Chapter 6: Deviance and Social Control:

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Chapter 6 Deviance and Social Control

• Sickos, Perverts, Freaks, and People like Us

Soc 100
Dr. Santos
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Introduction

• Deviance- the violation of social norms
• Stigma- the disapproval attached to disobeying
  the expected norms
• Crime- the forms of deviance in which formal
  penalties are imposed by the society
• We are all deviant at some time or another and in
  some places

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What is deviance?

• Deviance is a violation of ever-changing social
  norms
• Deviance is culturally dependent and historically
  located, exists always in juxtaposition with some
  normality
• Deviance is socially constructed even though some
  of it might be characterized as an immoral
  absolute
• Deviance is overlooked in some situations

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Who/what is defined as deviant?

• Both acts and individuals (and even entire
  groups) can be defined as deviant Condemn the
  sin, love the sinner, aliens, misfits. etc.
• Low status persons (e.g. ethnic minorities, poor
  people) are more likely to be perceived as
  deviant, their good behavior explained away
• Higher status persons (e.g. priests, doctors) are
  less likely to be defined as deviant, their bad
  behavior explained away

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Structural-functionalist viewpoint

• Deviance serves vital functions for society
• Sets examples of unacceptable behavior
• Provides guidelines for (opposite) behavior that
  is necessary to maintain social order
• Bonds people together through their common
  rejection of deviant behavior
• Provides jobs for those who deal with deviants
• Can signal problems in a society that need
  addressed (stimulate positive change)
• Opens societies to new and creative paths of
  thinking

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Misconceptions about deviance

• Some acts are inherently deviant
• Those who deviate are socially identified and
  recognized
• Deviants purposely and knowingly break the law
• Deviance occurs because there is a dishonest,
  selfish element to human nature

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Micro-level explanations of deviance

• Social control theory - our bonds with society
  encourage us to conform with fewer bonds, we are
  more likely to be deviant
• Rational choice theory - the decision to be
  deviant depends upon a cost/benefit analysis of
  sanctions

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• Differential association theory - conformity or
  deviance is learned from those we spend time with
• Labeling theory - behavior is not intrinsically
  deviant, but becomes deviant because it is
  labeled as such
• Members of a society define (label) what is
  deviant and impose sanctions for that behavior
• Individuals who engage in primary deviance are
  not labeled, but those who engage in secondary
  deviance are

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Labeling theory, cont.

• Being labeled can reinforce deviant behavior by
• Increasing alienation
• Forcing increased interaction with deviant peers
• Motivating juvenile delinquents to positively
  value and identify with the deviant status
• Deviance becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy
• Those with less power in society are more likely
  to be labeled as deviants

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Meso and macro-level explanations of deviance

• Structural-functionalist theories
• Anomie - the breakdown of the norms guiding
  behavior leads to social disorganization
• Strain theory - those with fewer resources are
  less able to achieve societally shared goals and
  may resort to deviant behaviors to achieve their
  desired goals

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Mertons ways of adapting to strain

• Conformity - embracing the society's definition
  of success and adhering to the established and
  approved means of achieving success
• Innovation - use of illicit means to reach
  approved goals
• Ritualism - strict adherence to culturally-
  prescribed rules, even though individuals give up
  on the goals they hoped to achieve
• Retreatism - giving up on both the goals and the
  means
• Rebellion - rejecting the socially approved ideas
  of "success" and the means of attaining that
  success, but replaces those with alternative
  definitions of success and alternative strategies
  for attaining the new goals

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• Conflict theory - deviance is a result of social
  inequality
• Elites want to maintain control, so they define
  what is deviant to benefit themselves and deflect
  attention from their own behaviors
• The greater the power differentials and
  inequalities, especially class, the greater the
  conflict in a society
• Conflict is inevitable under the current
  capitalist power arrangement

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• Feminist theory - abuses suffered by women are
  rooted in the patriarchal, capitalist system
• The causes include the gendered division of
  labor, the separation of spheres, and the
  socialization of children
• Cultural attitudes toward crime against women
  differ based on the status of women in that
  society
• Women are less often in a position to commit
  crimes and often commit crimes that are different
  from mens

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Crime and individuals macro-level analysis

• Laws reflect the current opinion of what is right
  or wrong
• Consensus crimes - members of a society are in
  general agreement about the serious of the
  deviant act
• Conflict crimes - one group passes a law over
  which there is disagreement or which
  disadvantages another group

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Types of crime

• Predatory or street crime
• Victimless or public order crimes
• Hate crimes
• Organized crime
• Occupational or white collar crime
• State organized crimes
• Global crimes

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Types of white-collar crimes

• Crimes against the company
• Crimes against employees (e.g., the neglect of
  worker safety)
• Crimes against customers
• Crimes against the public
• White-collar crimes are less publicized, but
  ultimately more costly and more deadly than
  violent predatory crimes

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Ways of measuring crime

• Uniform crime reports
• Self-reported surveys
• Victimization surveys
• Triangulation is best!

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World systems perspective

• The cause of deviance lies in the global economy,
  inequalities between countries, and competition
  between countries for resources and wealth
• Capitalism has caused inequality to rise between
  core and periphery nations
• Periphery nations may resort to unconventional
  means to meet their goals

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Dealing with crime

• Structural-functionalist- the justice system is
  important for maintaining order in society
• Conflict- the criminal justice system presents
  crime as a threat from poor people and minorities
  and disproportionately arrests and sentences them

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Prisons and jails

• Total institution- completely controls the
  prisoners lives and regulates all of their
  activities
• Degradation- mark the inmate as deviant
• Mortification-break down the individuals
  original self as the inmate experiences
  resocialization
• Incarceration rates have increased
• Get tough on crime
• War on drugs
• Preventative policies

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The functions of prisons

• Revenge or retribution
• Removing dangerous individuals from society
• Deterrence
• Despite these, nearly 75 of male prisoners will
  re-offend (high recidivism)

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The rise of the Prison-Industrial Complex in the
USA gt 1980
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Alternatives to prison

• Social capital - rebuild social networks, shared
  norms, values, and understanding that facilitate
  cooperation within or among groups and access to
  important resources
• Shock probation - releasing a first time offender
  early in the hope that the shock of prison life
  would deter them
• Day treatment or half-way houses
• Restitution - The offender renders money or
  service to the victim or community under
  supervised parole to compensate the victim