Deviance Unit 4

Have you ever… stolen anything worth more than $5? cheated on an assignment/test at school? skipped school? used illegal drugs? downloaded media illegally? taken a towel/washcloth from a hotel? not stopped at a stop sign?

Are you a DEVIANT!?

Deviance definition: Behaviors or characteristics that violate important social norms. – review of norms: A shared rule about acceptable or unacceptable social behavior.

Principle 1 1.Deviance is socially constructed. – Whether an act is deviant depends on how other people react to it.

Principle 2 2.Deviance is relative, not absolute. – Inconsistencies among societies as well as within a single society – examples…

Principle 3 3.The majority determines who and what is deviant. – example: religious majority, street crimes vs. white collar crimes

Principle 4 4.Deviance is an integral part of all societies. – Unifying the group – Clarifying norms deviance that is caught reminds us of what is wrong – Diffusing tension example: unauthorized demonstrations – Identifying problems deviance could lead to social change – Providing jobs example: criminal justice system

Principle 5 5.The violators of important social norms are often stigmatized. – Stigma: a mark of social disgrace that sets the deviant apart from the rest of society. example: The Scarlet Letter, inmates wear certain clothing

Theories for the Causes of Deviance Is society at fault?

Cultural-Transmission Theory developed by Edwin Sutherland Deviant behavior is learned through interaction with others differential association: proportion of associations a person has with deviant versus non-deviant individuals more deviant associations  individual more likely to take part in deviant behavior more associations with those who conform  more likely for individual to conform Example: certain locations/neighborhoods consistently have high crime rates

Structural Strain Theory Developed by Robert Merton Deviance a natural outgrowth of the values, norms and structure of society America puts a high value on certain goals, but not everyone can achieve these goals. This inability to attain goals leads to deviance (example: economic success) Anomie: when the norms and values of society are unclear or are not longer applicable

Modes of adaptation individuals respond to cultural goals the the legitimate means of achieving these goals in 5 ways…

Structural Strain Theory Mode of adaptation: Conformity Whenever possible, individuals conform cultural goals: accept cultural norms: accept Some individuals fail to attain goals, but do not commit deviant acts

Structural Strain Theory Mode of adaptation: Innovation cultural goals: accept cultural norms: reject find new ways to achieve goals that violate norms example: stealing goods from work, and reselling them to appear successful example: gangster, drug dealer

Structural Strain Theory Mode of adaptation: Ritualism cultural goals: reject cultural norms: accept individual gives up goals but still observed expected rules of behavior individual decides he or she won’t get good grades, but studies and works hard anyway

Structural Strain Theory Mode of adaptation: Retreatism cultural goals: reject cultural norms: reject rejects both goals and norms example: individual who uses illegal drugs, steals money to pay for habit, and does not respect the law example: giving up on getting good grades, and not studying

Structural Strain Theory Mode of adaptation: Rebellion cultural goals: reject and replace cultural norms: reject and replace substitute current goals/norms with new set example: revolutionary movement

Control Theory deviance is a natural occurrence, while conformity is the result of social control Community ties influence likelihood of deviance – those with weak ties to the community are more likely to commit deviant acts; have less to lose when they engage in deviant acts

Conflict Theory competition and social inequality lead to deviance the powerful (upper-class) decide what is deviant, and how deviance is punished Upper-class commit deviant acts to maintain power Lower-class commit deviant acts to obtain economic rewards or because of feeling of powerlessness

Labeling Theory Everyone commits deviant acts, but certain individuals are labeled as deviant Stresses the importance of the society in defining what is illegal and in assigning deviant status to particular individuals, which in turn dominates their identities and behaviors Primary Deviance: Rule-breaking that occurs before labeling. Secondary Deviance: Behavior that results from the labeling process.

Crime and Social Control

CRIME

Crime Definition: an act that is labeled as such by those in authority, is prohibited by law, and is punishable by the government Crimes are not always defined as “bad”

Types of Crime- Violent Crime Include murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault

Types of Crime- Crime Against Property Includes burglary, larceny, auto theft, and arson

Types of Crime- Victimless Crime Includes prostitution, gambling, illegal drug use, and vagrancy “Harm no one but the person committing the act”

Types of Crime- White-Collar Crime Crimes committed by “respectable” individuals, often while they practice their occupations Includes embezzling money, insider trading

Types of Crime- Organized Crime Crimes committed within an organized crime syndicate. Crime syndicate: large-scale organization of professional criminals that controls some vice or business through violence or threat of violence.

Types of Crime- Terrorism An attack on people designed to frighten society and force it to meet terrorists’ demands

Other types of crime Cybercrime: Use of the Internet to commit crime – phishes, theft of cyber-identities, scams Hate Crime: criminal act committed by an offender motivated by bias against race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or disability status

SOCIAL CONTROL The Criminal Justice System

Encompasses the police, courts, and corrections

Corrections ≈2.2million people in jail or prison in the U.S. The sanctions that are used to punish criminals Includes imprisonment, parole, and probation Four proposed goals of incarceration…

Corrections- Retribution Punishment for breaking a rule is loss of liberty and some citizenship privileges Punishment serves as an act of revenge for victim and society con: can’t make jail worse for those that commit worse crimes

Corrections- Deterrence Threat of prison decreases the likelihood of a first offense Memory of prison deters people from future crimes con: recidivism…

Recidivism repeated criminal behavior between 30-50% of people released from prison commit new crimes prison just an “occupational hazard” for some

Corrections- Rehabilitation Rehab programs offer job training, drug therapy, academic courses con: not many rehab programs are actually offered and/or are understaffed, underfunded

Corrections- Social Protection Criminals are off the streets, and unable to commit further crimes con: short sentences. “expert training” while in prison

Juvenile Justice System juvenile offenders (under 18) are the 3 rd largest category of criminals In some states, juveniles can be tried as adults for certain serious offenses

IN-CLASS DISCUSSION Crime Statistics, The Death Penalty

Obedience to authority Milgram Study Stanford Prison Experiment

GENERAL CRIME STATISTICS

Topics of Discussion Crime and Guns Crime and Age Crime and Gender Crime and Race

Interpreting Crime Statistics Ada county crime mapping U.S. crime mapping

The Death Penalty outlawed for crimes committed by anyone under the age 18 (2005) Supreme court holds that death penalty constitutes “cruel and unusual punishment” for mentally retarded persons (2002) Amnesty International Video