THE NEXT (THIRD) LECTURE (possibly two lectures) ASSUMES AUDIENCE HAS NOW READ: -Durkheims Normal and Pathological from Rules of the Sociological Method.

THE NEXT (THIRD) LECTURE (possibly two lectures) ASSUMES AUDIENCE HAS NOW READ:

-Durkheim’s “Normal and Pathological” from Rules of the Sociological Method

- Kai Erikson’s Wayward Puritans, Chapter 1/Introduction

- Michel Foucault’s Discipline and Punish, Chapter 1 - Best to warn audience ahead of time that this material is

graphic and may be skipped over if necessary- Any of a number of Max Weber’s definitions of basic

characteristics of bureaucracy (only brief excerpts are necessary)

Lecture 3 (~25 slides; possibly two lectures)

Punishment:From public torture

to public bureaucracy

TODAY: Social Control

Foucault’s “old” style of punishmentbodily pain to dramatize gravity of offense; public ritual; sacrifice in the name of values

Erikson & Durkheim’s definition of “crime”what the community defines as illegal, punishes

Durkheim (why is crime necessary? functional?), Erikson (Salem witch trials), & Weber (bureaucracy)

Review

• Returning to Durkheim: Why is crime inevitable?

• In a moment: Why is it “functional”?

• But first: The story of poor Damiens

Foucault. Discipline and Punish

• History of “social control” styles in punishment– From public torture rituals to public bureaucracy

• “Social control”—

Foucault. Discipline and Punish

• History of “social control” styles in punishment– From public torture rituals to public bureaucracy

• “Social control”—– Doing something to control, stigmatize, punish

people & behavior – Formal vs. informal– Formal—criminal & other kinds

“Old style” of social control (Foucault)

• Story of Damiens—“regicide,” “parricide”• Qualities of punishment—

“Old style” of social control (Foucault)

• Story of Damiens—“regicide,” “parricide”• Qualities of punishment—– Public– Painful, bodily attack– Destroying the body– Symbolic “festival of punishment”– Question—Why do these things?

“Old style” of social control (Foucault)

• Why do these things? Symbolic meaning?

“Old style” of social control (Foucault)

• Why do these things? Symbolic meaning?• Sacrifice, seriousness of offense• What’s different now—

“Old style” of social control (Foucault)

• Why do these things? Symbolic meaning?• Sacrifice, seriousness of offense• What’s different now—– Bureaucratic rules, procedures– Focus on soul/self not body

• Has this kind of symbolism, control disappeared completely? Pain, sacrifice, bodily harm?

Definitions of “crime”

• Step back from history and punishment – what makes something a crime?

• Some of the usual ideas—

Definitions of “crime”

• Some of the usual ideas—– Things that are harmful to the community– violate other people’s rights– simply bad

Definitions of “crime”

• Some of the usual ideas—– Things that are harmful to the community– violate other people’s rights– simply bad

• Why are these inadequate?

Definitions of “crime”

• Durkheim. What makes a “crime”—– “not the intrinsic quality of a given act but that definition

which the collective conscience lends them.”

• Erikson. Definition of deviance—– Whatever “people consider so dangerous or irritating that

they bring special sanctions… Deviance is not a property inherent in any particular kind of behavior; it is a property conferred upon that behavior…”

Definitions of “crime”

• In other words—– Acts which are defined as illegal

Definitions of “crime”

• In other words—– Acts which are defined as illegal

• Advantages of this definition—– Fits all acts in the category– Directs attention to definitions, those who define– Explains variations over time & place

Definitions of “crime”

• In other words—– Acts which are defined as illegal

• Advantages of this definition—– Fits all acts in the category– Directs attention to definitions, those who define– Explains variations over time & place• examples?

• (Most stringent—acts resulting in conviction)

Why “functional”?

1. Progress requires difference, originality– Example of Socrates

Why “necessary,” “functional”?

2. Erikson’s quote of Durkheim—• “Crime brings together upright consciences

and concentrates them…”• In other words—

Why “necessary,” “functional”?

2. Erikson’s quote of Durkheim—• “Crime brings together upright consciences

and concentrates them…”• Reaction as ritual• defines morality, builds community &

solidarity

• Compare to Foucault:

• Using Durkheim’s logic, can you really win the

“war on crime”?“war on drugs”?“war on poverty”?

• Using Durkheim’s logic, can you really win the

“war on crime”?“war on drugs”?“war on poverty”?

• Regardless of value, where are the symbolic dimensions?

Kai Erikson. Wayward Puritans

• Communities need deviance—– To define— – positive values, us vs. them, inside/outside, – symbolic boundaries of the community

• So, how does a society/community choose?

How to choose?

• What threatens/reflects positive values• People who are already marginal, “outsiders”• Ignoring some acts– Not based on “harm” or utilitarian reasons

How to choose?

• What threatens/reflects positive values• People who are already marginal, “outsiders”• Ignoring some acts– Not based on “harm” or utilitarian reasons

• Examples in Salem witch trials—– How did they choose? – Note the bureaucratic qualities– Why now (for Wed)?

END LECTURE THREE

NEXT TIME: “New Style” Social Control (in Foucault’s words)

Max Weber, bureaucracyBentham’s “Panopticon,” new style punishment

Optional, but useful:Reinarman’s “Social construction of drug scares,” an application

of Erikson’s theory “crime waves” & “boundary crises”

Think about applying each theme to current events:1. What is the symbolic meaning for the community?2. What is the extent of formal rationality?