D EVIANCE The violation of cultural norms Crime – violation of norms made into law

I S DEVIANCE BIOLOGICAL ? Caesare Lombroso Prison physician (19 th century Italy) Noticed most incarcerated men had common body structure Low forehead Prominent jaw Excessive hairiness Darker skin tone But, he was missing a very important factor. Do we still look for biological explanations for deviance and crime?

S OCIAL F OUNDATIONS OF D EVIANCE Deviance does not exist on its own; it is shaped by society. Every society has its own ideas and reactions to deviance.

S OCIAL F OUNDATIONS OF D EVIANCE Deviance varies according to cultural norms. Burping after a meal Mt. Prospect – law against keeping pigeons and bees What is acceptable in the US, but not in other places?

S OCIAL F OUNDATIONS OF D EVIANCE People become deviant as others define them that way Saints and Roughnecks Mental illness?

S OCIAL F OUNDATIONS OF D EVIANCE Both rulemaking and rule breaking involve social power. Laws are made by those who are in power Our norms and how they are applied reflect social inequality White collar crime vs. Street crime

S TRUCTURAL -F UNCTIONAL A NALYSIS Durkheim Deviance affirms cultural values and norms. Responding to deviance clarifies moral boundaries. Responding to deviance promotes social unity. Deviance encourages social change.

S TRUCTURAL -F UNCTIONAL A NALYSIS Merton’s Strain Theory Create a counter culture

S TRUCTURAL -F UNCTIONAL A NALYSIS Cloward and Ohlin Relative opportunity structure (what a person has access to) Criminal subculture Conflict subculture (armed street gangs; frustration with lack of opportunity and desire for respect) Retreatist subculture (dropout of society; drugs and alcohol)

S OCIAL -C ONFLICT A NALYSIS Deviance and Power Deviance reflects social inequality; it is those who lack power who are labeled as deviant (e.g. bag ladies and unemployed men are deviants, while tax evaders and those who profit from war are not) If the behavior of the powerful is called into question, they have the resources to resist being labeled deviant Widespread belief that norms and laws are natural and good masks their political nature (we question the unequal application of law, but do not generally consider whether the laws themselves are inherently fair)

S OCIAL -C ONFLICT A NALYSIS Deviance and Capitalism Deviant labels are applied to those who impede the operation of capitalism Because capitalism is based on private ownership, those who threaten the property of others are considered deviant. Those who exploit the poor, however, are just engaged in business Because capitalism depends on productive labor, those who do not work are labeled as deviant, regardless of the reason for not working. Anyone who directly challenges the status quo is considered deviant.

S YMBOLIC I NTERACTION A NALYSIS Labeling Theory deviance and conformity result, not from what people do, but how their actions are labeled. Passing – engaging in a deviant activity, but not labeled Discreditable – engaging in a deviant act but not yet labeled Discredited – engaging in a deviant act and labeled for it Spoiled identity – a damaged reputation; often develops after being labeled deviant

S YMBOLIC I NTERACTION A NALYSIS The Deviant Career (Lemert) Primary Deviance deviance that is not recognized or noticed by other may be intentionally hidden Secondary Deviance deviance that is discovered and labeled generally experience consequences begin to take on deviant identity Stigma a powerfully negative social label that radically changes a person’s self-concept and social identity

S YMBOLIC I NTERACTION A NALYSIS Differential Association (Sutherland) 1 – Criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other people. 2 – The principle part of learning occurs within intimate personal groups. 3 – The learning includes techniques as well as directions for motive, rationalization, and attitude. 4 – The definition of motives is based on whether laws are viewed as favorable or unfavorable. 5 – A person become delinquent when there are more favorable motives for violating the law than there are unfavorable ones. 6 – Criminal behavior is learned the same way we learn everything else.