wearing sunglasses constantly at inappropriate

times Unusual effort made to cover in order to cover arms

to hide needle marks. Association with known drug abusers Stealing items that can be readily sold for cash Changes in mood - depending on the drug taken. Ex:

depressed, or becoming elated and euphoric

Is the observation that in most settings

a few at risk individuals follow

uncommon, beneficial practices and consequently experience better

outcomes than their neighbors who share

similar risks

Social control

-Refers to social processes used to minimize deviance from social norms.

- is the forces and processes that encourage conformity, including self-control, informal control and formal control

Types of Social Control:

Self Control-Occurs because individuals internalize the norms and values of their group.

Informal Social Control- Self-restraint exercised because of fear of what others will think.

Formal Social Control- Administrative sanctions such as: fines, expulsion, and imprisonment