the sociology of crime & deviance
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The Sociology of Crime & Deviance. Part 1: What is Deviance?. What is Deviance?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Sociology of Crime & Deviance
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?
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
Part 2: The Biological Context
• Caesare Lombroso, Italian Physician
• Genetic predisposition towards crime
• Extra “X” chromosome (XXY – “super male)
• Crime by body type• http://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=XvZGfjqYCAY
The Biological Context
Part 3: The Psychological Context
Psychopath v. Sociopath
• Psychopaths:• Antisocial personality
disorder• Well planned crimes;
meticulous • Appear normal in their social
relationships• Have a tendency toward
violence• Controlled behavior
Psychopath v. Sociopath
• Sociopaths:• Antisocial personality disorder• Erratic crimes; less meticulous• Unable to maintain normal
relationships• Have a tendency toward
violence• Erratic behavior
Part 4: The Sociological Context
Social Functions of Deviance
• The Rules of Sociological Method, Durkheim
• NECESSARY FOR SOCIETY:• Clarifies cultural norms• Promotes social unity• Diffuses social tension• Promotes social change• Provides jobs
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norms of society are unclear or no longer applicable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
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 5: Crime
Types of Crime
• FBI defines 5 broad categories:
• Violent crimes• Crimes against property• Victimless crimes• White-collar crime• Organized crime
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
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
• Three times higher?
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)
• What about 18 year olds who committed earlier crimes?
• 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
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
Murder Rape Robbery AggravatedAssault
Burglary Larceny Auto Theft Arson
Crime
Num
ber A
rres
ted
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
Year
Arres
t Rat
e (p
er 1
00,0
00)
0
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200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
Male Female
Num
ber o
f Arres
ts
Non-Index Violent Property
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
800,000
White African American Other
Num
ber o
f Arres
ts
Non-Index Violent Property