Chapter 8: Deviance

1. Chapter 8: Deviance

2. Read to Discover What are the nature and social functions of deviance? Section 1: Deviance

3. Deviance Behavior that violates significant social norms.

4. Deviance:Behavior that violates significant social norms Because there are so many norms governing behavior, occasional violations are unavoidable. What is considered deviant varies from society to society, from time period to time period, and from situation to situation. Section 1: Deviance Nature of Deviance

5. Deviance has some function in social life. It helps to clarify norms, unify the group, diffuse tension and promote social change. Also, deviance provides jobs such as law enforcement.

6. Clarifying Norms Deviance defines the boundaries of acceptable behavior. When rules are broken, members of society are reminded of norms that are acceptable. Also, they serve as a warning as to what can happen if you break a norm. Harsh prison sentences: intended to discourage crime.

7. Unifying the Group Draws the line between conforming members of society and “outsiders” – nonconforming members. This is very important to society, unifying the community “us against them.”

8. Diffusing Tension Some people are unhappy with there surroundings and what to strike out at society. These minor acts of deviance serve as a safety value. Allow them to do so without harming others. Example: protesting.

9. Promoting Social Change Deviance can promote social change by identifying problems areas. When large numbers of people violate a norm, it is often an indication we need to change.

10. Providing Jobs Judges, lawyers, police officers, prison personnel, parole officers.

11. Person must be detected committing a serious deviant act (such as murder) or a series of minor deviant acts (such as speeding); labeling only occurs if the behavior is known to other people Social stigmatization must occur, the application of a mark of social disgrace that sets the deviant apart from the rest of society Section 1: Deviance LabelingDeviance

12. Clarifying Norms—defines the boundaries of acceptable behavior; punishment of norm violators warns others that certain behaviors will not be tolerated Unifying the Group—serves to draw the line between conforming members of society and “outsiders”—the nonconforming members Section 1: Deviance Social Functions of Deviance

13. Diffusing Tension—minor acts of deviance allow individuals to relieve tension without disrupting the basic fabric of society Promoting Social Change—can help prompt social change by identifying problem areas Providing Jobs—monitoring and punishing deviance provides legitimate jobs for a wide range of people Section 1: Deviance Social Functions of Deviance

14. Section 1: Deviance Question What theories have been proposed to explain deviance?

15. Functionalists—natural outgrowth of the values, norms, and structures of society Conflict Theorists—result of competition and social inequality Interactionists—either natural in people with weak ties to the community (control theory), a learned behavior (cultural transmission theory), or a consequence of labeling (labeling theory) Section 1: Deviance

16. Theories of Deviance

17. Cultural – Transmission Theory Deviant behavior is learned through interaction with others. Individuals are socialized into deviant behavior rather than into socially acceptable behavior. Usually, this type of person associates with other deviant people.

18. Control Theory Individuals who have weak ties to the community are more likely to commit deviant acts of behavior. Communities in which there are strong social and family bonds will have lower rates of deviance because community members will have a stronger influence over those who wish to deviate from the social norm.

19. Labeling Theory This theory focuses on how individuals come to be labeled as deviant. There are two types of deviant people: Primary deviance is nonconformity that goes undetected by those in authority. Secondary deviance is a stronger break of social norms or laws and results in the individual being labeled by society as a deviant.

20. Conflict Theory Competition and social inequality lead to deviance. It is a struggle between those who have and those who do not have. People without power often commit deviant acts to obtain economic rewards or because they have low self-esteem and feelings of powerlessness.

21. Structural-Strain Theory Deviance is a natural result of the values, norms and structure of society. People who do not meet the expectations of society are often judged for their failures. Under the strain of failure, many people result to committing deviant acts. Example: economic and educational success.

