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Deviance. Explanations of deviance. Biological Psychological Sociological. Biological explanations. Very limited understanding of crime Caesar Lombroso Genetically destined to become criminals William Sheldon Body style XYY Chromosome theory.
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Explanations of deviance • Biological • Psychological • Sociological
Biological explanations • Very limited understanding of crime • Caesar Lombroso • Genetically destined to become criminals • William Sheldon • Body style • XYY Chromosome theory
Psychological explanations General concepts • Personality patterns • Individual traits • Majority of crimes are committed by people with normal psychological profiles
Sociological explanations (Overview) • Strain theory • Differential association • Differential opportunity • Labeling theory
Strain theory • Robert Merton • Conformist • Innovator (Al Capone) • Ritualist • Retreatist • Rebellion
Differential association • Edwin H. Sutherland • Crime is learned in association with others • Deviance is linked to the amount of contact a person has with others who encourage or discourage that behavior.
Differential opportunity • Cloward & Ohlin • Reduce crime by reducing criminal (illegitimate) opportunity
Labeling theory • Deviance and conformity result not only from what people do, but how others respond to those actions. • Reinforcement • Labeling • Retrospective labeling • Interpreting someone’s past as consistent with present deviance.
Medicalization of deviance • Treating deviant behavior by medical means • Depo-provera for rape • Methadone for heroin • Redefining • Theft as “compulsive disorder” • Drinking as “alcoholism” • Promiscuity as a “sexual addiction”
Social - conflict paradigm • Who and what is labeled deviant is based upon relative power
Types of crime (overview) • Street crime • White-collar crime • Victimless crime
Street crime • Violent crime
White-collar crime • Odds are almost 50-50 that they will not go to jail • Little reaction from others • Cases heard in civil court (rather than criminal court)
Victimless crime • Prostitution • Drugs • Gambling
Plea bargaining (Legal negotiation) • In exchange for a guilty plea, you get: • Reduced charge • Reduced sentence • Concurrent sentences
Reasons why societies punish offenders • Retribution • Deterrence • The threat of punishment to discourage crime • Rehabilitation
Effects of Prison • Do little to rehabilitate • Creates stigma - reducing chances of acceptance and getting a job • Provide some protection for society from criminals
Criminal recidivism • Subsequent offenses by people convicted of crimes