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The Sociology of Deviance & Crime. Part 1: What is Deviance?. What is Deviance?.
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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
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
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 • 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 • Provides jobs • Examples?
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incompatible goals & means leads to anomie • Anomie: • Situation that arises when the norms of society are unclear or no longer applicable
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
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
Control Theory • Deviance is a natural occurrence • Interested in the reasons for which people conform, rather than the causes of deviance Integrated into community Weak community ties Likely to conform Likely 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
Cultural Transmission Theory (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
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
Labeling Theory • 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 • 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
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
