Chapter 6 deviance and social control ppt

Chapter 6: Deviance Chapter 6: Deviance and Social Control:and Social Control:

Sickos, Perverts, Freaks, and Sickos, Perverts, Freaks, and People like UsPeople like Us

Soc 100 Dr. Santos

IntroductionIntroduction

Deviance-Deviance- the violation of social norms the violation of social norms Stigma-Stigma- the disapproval attached to the disapproval attached to

disobeying the expected norms disobeying the expected norms Crime-Crime- the forms of deviance in which the forms of deviance in which

formal penalties are imposed by the formal penalties are imposed by the societysociety

We are all deviant at some time or We are all deviant at some time or another and in some places another and in some places

What is deviance?What is deviance? Deviance is a violation of ever-Deviance is a violation of ever-

changing social normschanging social norms– Deviance is culturally dependent and Deviance is culturally dependent and

historically located, exists always in historically located, exists always in juxtaposition with some “normality”juxtaposition with some “normality”

– Deviance is socially constructed even Deviance is socially constructed even though some of it might be characterized though some of it might be characterized as an immoral absoluteas an immoral absolute

– Deviance is overlooked in some situationsDeviance is overlooked in some situations

Who/what is defined as Who/what is defined as deviant?deviant?

Both Both actsacts and and individualsindividuals (and even entire (and even entire groups) can be defined as deviant: groups) can be defined as deviant: “Condemn the sin, love the sinner,” “Condemn the sin, love the sinner,” “aliens”, “misfits”. etc.“aliens”, “misfits”. etc.

Low status persons (e.g. ethnic minorities, Low status persons (e.g. ethnic minorities, poor people) are more likely to be poor people) are more likely to be perceived as deviant, their perceived as deviant, their goodgood behavior behavior “explained away”“explained away”

Higher status persons (e.g. priests, doctors) Higher status persons (e.g. priests, doctors) are less likely to be defined as deviant, their are less likely to be defined as deviant, their badbad behavior “explained away” behavior “explained away”

Structural-Structural-functionalist viewpointfunctionalist viewpoint

Deviance serves vital Deviance serves vital functionsfunctions for for societysociety

Sets examples of unacceptable behaviorSets examples of unacceptable behavior Provides guidelines for (opposite) behavior that Provides guidelines for (opposite) behavior that

is necessary to maintain social orderis necessary to maintain social order Bonds people together through their common Bonds people together through their common

rejection of deviant behaviorrejection of deviant behavior Provides jobs for those who deal with deviantsProvides jobs for those who deal with deviants Can signal problems in a society that need Can signal problems in a society that need

addressed (stimulate positive change)addressed (stimulate positive change) Opens societies to new and creative paths of Opens societies to new and creative paths of

thinkingthinking

Misconceptions about Misconceptions about deviancedeviance Some acts are inherently deviantSome acts are inherently deviant Those who deviate are socially Those who deviate are socially

identified and recognizedidentified and recognized Deviants purposely and knowingly Deviants purposely and knowingly

break the lawbreak the law Deviance occurs because there is Deviance occurs because there is

a dishonest, selfish element to a dishonest, selfish element to human naturehuman nature

Micro-level Micro-level explanations of explanations of deviancedeviance Social control theory -Social control theory - our bonds our bonds

with society encourage us to with society encourage us to conform; with fewer bonds, we conform; with fewer bonds, we are more likely to be deviantare more likely to be deviant

Rational choice theory -Rational choice theory - the the decision to be deviant depends decision to be deviant depends upon a cost/benefit analysis of upon a cost/benefit analysis of sanctionssanctions

Differential association theoryDifferential association theory - - conformity or deviance is learned conformity or deviance is learned from those we spend time withfrom those we spend time with

Labeling theoryLabeling theory - behavior is not - behavior is not intrinsically deviant, but becomes intrinsically deviant, but becomes deviant because it is labeled as deviant because it is labeled as suchsuch– Members of a society define (label) Members of a society define (label)

what is deviant and impose sanctions what is deviant and impose sanctions for that behaviorfor that behavior

– Individuals who engage in primary Individuals who engage in primary deviance are not labeled, but those deviance are not labeled, but those who engage in secondary deviance arewho engage in secondary deviance are

Labeling theory, con’t.Labeling theory, con’t.

Being labeled can reinforce deviant Being labeled can reinforce deviant behavior by:behavior by:

– Increasing alienationIncreasing alienation– Forcing increased interaction with deviant Forcing increased interaction with deviant

peerspeers– Motivating juvenile delinquents to positively Motivating juvenile delinquents to positively

value and identify with the deviant statusvalue and identify with the deviant status Deviance becomes a self-fulfilling Deviance becomes a self-fulfilling

prophecyprophecy Those with less power in society are more Those with less power in society are more

likely to be labeled as deviantslikely to be labeled as deviants

Meso and macro-level Meso and macro-level explanations of explanations of deviancedeviance Structural-functionalist theoriesStructural-functionalist theories

– AnomieAnomie - the breakdown of the - the breakdown of the norms guiding behavior leads to norms guiding behavior leads to social disorganization social disorganization

– Strain theoryStrain theory - those with fewer - those with fewer resources are less able to achieve resources are less able to achieve societally shared goals and may societally shared goals and may resort to deviant behaviors to resort to deviant behaviors to achieve their desired goalsachieve their desired goals

Merton’s ways of adapting to Merton’s ways of adapting to strainstrain ConformityConformity - embracing the society's - embracing the society's

definition of success and adhering to the definition of success and adhering to the established and approved means of established and approved means of achieving successachieving success

InnovationInnovation - use of illicit means to reach - use of illicit means to reach approved goalsapproved goals

