Sociology Chapter 8

Deviance and Social Control

Preview

Section 1: Deviance

Section 2: Crime

Chapter Wrap-Up

Sociology Chapter 8

Read to Discover

• What are the nature and social functions of deviance?

• How do the theories that have been proposed to explain deviance compare?

Section 1: Deviance

Sociology Chapter 8

Deviance: Behavior that violates significant social norms

• Because there are so many norms governing behavior, occasional violations are unavoidable.

• What is considered deviant varies from society to society, from time period to time period, and from situation to situation.

Section 1: Deviance

Nature of Deviance

Sociology Chapter 8

1. Person must be detected committing a serious deviant act (such as murder) or a series of minor deviant acts (such as speeding); labeling only occurs if the behavior is known to other people

2. Social stigmatization must occur, the application of a mark of social disgrace that sets the deviant apart from the rest of society

Section 1: Deviance

Labeling Deviance

Sociology Chapter 8

• Clarifying Norms—defines the boundaries of acceptable behavior; punishment of norm violators warns others that certain behaviors will not be tolerated

• Unifying the Group—serves to draw the line between conforming members of society and “outsiders”—the nonconforming members

Section 1: Deviance

Social Functions of Deviance

Sociology Chapter 8

• Diffusing Tension—minor acts of deviance allow individuals to relieve tension without disrupting the basic fabric of society

• Promoting Social Change—can help prompt social change by identifying problem areas

• Providing Jobs—monitoring and punishing deviance provides legitimate jobs for a wide range of people

Section 1: Deviance

Social Functions of Deviance

Sociology Chapter 8

Question

What theories have been proposed to explain deviance?

Section 1: Deviance

Sociology Chapter 8

• Functionalists—natural outgrowth of the values, norms, and structures of society

• Conflict Theorists—result of competition and social inequality

• Interactionists—either natural in people with weak ties to the community (control theory), a learned behavior (cultural transmission theory), or a consequence of labeling (labeling theory)

Section 1: Deviance

Sociology Chapter 8

Functionalist How do individuals respond to culturally approved goals and the legitimate means of achieving them? (conformity, innovation, ritualism, retreatism, rebellion)

Strain

Conflict What is the result of competition and social inequality? (deviance) Who decides what is deviant? (ruling classes)

Conflict

Interactionist Why do people conform to norms? (strength of social ties determines conformity)

Control

How do people learn conformity or deviance? (through socialization, or interaction with others) Where does this learning mainly occur? (primary groups)

Cultural Transmission

How do people become identified as deviant? (through secondary deviance, or being detected as deviant)

Labeling

Section 1: DeviancePerspective Theory Questions

Sociology Chapter 8

Read to Discover

• What are the principal types of crime in the United States?

• What are the characteristics of the American criminal-justice system?

Section 2: Crime

Sociology Chapter 8

• Violent Crime—includes murder, robbery; most victims are African Americans

• Crime Against Property—includes burglary, larceny, vehicle theft; more common than violent crimes

• Victimless Crime—includes prostitution, gambling, illegal drug use; offender is the only victim

Principal Types of Crime in the U.S.Principal Types of Crime in the U.S.

Section 2: Crime

Sociology Chapter 8

• White Collar Crime—committed by high-status individuals in the course of their professions; includes fraud, tax evasion, embezzlement

• Organized Crime—the pursuit of crime by a large-scale organization as a big business

Principal Types of Crime in the U.S.Principal Types of Crime in the U.S.

Section 2: Crime

Sociology Chapter 8

Question

What are some characteristics of the American criminal-justice system?

Section 2: Crime

Sociology Chapter 8

AMERICAN CRIMINAL-JUSTICE SYSTEM

PoliceHave the most control

over who is arrested for crimes

CourtsDetermine the accused’s

guilt or innocence in a court trial and then assign a punishment

CorrectionsSanctions used to punish

those found guilty of crimes

Juvenile-Justice System

Applies to offenders younger than 18

Section 2: Crime

Sociology Chapter 8

• Police—have most immediate control over who is arrested for a criminal act; use police discretion, which has raised the controversial issue of racial profiling

• Courts—determine the guilt or innocence of an accused person by means of a trial and assign some form of punishment if there is a guilty finding; actually settle 90 percent of cases through plea bargaining

• Corrections—sanctions include probation, imprisonment, parole; serve four functions—retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, and social protection

• Juvenile-Justice System—used to punish offenders younger than age 18; guarantees juvenile defendants the same legal rights and privileges as adults; often provides more services

Section 2: Crime

Sociology Chapter 8

Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding Main Ideas

1. What are the functions of deviance?

2. How does labeling theory differ from other theories of deviance?

3. Describe the five general categories of crime. Be sure to list the types of crime in each category.

4. What purposes does the corrections system fulfill? How does the juvenile-justice system meet these same purposes?