Deviant Behavior and and Social Control Chapter 7

Learning Objectives  Understand deviance as culturally relative.  Explain the functions and dysfunctions of deviance.  Distinguish between internal and external means of social control.  Differentiate among the various types of sanctions.  Describe and critique biological, psychological, and sociological theories of deviance.  Discuss the concept of anomie and its role in producing deviance.  Know how the Uniform Crime Reports and the National Crime Victimization Survey differ as sources of information about crime.  Describe the major features of the criminal justice system in the United States.

Defining Behavior Normal –behavior we most commonly expect to encounter Deviant – behavior that fails to conform to the rules or norms of the group in question (Durkheim)

Source of Definitions  Cultural expectations based on symbolic interpretation of: Good Good Bad Bad Right Right Wrong Wrong

Functions of Deviance  Émile Durkheim “An integral part of all healthy societies” “An integral part of all healthy societies” Causes members to connect, close ranksCauses members to connect, close ranks Prompts members to organize against future deviancePrompts members to organize against future deviance Clarifies beliefs and expectations of groupClarifies beliefs and expectations of group Teaches norms by providing examples of devianceTeaches norms by providing examples of deviance Acts as safety valve, inhibiting greater devianceActs as safety valve, inhibiting greater deviance Ex.: Amish teens-not required to conform right awayEx.: Amish teens-not required to conform right away

Dysfunctions of Deviance  Threat to the social order Makes social life difficult and unpredictable-threatens social order Makes social life difficult and unpredictable-threatens social order Causes confusion about the norms and values of a society Causes confusion about the norms and values of a society Undermines trust Undermines trust Consumes resources that must be shifted from other social needs Consumes resources that must be shifted from other social needs

Control Mechanisms  Internal Means Individual conformity as part of acceptance Individual conformity as part of acceptance Must internalize standards Must internalize standards  External Means Social rewards and punishments for failure to conform Social rewards and punishments for failure to conform

External Means  Sanctions-rewards and penalties Positive (rewards) Positive (rewards) Negative (penalties) Negative (penalties) Formal (public ritual, force of law) Formal (public ritual, force of law) Informal (spontaneous, indirect) Informal (spontaneous, indirect) +Formal: awards; testimonials +Informal: congrats +Formal: awards; testimonials +Informal: congrats -Formal: jail -Informal: silent treatment -Formal: jail -Informal: silent treatment

Theories of Crime and Deviance ♦ Biological Theories of Deviance ♦ ♦ Psychological Theories of Deviance ♦ ♦ Sociological Theories of Deviance ♦

Biological Theories  Cesare Lombroso Criminals are born as such Criminals are born as such Evolutionary throwback, instinct-driven Evolutionary throwback, instinct-driven Physiologically different – head, face, hair Physiologically different – head, face, hair  E.A. Hooten –anthropologist  Crime was not due to social conditions; it was the outgrowth of “organic inferiority”  Analyzed the height, weight, shape of body, nose, ears of criminals-differences

Biological Theories  William Sheldon: endomorph, ectomorph, mesomorph. Personality characteristics  Mid 1960s-XYY male  96% of XYY males-no crime  1% spend time in prison

Modern Biological Theories  Sarnoff Mednick: theory of inherited criminal tendencies-some inherit a genetic predisposition for criminal behavior  Low serotonin levels-may produce impulsive and aggressive behaviors  “Biocriminolgy”  Most believe that genes and environment interact

Psychological Theories  Psychoanalytic – Freud Unconscious; irrational thoughts and feelings lead to deviant acts Unconscious; irrational thoughts and feelings lead to deviant acts  Behavioral Adjusted in response to rewards and punishments / favorable outcomes repeated Adjusted in response to rewards and punishments / favorable outcomes repeated  Individual Choice – Wilson & Herrnstein Rational choice (punishment / benefit analysis) based on factors affecting people Rational choice (punishment / benefit analysis) based on factors affecting people

Psychological Theories  Consequences of crime: rewards and punishments-crime results when rewards are perceived to be great  The benefits of not committing crimes (no punishment or loss of reputation) are in the future; benefits are immediate

