Chapter 5 Deviance and Crime

The Nature of Deviance Theories of Deviance Social Properties of Deviance Social Control and Deviance Theories of Deviance Anomie Theory Cultural Transmission Theory Conflict Theory Labeling Theory Control Theory McGraw-Hill © 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Crime and the Criminal Justice System 5-1b Crime and the Criminal Justice System Forms of Crime Measuring Crime Drugs and Crime Women and Crime The Criminal Justice System The Purposes of Imprisonment McGraw-Hill © 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Theories of Deviance 5-2a FUNCTIONALISM Anomie: When the normative order breaks down, weak, unclear, or conflicting norms result in people having trouble guiding their behavior. Merton’s Theory of structural Strain: Rates of conformity are highest when societies socialize people to seek culturally acceptable goals and provide institutionalized (and legitimate) means for attaining their goals. When there is a disjuncture between acceptable goals and institutional means, people respond with one or more adaptations (innovation, retreatism, rebellion, or ritualism) that generate deviance. Criticism: Not all deviance stems from gaps between goals and means; this theory does not account for middle-class deviance, for example. McGraw-Hill © 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Theories of Deviance (continued) 5-2b Theories of Deviance (continued) FUNCTIONALISM Control: This theory asks why people do NOT deviate. Hirschi and the Elements of Social Bond: People do not deviate if their bond to society (through the processes of attachment, involvement, commitment, and belief) is strong. Criticism: Social bond does not control deviance equally across social groups or societies; it also does not explain all deviance. McGraw-Hill © 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Theories of Deviance (continued) 5-3b Theories of Deviance (continued) CONFLICT Conflict: Norms, laws, and processes of social control and enforcement reflect the interests of the most powerful elements in society. Quinney’s Theory of Class, State, and Crime: Assumes that the U.S. legal system reflects the interests of the ruling capitalist class. Criticism: Research results are not always consistent with assumptions; more investigation is needed. McGraw-Hill © 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Theories of Deviance (continued) 5-4b Theories of Deviance (continued) SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM Cultural Transmission: Deviance is learned. Sutherland’s Differential Association Theory: Deviant attitudes and behaviors are learned in intimate groups. People who learn favorable attitudes toward deviance are more likely to deviate. Criticism: Not all deviance is acquired from other deviants; not all people who have deviant associates are deviant. McGraw-Hill © 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Theories of Deviance (continued) 5-5b Theories of Deviance (continued) SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM Labeling: When individuals are related to as deviant, they may think of themselves as deviant and embark on a career of deviance. The Social Reaction to Deviance Approach (Lemert, Becker, and Erickson): Societal response to an act defines deviance; having defined an act as deviant increases the chances of such deviance occurring in the future. Criticism: It tells us little about the initial causes of deviance. McGraw-Hill © 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

5-3 Figure 5.1 Merton’s Typology of Modes of Individual Adaptation to Anomie Source: Adapted with the permission of The Free Press, a Division of Simon & Schuster from Social Theory and Social Structure by Robert K. Merton. Copyright © 1949, 1957 by The Free Press; copyright renewed 1977, 1985 by Robert K. Merton. McGraw-Hill

5-4 Figure 5.2 The Operation of the Criminal Justice System in the United States Sources: (a) Lawrence A. Greenfield, “Prison Sentences and Time Served for Violence,” Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report (U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs), NCJ 153858, April 1995. (b) U.S. Department of Justice, 2000. (c) Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2000. McGraw-Hill

5-5 Figure 5.3 The United States Imprisons a Larger Share of Its Population than Do Many Other Nations McGraw-Hill Source: www.sentencingproject.org/policy/9030.htm.