Chapter 7 Crime and Deviance

What is Deviance? Behavior that violates a norm Behavior that is successfully labeled deviant

Is Deviance “wrong,” “immoral,” “sinister”? Not really the point E.g., is Homosexuality wrong? – Again, not the point – Is it deviant behavior? At this point in history, in this country…. Yes – violates a norm AND successfully labeled

Criminal Acts – some deviance becomes law The majority of criminal acts: Lack planning Are performed incompetently Tell Stark story of escaped convict in carpool lane Result in trivial gains average robbery of a service station = $546.

Book examples… Robbery – taking from another by force Burglary – unlawful entry and theft both a young person’s game, a male game - 91% of those arrested of robbery males under the age of 25. Burglary 5 times more common than robbery

Homicide Rate today “high” or “low”? 50s and 60s about 5 per 100,000 1980 peak 10.2 per… Today about 5.5 per… US Rate “high” or “low” compared to other countries? High, but less so than 20 years ago Killers often quite similar to victims (in race, age, sex) Today more than 50% killed by stranger (up from 1990s) For women victims well over 50% killed by non-stranger In fact, over 50% female victims killed by “intimate”

Drugs Legalize? Use “up” or “down”? (“tracks in arm” story) In general, peak in 1979, down in 80s, up through mid-90s, down recently True of alcohol, smoking, marijuana and many more serious E.g., marijuana In 2003, 21% HS seniors last 30 days, 48 % lifetime 1979, 37% HS seniors last 30, 60% lifetime

Theory can focus on two things Etiology…. Study of causes…. “why do they do it?” How does something come to be seen as deviance in the first place – How are deviance categories “constructed”

Etiology - Why do they do it? Biological theories E.g., gender Psychological theories E.g., Mental illness, Personality Theories Sociological theories E.g., learning, structural strains

Bio factors do matter IQ related to crime Gender and age powerful social structural predictors of crime. Why? Gender, some say only socialization But why gender stronger predictor of violent crimes than property? Probably also has to do with strength A man more likely to be physically capable of violent crime Strength and energy decline with age

Behavioral Genetics A study in Denmark examined 3,586 twin pairs. Identical twins - if one twin had a serious criminal record, odds were 50-50, the other twin did, too. Fraternal twins - if one twin was a criminal, the odds were only 1 in 5 that the other twin also was a criminal.

Gottfredson and Hirschi: Elements Of Self-control (A personality theory) People with low self-control = unwillingness or inability to defer gratification. prefer actions that are simple and easy. thrill seekers indifferent, or insensitive to the suffering and needs of others.

Sociological theories Learning/subcultural/deviant attachment Structural strain Control Integration Labeling

Learning/attachment theories Subcultures reinforce deviance – “norms” for one group may be deviance for another Socialization “always” successful Differential Association (Edwin Sutherland) most famous Explains White-collar crime? Policy implications?

Merton: Structural Strain Cultural goals uniform (American Dream) Means to achieving goals not (social structure = variation in life chances) disadvantaged will not be able to achieve their goals at all, or as easily as people better placed in the system. Policy implications? Problems? Most crime not utilitarian Rich also commit crimes Status Aspirations negatively to crime

Control Theories Replaces the question: Why do they do it? with Why don’t they do it? Durheim says “moral” and “social” Travis Hirschi more micro – “stakes in conformity” – “social bonds” attachments Investments Involvements beliefs

Labeling Theory Looking glass self, W.I. Thomas Theorem, Self-fulfilling prophecy Primary deviance is the behavior a person engages in that causes others to label him or her as deviant. Secondary deviance is behavior that is a reaction to having been labeled a deviant.

Liska: Three Ways Labels Cause People to Deviate A deviant label, such as burglar, alcoholic, or prostitute, limits legitimate economic and occupational opportunities. A deviant label will impact attachments Being labeled a deviant can affect self concept. (If others see us as deviants, we may come to accept their judgments.)