RitualismRitualism - strict adherence to culturally - strict adherence to culturally‑‑ prescribed rules, even though individuals prescribed rules, even though individuals give up on the goals they hoped to achievegive up on the goals they hoped to achieve

RetreatismRetreatism - giving up on both the goals - giving up on both the goals and the meansand the means

RebellionRebellion - rejecting the socially approved - rejecting the socially approved ideas of "success" and the means of ideas of "success" and the means of attaining that success, but replaces those attaining that success, but replaces those with alternative definitions of success and with alternative definitions of success and alternative strategies for attaining the new alternative strategies for attaining the new goalsgoals

Conflict theoryConflict theory - deviance is a - deviance is a result of social inequalityresult of social inequality– Elites want to maintain control, so Elites want to maintain control, so theythey define what is deviant to define what is deviant to benefit themselves and deflect benefit themselves and deflect attention from their own behaviorsattention from their own behaviors

– The greater the power differentials The greater the power differentials and inequalities, especially class, and inequalities, especially class, the greater the conflict in a societythe greater the conflict in a society

– Conflict is inevitable under the Conflict is inevitable under the current capitalist power current capitalist power arrangementarrangement

Feminist theoryFeminist theory - abuses suffered - abuses suffered by women are rooted in the by women are rooted in the patriarchal, capitalist systempatriarchal, capitalist system– The causes include the gendered The causes include the gendered

division of labor, the separation of division of labor, the separation of spheres, and the socialization of spheres, and the socialization of childrenchildren

– Cultural attitudes toward crime Cultural attitudes toward crime against women differ based on the against women differ based on the status of women in that societystatus of women in that society

– Women are less often in a position to Women are less often in a position to commit crimes and often commit commit crimes and often commit crimes that are different from men’scrimes that are different from men’s

Crime and individuals: Crime and individuals: macro-level analysismacro-level analysis Laws reflect the current opinion of Laws reflect the current opinion of

what is right or wrongwhat is right or wrong Consensus crimesConsensus crimes - members of a - members of a

society are in general agreement society are in general agreement about the serious of the deviant act about the serious of the deviant act

Conflict crimesConflict crimes - one group passes - one group passes a law over which there is a law over which there is disagreement or which disagreement or which disadvantages another group disadvantages another group

Types of crimeTypes of crime

Predatory or street crimePredatory or street crime Victimless or public order crimesVictimless or public order crimes Hate crimesHate crimes Organized crimeOrganized crime Occupational or white collar crimeOccupational or white collar crime State organized crimesState organized crimes Global crimesGlobal crimes

Types of white-collar Types of white-collar crimescrimes Crimes against the companyCrimes against the company Crimes against employees (e.g., Crimes against employees (e.g.,

the neglect of worker safety)the neglect of worker safety) Crimes against customersCrimes against customers Crimes against the publicCrimes against the public White-collar crimes are less White-collar crimes are less

publicized, but ultimately more publicized, but ultimately more costly and more deadly than costly and more deadly than violent predatory crimesviolent predatory crimes

Ways of measuring Ways of measuring crimecrime Uniform crime reportsUniform crime reports Self-reported surveysSelf-reported surveys Victimization surveysVictimization surveys

Triangulation is best!Triangulation is best!

World systems World systems perspectiveperspective The cause of deviance lies in the global The cause of deviance lies in the global

economy, inequalities between economy, inequalities between countries, and competition between countries, and competition between countries for resources and wealthcountries for resources and wealth

Capitalism has caused inequality to rise Capitalism has caused inequality to rise between core and periphery nationsbetween core and periphery nations

Periphery nations may resort to Periphery nations may resort to unconventional means to meet their unconventional means to meet their goals goals

Dealing with crimeDealing with crime

Structural-functionalist- the Structural-functionalist- the justice system is important for justice system is important for maintaining order in societymaintaining order in society

Conflict- the criminal justice Conflict- the criminal justice system presents crime as a threat system presents crime as a threat from poor people and minorities from poor people and minorities and disproportionately arrests and disproportionately arrests and sentences themand sentences them

Prisons and jailsPrisons and jails Total institution- completely controls Total institution- completely controls

the prisoners’ lives and regulates all the prisoners’ lives and regulates all of their activitiesof their activities

Degradation- mark the inmate as Degradation- mark the inmate as deviant deviant

Mortification-break down the Mortification-break down the individual’s original self as the individual’s original self as the inmate experiences resocialization inmate experiences resocialization

Incarceration rates have increasedIncarceration rates have increased– ““Get tough on crime”Get tough on crime”– ““War on drugs”War on drugs”– Preventative policiesPreventative policies

The functions of The functions of prisonsprisons Revenge or retributionRevenge or retribution Removing dangerous individuals Removing dangerous individuals

from societyfrom society DeterrenceDeterrence Despite these, nearly 75% of Despite these, nearly 75% of

male prisoners will re-offend (high male prisoners will re-offend (high recidivism)recidivism)

The rise of the Prison-Industrial Complex in the USA > 1980

Alternatives to prisonAlternatives to prison Social capitalSocial capital - rebuild social networks, - rebuild social networks,

shared norms, values, and shared norms, values, and understanding that facilitate understanding that facilitate cooperation within or among groups cooperation within or among groups and access to important resourcesand access to important resources

Shock probationShock probation - releasing a first time - releasing a first time offender early in the hope that the offender early in the hope that the shock of prison life would deter themshock of prison life would deter them

Day treatmentDay treatment or half-way houses or half-way houses RestitutionRestitution - The offender renders - The offender renders

money or service to the victim or money or service to the victim or community under supervised parole to community under supervised parole to compensate the victim compensate the victim