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Understanding Deviance: Biological, Psychological, and Sociological Explanations

Explore the various explanations of deviance including biological theories (Lombroso, Sheldon), psychological concepts, and sociological perspectives such as strain theory and labeling theory. Learn about types of crime, victimless crime, plea bargaining, reasons for punishment, prison effects, and criminal recidivism.

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Understanding Deviance: Biological, Psychological, and Sociological Explanations

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  1. Deviance

  2. Explanations of deviance • Biological • Psychological • Sociological

  3. Biological explanations • Very limited understanding of crime • Caesar Lombroso • Genetically destined to become criminals • William Sheldon • Body style • XYY Chromosome theory

  4. Psychological explanations General concepts • Personality patterns • Individual traits • Majority of crimes are committed by people with normal psychological profiles

  5. Sociological explanations (Overview) • Strain theory • Differential association • Differential opportunity • Labeling theory

  6. Strain theory • Robert Merton • Conformist • Innovator (Al Capone) • Ritualist • Retreatist • Rebellion

  7. 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.

  8. Differential opportunity • Cloward & Ohlin • Reduce crime by reducing criminal (illegitimate) opportunity

  9. 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.

  10. 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”

  11. Social - conflict paradigm • Who and what is labeled deviant is based upon relative power

  12. Types of crime (overview) • Street crime • White-collar crime • Victimless crime

  13. Street crime • Violent crime

  14. 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)

  15. Victimless crime • Prostitution • Drugs • Gambling

  16. Plea bargaining (Legal negotiation) • In exchange for a guilty plea, you get: • Reduced charge • Reduced sentence • Concurrent sentences

  17. Reasons why societies punish offenders • Retribution • Deterrence • The threat of punishment to discourage crime • Rehabilitation

  18. Effects of Prison • Do little to rehabilitate • Creates stigma - reducing chances of acceptance and getting a job • Provide some protection for society from criminals

  19. Criminal recidivism • Subsequent offenses by people convicted of crimes

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