Theories of Deviance Flashcards
what do biological deviance theories argue?
attribute deviant behaviour to biological abnormalities and predispositions; Lombroso thought criminals were like primitive beings; Goring & Hooton thought physical inferiorities were indicative of criminality; Sheldon thought criminals were active, muscular, and aggressive; XYY syndrome thought to create a ‘double male’ with predisposition for violence
what are biological theories criticized for?
many traits that are associated with criminals also exist in non-criminals; ignores environmental and social forces; positivism assumes that deviance indicates something wrong with an individual, so scientific methods can reveal basic truths and diagnose causes of crime so it can be solved
what does Durkheim’s structural functionalism argue about deviance?
society is a moral phenomenon in which morality is acquired through social integration; modern society distances people which creates anomie; deviance is functional for society because the violation of norms allows for a social response rooted in the collective conscience of moral belief; society is rooted in moral order, so rule violation will always stimulate outrage
what is Merton’s strain theory?
located deviance in the structure of society; culture dictates certain goals for all which are limited by roadblocks; individuals excluded from legitimate opportunities retaliate by pursuing alternative means to success; structural inequality between the upper and lower class is a cultural contradiction that generates crime and deviance due to lack of structural opportunities
what is Cloward & Ohlin’s differential opportunity theory?
critical reformulation of Merton because it is wrong to assume that all members of excluded groups have the ability to choose deviance; disadvantaged people may not have opportunities for legitimate or illegitimate success; there are three types of deviant opportunities: criminal, conflict, and retreatist
what are the 3 types of deviant opportunity according to differential opportunity theory?
criminal (opportunities that arise from access to deviant subcultures), conflict (opportunities that attract violent people), and retreatist (people that seek to withdraw from society)
what is Quinney’s social power conflict theory?
society is pluralistic and conflictual, with conflict arising from incompatible interests of diverse groups; behaviours of the powerless that threaten the powerful are deemed criminal or deviant in order to protect the interests of those in power; poverty typically pushes the powerless to commit crime
what do feminist theories of deviance argue?
patriarchal structure of society is responsible for the discrimination and oppression of women because it pervades culture, social structures, and social institutions which are inherently sexist; women are systematically disadvantaged and subject to abuse that is rarely experienced by men; argue that theories of deviance tend to be male-centered
where do structuralists locate the causes of crime and deviance?
differential opportunity structure and inequality towards certain groups; groups that have less structural access to legitimate opportunities have less effective means to succeed through morally approved ways
what is Sellin’s culture conflict theory?
recognizes that there are subcultures within the dominant and subordinate groups that have distinct norms and values; differences between subcultures may lead to conflict, which is likely to arise when people migrate, during a takeover, or on a border
what is Cohen’s reaction theory of delinquent boys?
focuses on young working-class men who develop their own subcultural value system after failing to meet middle class standards in institutions like schools; status frustration results in an inversion of middle class norms (reactivity, non-utilitarian, malicious, negative behaviours)
what is Miller’s lower-class culture theory?
lower classes are in natural discord with middle class values; to attain status among peers, lower classes form their own subculture that includes getting into trouble, showing toughness, demonstrating street smarts, and searching for excitement
what is the interactionist approach to deviance?
tease out social-psychological forces in order to better explain why people from similar environments can turn out differently
what is Matza’s drift theory?
movement into deviant subcultures occurs slowly; once a choice is made between deviance and conformity, relationships from one side are gradually left
what is Becker’s labelling theory?
most people are deviant or criminal at some point in their lives, but only some are caught and publicly identified as deviants; focuses on the interaction between society and the individual being labelled deviant; the labelling process is what creates deviants
