SOCIAL CONTROL Societal attempts to regulate people’s thoughts & behavior: Three types 1. Personal Control 2. Informal Social Control 3. Formal Social Control  CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM Formal response by police, courts, and prison officials to alleged violations of law

 Early interest in deviance (criminality) focused on biological causes  Criminals stand out physically  Cesare Lombroso, Facial ( )  Sheldon, Body structure

To the trained eye people organized into categories. Those in group "A" are shoplifters "B" are swindlers "H" are purse snatchers, "E" are murderers, etc. You can see a man's real character at a glance.

 Body structure and criminality Sheldon

CRITIQUE: BIOLOGICAL THEORIES 1. Limited to explanation of crime 2. Most actions defined as deviant are carried out by people who are physically normal

Deviance Behavior, belief, or condition that violates social norms Skipping Examples: 1. Drinking too much 2. Robbing a bank 3. Laughing during a funeral

Deviance vs Conformity  Range of unacceptable behavior outside ideal norm  Outside the boundary = deviance

Body Mass Index Calculator  BMI Weight Status  Below 18.5 Underweight  18.5 – 24.9 Normal  25.0 – 29.9 Overweight  30.0 and Above Obese

 Over conforming

Under conforming->

Normative Definition Violation of a norm  Deviance--Violation of a norm, a socially- shared standard of conduct  Norms=What persons should/should not do  Behaviors that are “normal” in certain situations  Most popular sociological definition of deviance

Legalist Definition  Deviance is an act that breaches a law.  Problem 1: Not all deviant acts are illegal.  Problem 2: Not all illegal acts are deviant.

Structural-Functionalist  Functions of Deviance:  Affirms cultural values  Generates & sustains morality  Clarifies moral boundaries  Promotes social unity  Encourages social change

Absolutist View of Deviance  2 fundamental types of human behavior 1. Inherently good 2. Inherently bad  Deviance is potentially destructive Society needs to control or eliminate

Relativism and Deviance  Location:  Speaking loudly during church service  Speaking loudly at a party would not.  Taking the life of another person  During war, deviant

4/2 Relativism and Deviance  Time Period: Alcoholic beverages legal to produce, transport, and sell  Not legal—Prohibition:January 16, 1919  Legal:Repealed in 1933  Age: 5-year-old can cry in a supermarket  Older child or adult cannot

Relativism and Deviance  Social status: Famous people, rich people  Culture:  United States: Customers do not barter or negotiate for goods  Other countries: People haggle over the price  Not to do so is deviant

Other Influences on Definitions of Deviance Situational Circumstances

Societal Reaction Theories

Processes by which: Certain types of behavior become viewed as unacceptable, deviant, or criminal Deviance is not a quality of an act Deviance is based on reaction Societal Reaction

Symbolic interaction theory Labeling theory Societal Reaction Theories

Symbolic Interactionism Stresses the importance of the real or imagined reactions of others upon how we act and how we view of ourselves.

Labeling Theory Society causes deviance How and why society labels certain behaviors deviant Response to behavior Rather than behavior

Mental Disorders er_embedded 20 Million Kids & Adolescents are labeled with "mental disorders" based on a checklist of behaviors. No brain scans, x-rays, genetic or blood tests can prove they are "mentally ill

Edwin Lemert: Primary and Secondary Deviation Process of labeling Deviant behavior results from a stigmatized sense of self Primary deviance: General deviance before labeling Example: Person gets drunk several times— sees self as enjoying party

Secondary Deviance Result of labeling Example: Person notices that friends hide liquor during visits Sees self as a ‘drunk’  Continues to get drunk

Merton’s Strain Theory Some deviance may be necessary for society to function Extent and kind of deviance Depends on whether society provides the means to achieve cultural goals Conformity=Pursuing cultural goals through approved means

CONFORMITY  SOCIALLLY APPROVED GOAL:  Making $$$ SOCIALLY APPROVED MEANS: Get a college education Work Hard

DEVIANCE: Innovation  SOCIALLLY APPROVED GOAL:  Making $$$  NOT SOCIALLY APPROVED MEANS:  Sell illegal drugs  White collar crime  Join the mafia

Deviance: Ritualism  SOCIALLLY APPROVED GOAL:  Making $$$  FAIL TO ACHIEVE SOCIALLY APPROVED GOAL:  Keep working hard anyway

Deviance: Retreatism  SOCIALLLY APPROVED GOAL:  Making $$$  REJECT GOAL AND THE MEANS:  Work in supermarket & live with parents

Deviance: Rebellion  SEEK NEW GOAL:  Adventure  Promoting equality  NEW MEANS  Work for political change  Start a revolution  Join a cult

Medicalization of Deviance  Transformation of moral and legal deviance into a medical condition  Moral terms  “Bad” or “Good”  Legal terms  “Crime” or “Legal”  Medical terms  “Sick” or “Well”

THE DIFFERENCE LABELS MAKE  Three consequences: 1. Who responds to deviance 2. How people respond 3. Personal competence of the person

TRAVIS HIRSCHI: CONTROL THEORY  Conformity linked to four types of social control 1. Attachment 1. Attachment–> Significant others 2. Commitment 2. Commitment—Course of action 3. Involvement 3. Involvement—Legitimate use of time & energy 4. Belief 4. Belief—Common values

Deviance is not simply the violation of some agreed upon rule political power What is considered deviant is largely a function of the ability of groups with political power to impose their concept (or meaning) of right and wrong on the behavior of other groups. Social groups create deviance by making the rules whose infraction constitutes deviance

Social-Conflict Approach 1. Norms & laws of society reflect interests of rich & powerful 2. The Powerful have resources to resist deviant labels 3. Widespread belief that norms & laws are natural masks political character