Lecture 10 Crime and Deviance Flashcards
what is deviance
Breaking a norm and evoking a negative reaction from others
what is crime
A form of deviance that breaks the law
what were early assumptions about criminology
that is resulted from biology
what was Cesare Lomobroso’s theory on criminology
he theorized that criminals stand out physically, with low foreheads, prominent jaws and cheekbones, hairy-ness, and unusually long arms
what was William Sheldon’s theory on crime
that body type predicts criminality. usually young, muscular, and athletic men are likely to commit crime
what does labels of deviance affect people
people become deviant when others define them that way, they internalize the label and act as such
how does social power affect deviance
How societes set norms and how they define rule breaking both involve social power.
how does internal social control regulate behavior
through socialization. This form of social control shapes how people think, and results in a view of deviant actions as undesirable
how does external social control regulate behavior
by imposing punishments and offering rewards
what is informal punishment
may involve raised eyebrows, gossip, ostracism, shaming, or stigmatization
what is formal punishment
results from people breaking laws. For example, criminals may be formally punished by being sentences to serve time in prison or perform community service
what is the process of criminal acts becoming criminals
an individual’s law-violating behaviors must be observed
This behavior must be deemed to justify a sanction
This behavior must be reported to the police
Police must be response to the incident and determine whether it warrants investigation
Police mst file a report and make an arrest
The accused person must appear in court
A guilty verdict but be rendered
true or false: violating the law results in being labeled as a criminal
false, it can but not automatically
what is a conflict theorists perspective on crime sanctions
Conflict theorist propose that powerful members of society make and enforce the law to their own advantage
what is white-collar crime
comprises the illegal act and misdeed of middle class members of the business world, including corporate crime
what is street crime
crimes associated with the public and individual offenders working alone or in small groups rather than large crime structures, such as shoplifting, vandalism, break and enter, car theft, and assault.
why do upper class and poor class have different consequences for crime
upper class crime often Takes place in private
Conviction for investment schemes and fraud is much less frequent as the people breaking the law can afford high class lawyer
Law is more lenient to bend rules for rich people
what is control theory
theory that nearly everyone would like to have the pleasure, excitement and profit that deviance and crime promise
what type of people are suggest by control theorists to be more likely to commit a crime
people who have few social attachments
people with few legitimate life opportunities
people who have limited involvement in conventional institutions
people who have weak beliefs in traditional values and morality
how does news and media affect perceptions of crime
News and entertainment media provide us with frames for making sense of crime, criminals, and crime risk.
what does a symbolic interactionist see deviance
deviance is a social label that some groups use to stigmatize other groups
what is the three stage process in Howard Becker’s monograph “becoming a marihuana user”
Learning to smoke the drug in a way that produces real effects
Learning to recognize the effects and connect them with drug use
Learning to enjoy the perceived sensations. smoking maijuana is not inherently pleasurable
what is labelling theory
Labeling theory suggest that deviant behavior results not just from the actions of the deviant but also from the responses of others, who define some actions as deviant and other actions as normal
what is an example of labelling theory
Children from “broken homes” are more likely than children from intact nuclear families to be labeled as juvenile delinquents
what is moral panic
A moral panic is a condition resulting from social concern over an issue that provokes intense feelings and fears
what is a moral entrepreneurs
a promoter of mortality who uses their influence as a rule-makers, campaigners, and enforces to shape public policy
who benefits from moral panic?
mass media, entertainment industry, criminal justice system, politicians
how did crimes against women change?
changed as women become more powerful in society, i.e criminalization of sexual harassment
how does gender affect criminalization
gender shapes how crimes are prosecuted ex. women’s gender performances determine whether they will be granted lighter or harsher than men
what is Niles Christie’s classic formula for the ideal victim
they are:
Weak in relation to the offender
Operating in a socially approved manner at the time of their victimization
The offender is a stranger to the victim
The offender is unquestionably bad/evil
The victim meets expected social/gender norms so as not to challenge any vested interests
how would a functionalist see deviance and crime
Functionalists like Durkiem have viewed deviance and crime as both universal and useful to society
according to Durkheim, what are the four performative functions of crime
Deviance affirms cultural values and norms
Responding to deviance clarifies moral boundaries
Responding to deviance brings people together
Deviance encourages social change
what is social control theory
This theory assume that anyone may have deviant impulses, but for most people these implications are not acted upon, with the result that most people do not break the rules, most of the time
what is anomie theory
rooted in emilie durkheim’s notion of anomie and elaborated by Robert K. Merton in his typology of modes of adaptation
what is strain theory
Strain theory proposes that deviant behavior is a response to the gap between ambitions for success and access to lawful means of achieving it
what did micheal Foucault propose about surveillance society
the growth of the modern state and the creation of institutions including armies, police forces, public schools, and other bureaucracies has resulted in the growth of strict work regimes, curricula, and procedures
how has modern surveillance grown
CCTV, video surveillance, credit cards, health records
what is panopticon
a prison designed by the english philosopher Jeremy Bentam that would allow all inmates to be viewed by a single guard without the inmates knowing whether they are being watched
