Sociology: Your Compass for a New World Robert J. Brym and John Lie Wadsworth Group/Thomson Learning © 2003

Deviance and Crime Chapter 6

Deviance and Crime WDeviance Involves Breaking a Norm. WCrime Involves Breaking a Law. WBoth Crime and Deviance Evoke Societal Reactions That Help Define the Seriousness of the Rule-breaking Incident.

The Seriousness of Deviance and Crime I The Seriousness of Deviant and Criminal Acts Depends on The Severity of the Societal Response to Them WTheir Perceived Harmfulness WThe Degree of Public Agreement About Whether They Should Be Considered Deviant or Criminal

The Seriousness of Deviance and Crime II WSocial Diversions Are Acts That Rank Lowest on the Three Dimensions of Seriousness. WSocial Deviations Rank Higher on the Three Dimensions. WConflict Crimes Rank Higher Still. WConsensus Crimes Rank Highest on the Three Dimensions.

Types of Deviance and Crime Source: Hagan (1994). Consensus crime: wearing samurai hair style in medieval Japan Conflict crime: growing a long beard in early 17 th century Russia Social deviation: wearing long hair in John Lie’s high school Social diversion: dyeing your hair purple in the U.S.A. today Evaluation of Severity of Social Harm Social Response Relatively harmless Very harmful Severe Mild High agreement Confusion, apathy Agreement about the norm

The Variability of Deviance and Crime WDefinitions of Deviance and Crime Are Historically and Culturally Variable. WThey Are Socially Defined and Constructed. WThey Are Not Inherent in Actions or the Characteristics of Individuals.

Power, Deviance, and Crime WPower Is a Key Element in Defining Deviance and Crime. WPowerful Groups Are Generally Able to Create Norms and Laws That Suit Their Interests. WLess Powerful Groups Are Usually Unable to Do So.

Crime Statistics WCrime Statistics Come From W Official Sources W Self-report Surveys W Indirect Measures WEach Source Has Strengths and Weaknesses

Percent of Population Victimized Once or More in Preceding Twelve Months, by Type of Crime, 1996 Percent of Population Type of Crime Source: Besserer (1998). Note: Horizontal lines indicate international average for each type of crime.

The Declining Crime Wave The Crime Wave of the 60s and 70s Tapered off in the 80s and Fell Substantially in the 90s Due to WMore Policing WA Smaller Proportion of Young Men in the Population WA Booming Economy WA Decline in the Number of Unwanted Children Resulting From the Availability of Abortion

Violent Crime, U.S.A., , Rate per 100,000 Population Rate per 100,000 population Year Note: 1999 figures for January-June only. Sources: U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (1999a; 1999b). Aggravated assault Robbery Rape Murder

Property Crime, U.S.A., , Rate per 100,000 Population Rate per 100,000 population Year Note: 1999 figures for January-June only. Sources: U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (1999a; 1999b). Larceny-theft Burglary Motor vehicle theft

Abortions and Crime, U.S.A., Source: Holloway (1999: 24).

African Americans and Crime WAfrican Americans Experience Relatively High Arrest, Conviction, and Incarceration Rates Due To: W Bias in the Way Crime Statistics Are Collected W The Low Social Standing of the African- American Community W Racial Discrimination in the Criminal Justice System

Theories of Crime WMotivational Theories W Strain Theory W Subcultural Theory W The Theory of Differential Association WConstraint Theories W Labeling Theory W Control Theory W Conflict Theory

Social Control WAll Societies Insure That Their Members Obey Norms and Laws by Imposing Sanctions on Rule Breakers. WThe Degree and Form of Social Control Vary Historically and Culturally. WSome Sociologists Say That Social Control Is Weaker and Deviance Is Greater in Industrial Societies Than in Pre-industrial Societies. WOther Sociologists Note That in Some Respects Social Control Is Greater in Industrial Societies.

The Prison WThe Prison Has Become an Important Form of Punishment in Modern Industrial Societies. WSince the 1980s, the Incarceration Rate Has Shot up in the United States. WPrisons Now Focus Less on Rehabilitation Than on Isolating and Incapacitating Inmates.

Moral Panic WThe Mushrooming Prison Population Is a Consequence of the Moral Panic That Has Engulfed the Nation on the Crime Issue. WIn All Aspects of Crime Prevention and Punishment, Most Americans Have Taken a “Get-tough” Stance. WA Variety of Commercial and Political Groups Benefit From the Moral Panic Over Crime and Therefore Encourage It.

The Death Penalty Some People View the Death Penalty As WA Form of Revenge WA Deterrent WIt Is Ineffective Unless Frequently Applied WA Form of Justice WStrong Racial Biases and Frequent Errors Suggest Otherwise WA Way of Saving Money WWith Appeals, It Is Often More Expensive Than Life Imprisonment

“Do you believe in capital punishment, that is, the death penalty, or are you opposed to it?” U.S.A., (percent “for”) Source: The Harris Poll, as cited in Maguire and Pastore (1988: 138); Newport (2000). Year Percent

Rehabilitation Rehabilitative Correctional Facilities Are WOften Effective, Especially for Less Serious Offenders WRelatively Inexpensive to Maintain WUnlikely to Become Widespread in the Current Political Climate