Chapter 6: Deviance and Social Control

Deviance

any behavior or belief that violates significant social norms.

social controls

mechanisms that monitor behavior & penalize the violation of norms

2 types of social controls

internal and external social controls

external sc

rely on societal mechanisms to prevent deviance.

EX: Police, court, authorities

internal sc

located within the individual that are learned through socialization

EX: conscience/morals

cesare lambaro

came up with the biology of criminals

biology of criminals

1. they have distinctive physical traits.

2. they are less biologically evolved than noncriminal.

3. some people are genetically destined to be criminals

charles goring

found no difference in biology between criminal and noncriminal

william sheldon

believed body structure is a crucial link to criminal behavior. Was criticized by other researchers

Medicalization of deviance

the transformation of moral & legal issues into medical matters

Psychological/Personality perspectives

personality, deviance, and the containment theory

personality

responsible

deviance

product of unsuccessful socialization

W Reckless

popularized the containment theory

containment theory

people who lack positive self-concept and moral values are unable to resist deviant temptations

robert merton

developed the strain theory

strain theory

people feel strain when they are exposed to cultural goals and are unable to obtain through an approved means because of their social location

5 strategies

conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, rebellion

conformity

accept goals and means

innovation

accept goals but reject means

ritualism

accept means but reject goals

retreatism

reject the goals and the means

rebellion

reject both goals and means but advocate for an alternative set of goals and means

Sutherland

came up with the differential association theory

differential association theory

deviance is learned through association with the distinct groups who encourage violating norms

labeling theory

deviance and conformity result from the response of others. focuses on the process rather than the cause. label imposed by others

negative consequences of the labeling theory

1. see themselves as deviant. 2. become more deviant because the label becomes a part of the person's self-concept

stigma

negative label that radically changes a person's self-concept and social identity

Lermart

invented the two types of deviance

2 types of deviance

primary and secondary

primary deviance

occasional involvement with acts that violate social norms. no effect on personal and social lift

secondary deviance

involvement in norm violations that are labeled as deviant by others and accepted by the deviant

social control theory

popularized by Hirschi. deviance results when an individual has weak social bonds

bonds

attachment, commitment, involvement, beliefs

Marx

came up with the conflict theory

conflict theory

the powerful have resources to resist a label. results from the exploitive nature of capitalism. increase profit by cutting labor costs, which leads to a large class of unemployed workers

crime

a violation of rules that have been written into law

misdemeanor

a crime less serious than a felony

felony

a serious crime

index crimes

serious crimes. includes crimes against person and crimes against property

nonindex crimes

less serious crimes. includes victimless crimes and white-collar crimes

crimes against person

involves violence or threats of violence

crimes against property

theft or destruction of other's property

victimless crimes

crimes with no readily apparent victims

white-collar crimes

crimes committed by those with high social position

criminal justice system

formal response to crime by police, court, and prisons

functions of prison and punishments

retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, societal protection

retribution

seeking revenge on behalf of the victim and society

deterrence

reducing criminal activity by instilling a fear of punishment

rehabilitation

reforming the offender to prevent future offenses

societal protection

results from restricting offenders through incarceration or execution