22. How do individuals respond to culturally approved goals and the legitimate means of achieving them? (conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, rebellion) Functionalist Strain What is the result of competition and social inequality? (deviance) Who decides what is deviant? (ruling classes) Conflict Conflict Why do people conform to norms? (strength of social ties determines conformity) Control Interactionist How do people learn conformity or deviance? (through socialization, or interaction with others) Where does this learning mainly occur? (primary groups) Cultural Transmission How do people become identified as deviant? (through secondary deviance, or being detected as deviant) Labeling Section 1: Deviance Perspective Theory Questions

23. Read to Discover What are the principal types of crime in the United States? What are the characteristics of the American criminal-justice system? Section 2: Crime

24. Violent Crime—includes murder, robbery; most victims are African Americans Crime Against Property—includes burglary, larceny, vehicle theft; more common than violent crimes Victimless Crime—includes prostitution, gambling, illegal drug use; offender is the only victim Section 2: Crime Principal Types of Crime in the U.S.

25. White Collar Crime—committed by high-status individuals in the course of their professions; includes fraud, tax evasion, embezzlement Organized Crime—the pursuit of crime by a large-scale organization as a big business Section 2: Crime Principal Types of Crime in the U.S.

26. Section 2: Crime Question What are some characteristics of the American criminal-justice system?

27. AMERICAN CRIMINAL-JUSTICE SYSTEM Police Courts Have the most control over who is arrested for crimes Determine the accused’s guilt or innocence in a court trial and then assign a punishment Corrections Juvenile-Justice System Sanctions used to punish those found guilty of crimes Applies to offenders younger than 18 Section 2: Crime

28. Police—have most immediate control over who is arrested for a criminal act; use police discretion, which has raised the controversial issue of racial profiling Courts—determine the guilt or innocence of an accused person by means of a trial and assign some form of punishment if there is a guilty finding; actually settle 90 percent of cases through plea bargaining Corrections—sanctions include probation, imprisonment, parole; serve four functions—retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, and social protection Juvenile-Justice System—used to punish offenders younger than age 18; guarantees juvenile defendants the same legal rights and privileges as adults; often provides more services Section 2: Crime

29. Types of Crime Chapter 8; section 2

30. Violent Crime Homicide: The killing of one human being by another. It includes murder, manslaughter, mass murder, and gang murder. Assault: An attack on another person with the intent to inflict injury or cause fear. Includes simple and aggregated assault. Rape and sexual assault: An act of forced intercourse by one person of another person. Includes molestation, sexual imposition. Robbery: Taking the property of another our of his/her presence by means of force or violence. Terrorism: The use of violence against a target to create fear, alarm, or coercion for the purpose of gaining rewards. Includes kidnapping.

31. Property and Economic Crimes Larceny: Trespassing – taking of personal property belonging to another with the intent to deprive the owner of the property permanently. Fraud: Acquisition of property through the use of deception. High-tech: the pursuit of illegal activities through the use of advanced electronic media. An example is “cyber spying.” Burglary: the breaking and entering of the house of another person at night with the intention of committing a felony or larceny inside. Arson: The malicious burning of another’s house, property or other structures.

32. White-Collar and Corporate Crime Employees of large corporations may use their authority illegally for private gain. Insider trading: The use of material, nonpublic financial information about securities to obtain an unfair advantage. SEC (security and Exchange Commission – set up to prevent this). Corporate crimes: A criminal act committed by one or more employees of a corporation that is attributed to the organization. Includes tax law violations and environmental crimes.

33. Organized Crime Crime committed by an organized, family or clan usually of a particular ethnicity. An example would be the Italian Mafia. Federal Witness Protection Program: A program designed to protect witnesses who testify in court against an organized crime family. Witnesses are relocated to a new location and given a new identity.

34. Crimes Against Morality Drugs Alcohol Sex-related offenses: includes adultery, prostitution and the sale and distribution of lewd materials.

35. Chapter Wrap-Up • What are the functions of deviance? • How does labeling theory differ from other theories of deviance? • Describe the five general categories of crime. Be sure to list the types of crime in each category. • What purposes does the corrections system fulfill? How does the juvenile-justice system meet these same purposes?