Social Organization and Deviance What is social organization? Networks of relationships Why is it important to the study of deviance? The nature of deviance is an outcome of the relationships among deviants. Relationships, their strength and character, provide resources and opportunities for deviance. These resources include both skills and ideologies.

Social Organization and Deviance Best and Luckenbill focus on one key concept to examine the importance of social organization: Organizational Sophistication 3 elements: 1.Complexity 2.Coordination 3.Purposiveness

Social Organization and Deviance Elements Organizational Sophistication: 1.Complexity – Division of labor Size Stratification Specialization 2.Coordination Degree to which roles are formalized Degree to which rules are formalized 3.Purposiveness Goal orientation

Characteristics of Deviant Social Organizations: 4 Variables: 1.Mutual Association –In each others company, but unnecessary for completion of deviant act (strippers) 2.Mutual Participation –2 parties necessary for deviant act to occur –Deviant exchanges

Characteristics of Deviant Social Organizations: 3.Division of Labor –Elaborate or not –Coordination of roles in order to execute deviance –Teams, crews, etc. that perform hustles 4.Extended Organization –Extended over time and space –Durable and Broad in scope Time – multiple years – generations International Activity Examples?

Social Organization and Deviance Types of Relationships Type of Deviant Organization LonersColleaguesPeersMobs Formal Organizations Mutual Assoc Mutual Part Division of Labor Extended Org

Why is this interesting or useful in learning more about deviance in society? It provides a way to develop expectations about the nature of deviance. B&L advance 5 propositions: The more sophisticated the form of deviant organization, … the greater its members’ capability for complex deviant operations. the more elaborate the socialization of its members. the more elaborate the services provided its members. the greater its members involvement in deviance. The more secure its members deviant operations. Sophistication results in … complex capabilities, elaborate socialization, greater services (or benefits), greater involvement (or commitment to deviance as a way of life), and better security from detection