CHAP# 6 Deviance & Social Control Deviance: is behavior that violates the standards of conduct or expectations of a group or society. Example: Alcoholics, gamblers & mentally ill are considered as deviants. Being late for class is considered as deviant act. On the basis of the sociological definition, we are all deviant from time to time. Each of us violates common social norms in certain situations.

Conti… Deviance is a comprehensive concept that includes not only criminal behavior, but also many actions that are not subject to prosecution. In most instances, those individuals and groups with the greatest status and power define what is acceptable and what is Deviant.

Conti… For example, despite serious medical warnings against the dangers of tobacco, cigarette smoking continued, because of the power of tobacco farmers and cigarette manufacturers. Only after a long campaign led by public health and anticancer activities, smoking cigarette became a deviant activity. Today many state and local laws limit where people can smoke.

Stigmatization Deviance can include relatively minor day to day decisions about our personal behavior, in some cases it can become part of a person’s identity. This process is called stigmatization (Social Stigma).

Deviance & Social Stigma Once people have been assigned a deviant role, they have trouble presenting a positive image to others and many even experience lowered self-esteem. For example a whole group of short people may be labeled in this way. Stigma describes the labels that society uses to devalue members of certain social groups.

Conti… Homeless people often have trouble getting a job, because employers are wary Of applicants who cannot give a home address. If they succeed getting a job, regardless of their positive attributes, employers regard the spoiled identity of homelessness as sufficient reason to dismiss an employee.

Crime Crime: is a violation of criminal law. Crime represents a deviation from formal social norms administered by the state.

Basis for the Division of Crime Law divides crimes into various types, depending on the severity of the offense, the age of the offender, the possible punishment, and the court that holds jurisdiction over the case.

Types of Crime Sociologists classify crimes in terms of how they are committed and how society views the offense. Following, five, are the types of crime according to sociological perspective. (i)Victimless crime (ii)Professional crime (iii) Organized crime

Conti… (iv) white-collar crime (v) Transnational crime Let’s explain these types in detail

1. Victimless Crime Victimless crime describes the willing illegal exchange of goods and services among adults. Example: drug abuse, gambling, excessive drinking etc.

2. Professional Crime Professional crimes are career crimes. A professional criminal is a person who follows crime as a day-to-day occupation. He develops skills for crimes and enjoy a certain degree of status among other criminals. Examples: safe-cracking, hi-jacking of cargo, pick pocketing and shop lifting.

Organized Crimes A preplanned crime committed by a group is called organized crime. The group regulates relations among criminal enterprises. Organized crime dominates the world of illegal business. It serves as a means of upward mobility for groups of people who struggle to escape poverty. Example: gambling, smuggling, sale of illegal drugs etc.

White-Collar & Technology Based Crime White-Collar Crime: is an illegal act committed in the course of business activities by respectable people. Examples: Income tax evasion, stock manipulation, consumer fraud, bribery & extraction of kickbacks, embezzlement, and misrepresentation in advertising.

Conti… Technology Based Crime: it is a type of White-Collar Crime committed with the help of Technology.

Transnational Crimes Transnational Crime is a crime that occurs across multiple national borders. Organized criminal networks are increasingly global. Technology, definitely, facilitate such crimes. Examples: drugs, and stolen art, and antiques.

Causes of Crimes A few of the many causes of crimes are discussed below. 1. Lack of Family Control 2. illiteracy & Ignorance 3. Poverty 4. Factions (Parties, Groups) & Feuds (disputes, quarrels) 5. Un-employment

Conti… 6. Electronic Media 7. Defective Marriages 8. unethical Norms of the society 9. Psychological Disorders 10. ambitions 11. Weak Control of the state government 12. Lack of effective punishments & the rule of law

Effects of Crimes Increase of crime in a society enhances the problems of: Economic Social Psychological sufferings of the masses 1. ECONOMIC: the government purse is heavily taxed due to increasing rate of crimes. The government has to spend on

Conti… Police force, judiciary, jail and such other related agencies which ultimately affect the national budget. 2. SOCIAL: the increasing rate of crime in the country disorganizes and disintegrates the whole society and affects all the social institutions adversely. 3. PSYCHOLOGICAL: the crime rate is

Conti… Already increased in our country & still on the increase. It gives birth to other problems due to psychological pressure, like depression and tension. For example, the murder of the head of the family brings hundred and one problems for the wife, children and other dependents.

Suggestions to control crimes The following steps are suggested to decrease & control crimes. 1. Education 2. Up-grading Moral Standards 3. Early Detection 4. Detention Home: in detention home the new offenders are kept separate from the hardened offenders under the supervision of trained personnel.

Conti… 5. Play & Recreation 6. Revival of Religious values 7. Positive role of Print & Electronic Media 8. Role of NGO’s 9. Role of religious & political leaders 10. The dispense of impartial justice & rule of the law

Conti… 11. Reduction & Elimination of Poverty 12. Availability of jobs 13. the just distribution of wealth & resources. 14. strong vigilance of the family over its members 15. role of the sociologists, psychologists, & medical science. 16. Check on Social disorganization