Deviance and Social Control Flashcards
Deviance
Violation of norms, rules, or expectations; based on the reactions of others
Relativity
What is deviant to some may not be deviant to others; based on norms
Crime
Violation of rules that have been written into law
Stigma
Characteristics that discredit people
Ex. appearance, abilities, involuntary memberships
Importance of Norms
Norms make behavior predictable; w/o norms there would be social chaos
Social Order
A group’s usual and customary social arrangements, on which its members depend and on which they base their lives
Social Control
A groups formal and informal means of enforcing its norms
Negative Sanctions
Expression of disapproval for breaking a norm
- Informal: frown, dirty look
- Formal: fine/prison sentence
Positive Sanctions
Expression of approval for following a norm
- Informal: smile
- Formal: good grades
Sociobiology Explanation of Deviance
Looking for answers within individuals
- Genetic predispositions
Psychology Explanation of Deviance
Focus on abnormalities within the individual
- Personality disorders
Sociology Explanation of Deviance
Factors outside of the individual
- Social Influences (neighborhoods, peers, family)
- External Factors (socialization, subcultures)
Differential Association
Edwin Sutherland, people who associate with some groups learn an “excess of definitions” of deviance, increasing the likelihood that they will become deviant
The different groups we associate with, we learn to deviate from or conform to society’s norms
Ex. Family vs friends, neighborhoods, subcultures
Control Theory; Walter Reckless
There are two system that work against our tendencies to deviate
- Inner: internalized morality
- Outer: people who influence us to not deviate
Control Theory; Travis Hirschi
The stronger the bonds with society, the more effective our inner controls are
- Attachments: our affection and respect for people who conform to mainstream norms
- Commitments: Having a stake in society that you don’t want to risk
- Involvements: Participating in approved activities
- Beliefs: Convictions that certain actions are wrong
Labeling Theory
The significance of reputations, how reputations/labels set us on paths to deviance or conformity
Resisting Labels
Techniques of neutralization: ways of thinking or rationalizing that help people deflect society’s view
- Denial of responsibility
- Denial of injury
- Denial of victim
- Condemnation of the condemners
- Appeal to higher loyalties
Functionalist Perspective
Deviance/Crime is functional
- It is a natural outcome of the conditions that people experience
Strain Theory
Robert Merton; how mainstream values produce deviance
When society socializes large numbers of people to desire a cultural goal, but withholds the institutionalized means
Illegitimate Opportunites
Crimes woven into life
Street crime: socializing the poor into wanting to own things
White-Collar crime: Edwin Sutherland, crimes committed by people of respectable and high social status during their occupations
Corporate Crime: crime committed by executives to benefit their corporation
Reactions to Deviance
Influx of prisons and prisoners; private prisons
Decline in violent crimes; tough laws, employment
Death penalty; racial disparities
Police discretion; decision to arrest/fine someone
Medicalization of Deviance
Making deviance a medical matter, a symptom of some underlying illness that needs to be treated by physicians
Thomas Szas: Mental illnesses are neither mental nor illnesses simply problem behaviors