Sociological Theories  Anomie – Durkheim Values and norms lose impact / cultural guidance void exists Values and norms lose impact / cultural guidance void exists  Strain – Merton Lack of legitimate means to achieve financial success leads to deviance Lack of legitimate means to achieve financial success leads to deviance  Control – Hirschi Deviance is product of absence of social control / product of weak bonds to society Deviance is product of absence of social control / product of weak bonds to society

Merton’s Modes of Adaptation Mode Goal Means Conformity + + Innovation + - Ritualism - + Rebellion Retreatism - -

 Cultural Transmission Theory – Sutherland and Cressey Two components in which criminal behavior is learned: Two components in which criminal behavior is learned: Criminal techniquesCriminal techniques How to break into houses How to break into houses Criminal attitudesCriminal attitudes Rationalizations that justify criminal behavior Rationalizations that justify criminal behavior

 Labeling Theory Grounded in social process Grounded in social process A person must be labeled as deviantA person must be labeled as deviant Consequences of such labeling for the individual Consequences of such labeling for the individual Labeling dependent upon:Labeling dependent upon: Importance of norms violated Importance of norms violated Identity of the potential deviance Identity of the potential deviance Social context of the behavior Social context of the behavior

Two Levels of Deviance  Primary deviance The original behavior that leads to the application of the label to an individual The original behavior that leads to the application of the label to an individual  Secondary deviance The behavior that people develop as a result of having been labeled as deviant The behavior that people develop as a result of having been labeled as deviant

The Importance of Law  Legal code The formal rules, called laws, adopted by a society’s political authority The formal rules, called laws, adopted by a society’s political authority The code is enforced through the use of formal negative sanctions when rules are broken The code is enforced through the use of formal negative sanctions when rules are broken

Explanatory Approaches ConflictConsensus The Emergence of Laws

 Consensus approach Formalized version of norms and values of society Formalized version of norms and values of society  Conflict approach Elite use of power to support their own economic interests and go against the interests of the lower classes Elite use of power to support their own economic interests and go against the interests of the lower classes

Crime in the United States  Violent crime An unlawful event that may result in injury An unlawful event that may result in injury to a person. Aggravated assaultAggravated assault RapeRape MurderMurder RobberyRobbery

 Property crime An unlawful act that is committed with the intent of gaining property but that does not involve the use or threat of force against an individual. An unlawful act that is committed with the intent of gaining property but that does not involve the use or threat of force against an individual. LarcenyLarceny BurglaryBurglary Motor vehicle theftMotor vehicle theft

Classification of Crime  Felonies Offenses punishable by a year or more in state prison. Offenses punishable by a year or more in state prison.  Misdemeanors Less serious offenses punishable by jail or a fine. Less serious offenses punishable by jail or a fine.

 Juvenile crime The breaking of criminal laws by individuals younger than age 18 The breaking of criminal laws by individuals younger than age 18  Recidivism Repeated criminal behavior after punishment Repeated criminal behavior after punishment

 White-Collar Crime Coined by Edwin H. Sutherland (1940) Coined by Edwin H. Sutherland (1940) Refers to the acts of individuals who, while occupying positions of social responsibility or high prestige, break the law in the course of their work for the purpose of illegal personal or organizational gain Refers to the acts of individuals who, while occupying positions of social responsibility or high prestige, break the law in the course of their work for the purpose of illegal personal or organizational gain

 Victimless Crime – Violation of laws meant to enforce the moral code Personal use of narcotics Personal use of narcotics Illegal gambling Illegal gambling Public drunkenness Public drunkenness The sale of sexual services The sale of sexual services Status offenses by minors Status offenses by minors

Victims of Crime / Dependent Variables Race Race Gender Gender Age Age Socioeconomic status Socioeconomic status

The Criminal Justice System  Provides personnel and procedures for arrest, trial, and punishment to deal with violations of the law. Police Police Courts Courts Corrections Corrections

Social Role of Corrections  Four primary roles/goals Separate criminals from society Separate criminals from society Punish criminal behavior Punish criminal behavior Deter criminal behavior Deter criminal behavior Rehabilitate criminals Rehabilitate criminals

Problems with Corrections  Shortage of Prisons Overzealous establishment and enforcement of norms Overzealous establishment and enforcement of norms Budgetary constraints Budgetary constraints  Female Incarceration Family dependence problems; children as victims Family dependence problems; children as victims  Funnel Effect Under-reporting; minimum sentencing Under-reporting; minimum sentencing