Chapter 7 Deviance and Social Control What is Deviance? Dimensions of Deviance Theoretical Perspectives on Social Deviance Crime and Social Control

What Is Deviance? Behavior that violates the norms of a society. Every society creates its own forms of deviance. Punishment of deviant acts reaffirms the commitment of a society’s members to its norms and values and reinforces social solidarity.

Deviant Subcultures Includes a system of values, attitudes, behaviors and lifestyles that are opposed to the dominant culture of the society. Members are also members of the larger society. Within the subculture, members pursue values that are opposed to those of the larger culture.

Biological Explanations of Deviance Relate criminality to physical features or body type. Early sociological theories of deviance viewed crime and other forms of social deviance as attributed to the evils of city life.

Functionalist Theories of Deviance Merton’s typology of deviance is based on how people adapt to the demands of their society. Through socialization, people learn what goals are approved of in their society and the approved means of achieving those goals. Individuals who do not accept the approved goals are likely to engage in deviant behaviors.

Cultural Conflict Theories of Deviance Cultural conflict: concentrates on the ways in which conflicting sets of norms result in situations that encourage criminal activity. Marxian: emphasizes class conflict, explaining various types of crime in terms of the social- class position of those who commit them.

Interactionist Theory of Deviance Society’s reactions to certain behaviors is to brand or label the offender as deviant. Focus on: Why some people become deviant whereas others do not. The creation of new categories of deviance in a society.

Functions of Prisons Deterrence Rehabilitation Punishment

Prisons Do not seem to deter crime. Numerous studies show that prisons are not successful at rehabilitation and often serve as “schools for crime”. Rehabilitation programs that are effective give inmates job training and work experience.