SOCIOLOGY 31 Introduction and Deviance and Crime

DEFINITION OF SOCIOLOGY Sociology – the scientific study of social interaction and social organization We are born and develop into human beings in a social environment What we think, how we feel, and what we say all are shaped by our interactions with other people Sociology allows us to bring systematic scientific thinking and information on difficult questions associated with social policies and choices, poverty, health, immigration, crime, and education

DEVIANCE Deviance is any behavior that violates a norm Norms = rules; norms and social control function to maintain social organization and social relationships Every society has a range of societal reactions to deviance; some deviant behavior is considered reprehensible (murder) and some is deemed as trivial (wearing unfashionable clothes)

DEVIANCE (Continued) Some deviant behavior is not considered immoral or wrong; deviance can be relative to a society, but that does not mean morality has no importance Some examples of deviance are: compulsive gambling, alcoholism, drug addiction, shoplifting Areas of behavior that were not considered deviant in the past, such as child abuse and family violence, are now receiving much media attention; new areas of deviancy such as date rape and political incorrectness have been created

FUNCTIONS OF DEVIANCE Deviant behavior is dysfunctional because it undermines the trust between family members, which can in turn threaten our most important social relationships and institutions Reacting publicly to deviance can promote conformity; “good” people can define themselves as an in-group in contrast to the out-group of deviants Because norms are not always clear, an in-group can react negatively towards a certain behavior, and therefore strongly define a norm

FUNCTIONS OF DEVIANCE (Continued) By directing attention to deviant behaviors, a group may strengthen itself; a shared enemy leads to feelings of solidarity Deviance is a catalyst for change; every time a rule/norm is violated, the existing social system is challenged Deviance can show how a social system is not working and may need to be redefined

SOCIAL CONTROL Social control = the methods and strategies that regulate behavior within society People must follow rules if the work of the world is to get done Without social order, interaction would be a real problem and expectations would be meaningless There are three main types of social control

SOCIAL CONTROL 1: INTERNALIZATION This is the process by which individuals incorporate the standards of behavior prevalent in society within their personalities Individuals must learn what the norms are and recognize them as legitimate

SOCIAL CONTROL 2: SOCIAL EXPERIENCE We are culture-bound If we are locked within the social environment provided by our culture, we inhabit a restricted world Therefore we do not know that alternative standards and norms exist in other cultures

SOCIAL CONTROL 3: FORMAL AND INFORMAL SANCTIONS We conform to the norms of society because we realize if we do not, we will incur punishment People who break rules are met with dislike, hostility, gossip, ridicule, ostracism, imprisonment, or death Conformists win praise, popularity, and prestige Formal sanctions = reactions of official agents of social control, such as the police, judges, and school administrators Informal sanctions = reactions to deviance that occur in small communities, groups of friends, and families

ANOMIE THEORY Anomie = social condition in which people find it difficult to guide their behavior by norms they believe are weak, unclear, or conflicting People who act according to this theory may engage in “innovative” activities such as prostitution, sale of illegal drugs, forging checks, swindling, embezzling, stealing, burglary, and extortion These people engage in these activities in an attempt to purchase the symbols of success

CULTURAL TRANSMISSION THEORY Criminals imitate the ways of individuals they have met, known, or heard about For example, delinquent and criminal behaviors are a product of economic conditions Youths who live in urban areas learn these behaviors because they associate with juvenile delinquents

CONFLICT THEORY The most powerful and successful groups in society dictate what the norms are For example, Marxists believe alcoholism, drug abuse, mental illness, family violence, sexual immorality, and prostitution are a product of the “corrupt” capitalist system Marxists believe capitalism oppresses the poor, women, African Americans, and other minorities

LABELING THEORY Labeling theorists believe we all engage in deviant behavior (exceed the speed limit, get drunk, experiment with illegal drugs, cheat on homework, shoplift, swim in the nude, etc.) but these actions go unnoticed by agents of social control People’s acts will be seen as deviant if society chooses to define the act as “bad” Societal response to an act, not the behavior itself, determines deviance

CONTROL THEORY This theory asks why people DO NOT deviate Even though are so concerned that there is too much deviance in our society, it is truly remarkable how much conformity there is Most of us, including deviants, conform most of the time Why? – people conform because they are integrated into mainstream institutions; our society has properly functioning institutions

CRIME Crime = an act of deviance that is prohibited by law Not all acts of deviance are crimes even though they break rules and established norms The FBI annual reports on eight types of index crimes = violent crimes against people (murder, rape, robbery, assault) and crimes against property (burglary, theft, motor vehicle theft, arson)

TYPES OF CRIME Organized crime – large scale, bureaucratic organizations that provide illegal goods and services in public demand, such as prostitution, drugs, pornography, gambling, loan-sharking Hate crimes – crimes of hatred and bias White-collar crime – crimes committed by relatively affluent (rich, well-off) people often in the course of business activities (fraud, embezzlement, bribery, tax evasion, insider trading) Victimless crime – offense where no none is considered a victim (gambling, sale and use of illicit drugs, prostitution) Hi-tech crimes – attempts to commit crimes through the use of advanced media (child pornography, credit card fraud, mail bombings, software piracy, industrial espionage, computer network break-ins)

REPORTING OF CRIMES U.S. Justice Department studies reveal that less than half of all crimes are reported to the police Citizens will report crimes dependent upon how serious they believe crimes are Another reason why crimes are reported is because law enforcement focuses on crimes committed by young people and individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds

INCREASING PRISON POPULATION The crime has decreased over the past few decades, yet the prison population has been increasing; Why? Crime management resources are devoted to protecting potential victims by locking away offenders rather than eradicating criminal behaviors When employment increases, prison growth decreases Declines in welfare spending result in increased incarceration rates

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT This is the imposition of the death sentence for a capital offense Capital offenses include murder, kidnapping, rape, drug trafficking, and treason (they vary by state) Legal execution methods are lethal injection, electrocution, lethal gas, hanging, and firing squads Arguments FOR are deterrence (scare offenders) and incapacitation (offender cannot repeat the crime) Arguments AGAINST are that it’s immoral, unethical, it’s still murder, it’s costly (cost of trials and lengthy appeals are more costly than long prison sentences)