Chapter 7

Deviance and Social Control

Section one

Deviance – behavior that departs from societal or group norms. 

            Negative Deviance – behavior that fails to meet accepted norms.

            Positive deviance – overconformity to norms – perfectionism.

To be considered deviant by society one must violate one or more of society’s significant social norms. 

            Society tries to punish, control and/or change the deviants behavior.

Social Control – how society promotes conformity.

            Internal – “I vs. Me” in socialization.  An individual does or does not do something because he/she knows it is wrong. Intrinsic value.

            External – not all people have internalized society’s values.  Sanctions are used to encourage conformity.  Positive sanctions—awards, raises, smiles and Negative sanctions – criticism, fines, imprisonment.  Sanctions can be formal or informal.

Section two

Functionalism and Deviance

Costs and Benefits of Deviance

Negative effects – Deviance erodes trust.  A society with widespread suspicion and distrust cannot function smoothly.

            Deviance can cause nonconforming behavior in others.  Deviance stimulates more deviance in others – both in reaction to the deviance, as well as providing a model behavior.

            Deviance is expensive – It diverts resources that could be utilized in other ways. (More police vs. more roads).

Can deviance have positive effects? – deviance clarifies norms – the reaction to deviance shows other members of society how society expects them to act.

            Safety valve – minor deviance can be used to alleviate pressure from authority especially in teens.  Ex. Dress, music, hair, etc.

            Deviance increases unity within a group or nation – It can remind people of what they value

            Deviance can promote needed social change – women’s suffrage, prison riots, civil rights movement.

Strain theory

Anomie – norms are weak, conflicting, or absent.  People are uncertain how to act.

Strain theory – Deviance is likely when there is a gap between culturally desirable goals and a legitimate way of obtaining them.

            Responses to strain:

            1. Innovation—the individual accepts the goal of success but uses illegal means to achieve it.  Most common type of deviant response.

            2. Ritualism – Rejection of a legitimate goal, but still uses the legitimate means that one would use to reach that goal. Ex. A burned out teacher who doesn’t care anymore

            3. Retreatism – people reject both the goal and the legitimate means.  People who have dropped out of society.  Bums, drug addicts, bag ladies, Michigan State students (just kidding).

            4. Rebellion – people substitute new goals and means for achieving success, and reject society’s. Ex. Militias

Control Theory—conformity to social norms depends on the presence of strong bonds between individuals and society.  If bonds are weak deviance happens.  People conform because they do not want to “lose face” with family, friends or classmates.

            Four components of social bonds:

            1. Attachment – the stronger your attachment to groups or individuals the more likely you are to conform.

            2. Commitment –the stronger your commitment to social goals the more likely you are to conform.

            3. Involvement – Participation in activities increases the probability of conformity.

            4. Belief – Belief in the norms and values of society promotes conformity.

Section 3

Symbolic Interactionism and Deviance

Differential Association Theory – Deviance is learned through association with primary groups.  The more that individuals are exposed to people who break the law, the more likely they are to become criminals.

            People who know many deviant individuals are more likely to become deviant.

            If significant others are deviant the individual is more likely to become deviant.

            The younger children learn deviant behavior the more likely they will become deviant.

Labeling Theory --  Sometimes two people committing the same act will not both be labeled deviant.  Deviant behavior is defined by society.

            Ex. Teen pregnancy – the girl is deviant the boy is not.

                   Joyride vs. car theft – based on class of teens

Primary deviance – a person engages only is isolated acts of deviance.  Deviance is not a part of their lifestyle.

Secondary deviance – Deviance is a lifestyle and a personal identity.  A person whose life is organized around deviance. 

Consequences – labeling causes pain and suffering; it can determine the direction of their lives. 

Stigma – an undesirable characteristic or label used by others to deny a deviant full social acceptance.  Ex. Unemployed, sped, retard, gay. 

Section 4

Conflict Theory and Deviance

Conflict Theorists state that deviance is behavior that is seen as threatening to those in power.  Therefore the rich and powerful use their positions to determine which acts are deviant and how deviants should be punished.

Ways that society defends itself against deviants:

            1. Critics of economic, political, and social order are labeled deviant

                        Ex. Hippie, liberal

            2.  Since society requires a willing workforce, those who do not work are deviant.

                        Ex. Artists, actors

            3. Those who threaten private property – especially that of the rich – need to be punished.

            4. Those who do not respect authority are treated as deviants.

                        Ex. Civil rights protestors, union organizers, Erin Brockovich

            5. Behaviors that encourage competition, achievement, and teamwork are encouraged.

                        Ex. Team sports, cooperative learning (hidden agenda).

Race, Ethnicity and Crime

Conflict theorists believe that minorities receive unequal treatment in the American criminal justice system.

African-Americans and Latinos are more likely than whites to be convicted, and are given longer prison sentences.

Most people on death row are African-Americans convicted of killing whites, even though most murders are done by members of the same race.

            Possession of 5 grams or more of crack cocaine = a 5 year prison sentence

            Possession of  500 grams or more of powder cocaine = 5 years prison sentence (United States Sentencing Commission report to Congress)

Victim discounting – reduces the seriousness of crimes directed at members of lower social classes.  If the victim is less valuable, the crime is less serious, and the penalty less severe.

White Collar Crime – crime committed by respectable and high status people. 

            White collar crime costs society 18 times as much as street crime (US Dept. of Justice). They can include illegal job sites, illegal dumping, tax evasion, embezzlement, illegal stock trading.

            White collar criminals are much less likely to go to prison, and if sentenced, they are given shorter sentences.

Section 5

Crime and Punishment

Crime – acts that violate a statute or law.  There are 2800 acts that are classified as federal crimes.

Crime rose significantly from the 1960’s to the 1990’s, and then dropped dramatically since then.

Juvenile Crime – legal violations committed by those under 18 years of age.

            Juvenile crime also peaked in the early 90’s and then has fallen dramatically.

            Reasons: less crack, smaller generation, better economy, more police, abortion?

Crime control

Criminal justice system – the institutions and processes responsible for enforcing criminal statutes – includes police, courts, and correctional system.

Four approaches to control and punish lawbreakers.

            1. Deterrence – the threat of punishment will discourage criminal behavior.

                        a. Threat does deter crime if lawbreakers know they will be caught, and that the punishment will be severe.

                        b. In the US punishment is not usually certain, swift, nor severe.

                        c. Capital punishment argument – murder is usually an irrational act so deterrence is not effective.  Americans favor the revenge aspect of capital punishment.

            2. Retribution – criminals pay compensation for their acts.  Idea of an eye for an eye, etc.

            3. Incarceration – keep criminals in prison where they cannot commit crimes.  This is the current US approach.  Prison population has gone from 1.2 million to 1.9 million.  Three strike laws are another example.

            4. Rehabilitation – attempt to resocialize criminals.  Programs aimed at giving prisoners social and work skills to adjust to normal society.

            Recidivism – return to criminal activity upon release from prison.  30-60 percent of inmates return to prison within 2-5 years.

Alternatives to prison

            Combination of prison and probation – designed to shock offenders to the reality of prison life.

            Half-way houses and community based programs – gets prisoners out of prison for part of the day.

            Diversion strategy – referral to community based treatment program rather than a prison program.