Theories and Perspectives

Question 1

What are the 4 main perspectives on deviance?

Answer 1

Normative, relativist, absolutist, and social power.

Question 2

What is the social constructionist theory?

Answer 2

Focuses on the ways norms are created, under what conditions, and who (which audience) applies the norms.

Question 3

What was Hendershot’s argument (absolutist)?

Answer 3

Founded on moral order and common world view on what was accepted and what wasn’t. Industrialization generated normlessness (anomie) and a need for boundaries. Past sociologists had a shared concept of deviance and willingness to identify boundary of acceptable behaviour. Middle class is unwilling to place a boundary… boundary pushing is good but there needs to be one in place. Boundary placed by Christians.

Question 4

What was the broken window’s policy?

Answer 4

Implemented by James Q. Wilson-influenced Ronald Reagan to implement 0 tolerance rules.

Question 5

What is labelling theory (Becker)?

Answer 5

Essence of deviance is not in the act but in the response of the audience to these acts. Deviance is constructed by diverse audiences. Deviancy can change depending on place and time. Deviancy is not a quality but exists between the person who commits the act and those who respond to it.

Question 6

What is one example of how deviance can be seen differently in different places?

Answer 6

9/11 versus bombings of Chile in 1973. The 9/11 attacks were seen as deviant. but when the US bombed chile in the same way for their own political agenda, it was seen as progressive.

Question 7

What is one of the issues with the absolutist perspective?

Answer 7

Deviants are not a homogenous group-absolutism ignores the fact that social groups create deviance by making rules whose infractions constitute deviance.

Question 8

Is deviance applied fairly?

Answer 8

No. Middle class versus lower class in CJS, black versus white males in CJS, blue collar versus white collar crimes, illicit sex in women versus men.

Question 9

What are some consequences of being labelled deviant?

Answer 9

Effects one’s self image, labels can eventually become that person’s master status. creates a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Question 10

What are some criticisms of Becker’s theory?

Answer 10

His solution to deviance is don’t label and to basically ignore the deviants, which helps nothing.

Question 11

What is the conflict theory of crime? (Quinney)

Answer 11

Society is in a constant state of conflict (due to incompatible interests of diverse groups). Conflict is structural and goes beyond the individual. Winners of conflict define deviance. Criminal behaviours are those that conflict with the interests of the dominant.

Question 12

Who are (were) some of the most threatening people to the government?

Answer 12

Martin Luther King, Ghandi, Dolly Lama, and Nelson Mandela.

Question 13

What is the typical demographic of a criminal?

Answer 13

Male, lower SES, POC, young, uneducated.

Question 14

What was Box’s theory?

Answer 14

Focusing on the typical criminal is an illusion or a trick-deflects our attention away from other, far more serious crimes.

Question 15

Who inflicts the greatest harm in society?

Answer 15

Hazardous work conditions, dangerous products, warfare, environmental damage, corporate harm

Question 16

What happens when a powerful person commits a crime?

Answer 16

They do not get perceived as criminals nor do they perceive themselves as criminal.

Question 17

What are the biological theories of deviant behaviour?

Answer 17

Attribute deviant behaviour to things like genetics.

Question 18

What are the 3 main biological theories?

Answer 18

Lombroso-Criminals are primitive beings, criminals are born and not made, rehab is useless, women are inferior to men.
Goring and Hooton-Physical inferiorities are indicative of criminal types.
Sheldon-Criminals are more active, muscular, and aggressive than non-criminals.

Question 19

What are some problems with bio/psych theories?

Answer 19

Muscular people who look like criminals don’t engage in criminal activitiy, an extra Y chromosome doesn’t determine aggression, ignores societal implications

Question 20

What is positivism?

Answer 20

Suggests that scientific methods are needed to deal with social problems like deviance. Assumes deviance is something “wrong” with an individual. Ties into medicalization (sick) of deviance.

Question 21

Where did the UK send their criminals in the 18th-19th centuries?

Answer 21

Australia. And if sending them away didn’t work they killed or sterilized them

Question 22

What is the structural perspective on deviance?

Answer 22

Root cause of deviance is outside of the individual.

Question 23

What is Structural Functionalism (Durkheim)?

Answer 23

Society is a moral phenomenon-morality is acquired in childhood, and you grow up conforming. Result is high social integration with low rates of deviance and high conformity.

Question 24

What were Durkheim’s concerns with modern society?

Answer 24

It distances people and creates social disintegration (norms not passed on). Normlessness/ill defined norms stimulates crime/deviance.

Question 25

What is the functional part of Durkheim’s theory?

Answer 25

Deviance and crime is healthy for society-society is comparable to a living organism, all parts contribute to a whole. We need deviance for boundary maintenance (Erickson).

Question 26

What is Merton’s Strain Theory?

Answer 26

Extension of Durkheim. Deviance lies in societal structure. Culture dictates certain goals and success is limited by “road blocks” ex) American dream is limited by SES, money is the roadblock to working class. The detours the working class take to get money contributes to deviance. Lack of structural opportunities and presence of structural roadblock creates deviance.

Question 27

What is the differential opportunity theory (cloward and ohlin)?

Answer 27

Extension and reformation of Merton. Says that not all disadvantaged persons have the same opportunity for participating in illegitimate means.

Question 28

What are the 3 types of deviant opportunities (Cloward and Ohlin)?

Answer 28

1) Criminal-Opportunities that arise from a person’s access to deviant subcultures
2) Conflict-Opportunities that attract a person with a propensity for violence
3) Retreatist-persons who seek to withdraw from society.

Question 29

What is Quinney’s Social Power/Conflict Theory?

Answer 29

Society is pluralistic, heterogenous, and conflictual: many groups with many different interests. Conflict=incompatible interests of diverse groups. Behaviours of powerless that threaten interests of the powerful are criminalized/deviant.

Question 30

What is the Feminist Theory?

Answer 30

Patriarchical society responsible for discrimination and oppression of women. Social institutions are inherently sexist. Includes law, family, economy, religion, media. Women are systematically disadvantaged and subject to verbal, physical, and sexual abuse rarely experienced by men. Theories of society/deviance are exclusively male-centred.