Non Sociological Explanations Of Deviance

1. Non Sociological Explanations Of Deviance Common Sense View This view stresses that deviants are very different from the rest of us. Deviants are bad, mad or both - serial killers like Fred and Rosemary West are insane and deserve punishment

2. Non Sociological Explanations Of Deviance Lombroso 1836-1909 an Italian army doctor found clear physical differences in criminals large skulls, extra toes, fingers and nipples! Primitive throwbacks Seen as rather crude and dated now Biological Explanations Of Deviance

3. Non Sociological Explanations Of Deviance • It is impossible to do justice to psychological approaches here but in general they tend to emphasise the different mental characteristics of deviants. They look at such things as levels of intelligence and personalities Psychological Explanations Of Deviance

4. Non Sociological Explanations Of Deviance Commit serious offences - e.g. murder without awareness that it is wrong Psychotics Psychopaths More dangerous and harder to catch no conscience and will lie and blame others

5. Non Sociological Explanations Of Deviance Sociologists criticise such approaches for ignoring the social context which locates deviance

6. The Problem Of Order • Jock Young (1988) says that biological approaches have 'medicalised' crime prevention - the 'chemical straight jacket' of tranquillizing drugs has helped control prisoners • And Young points out the fact that more 'counselling' in an attempt to correct bad behaviour reflects the success of psychological approaches at the expense of social ones such as poverty and deprivation

7. Sociological Explanations Of Deviance • Sociological explanations focus on the 'social' aspects of deviance. • However, there is an appreciation that individuals can behave in different ways even when faced with similar circumstances. • E.g. there is a correlation between unemployment and crime - however not all unemployed people break the law.

8. Sociological Explanations Of Deviance Functionalism 1. Deviance is functionally necessary - it reinforces ideas about right and wrong Durkheim saw it as a measuring stick Sets the boundaries of acceptable/unacceptable behaviour Wrong doers are punished If there is too much crime then society breaks down - ‘anomie’ The New Right are concerned with society slipping into such a state Some deviance is good - change only occurs when some individuals are prepared to go against the norm

9. Sociological Explanations Of Deviance Functionalism 2. Deviance provides work Crime prevention is multi million £ industry Employs Police, Probation Officers, Judges etc. Also burglar alarms, car security etc. etc.

10. Sociological Explanations Of Deviance • Some crimes surely do not have a positive function - e.g. Dunblane. • Such horrific crimes could be said to be socially destructive. • However, others argue that the aftermath of such events, public grieving, church services, collecting money for victims families etc. do show the power of the collective sentiments