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Chapter2-ATypologyofDevianceBasedonMiddleClassNorms.pptxCJ 240 Deviance and Social Control
A Typology of Deviance Based on Middle Class Norms Charles R Tittle and Raymond Paternoster
Introduction
Tittle and Paternoster offer a typology of bx that is considered deviant by the middle class
Define 10 middle class norms
Difficulty of Classification
Deviance has no inherent characteristics such as harmfulness, badness, or seriousness that would enable us to identify types
Whether or not bx is deviant depends on social definitions that vary from place to place
Deviance is relative rather than absolute
When social groups try to classify bx, they do so unsystematically and piecemeal
Why not use crime as a distinct category of deviance?
Criminal acts are extremely diverse
(smoking MJ, murder and oral sex)
Hammurabi – diluting drinks, adultery and blasphemy
Law making is political and arbitrary
There is nothing about criminal bx that makes it distinguishable as a category
law attempts to divide crime into two categories
Felonies (serious) and misdemeanors (less serious)
This distinction is also arbitrary and inconsistent
Middle Class Norms
Loyalty/Apostasy
All ppl must commit themselves to the group or society as a whole and maintain that commitment against all challenges
Bx that expresses disloyalty, weak commitment or disrespect for the group us unacceptable (apostasy)
EX: Revolutionary actions, betrayal of govt secret, cooperation with an enemy nation, draft dodging, defiling the flag, surrendering ones citizenship and advocating contrary govt philosophies
Middle class displays disgust and loathing for those who are guilty
Violations of this norm almost always result in serious sanctions (lifetime stigma)
Privacy/ Intrusion
Right to exclusive control over some things – esp private places and personal items
This is limited – you can not burn your home if it endangers others
The associated deviance – intrusion – acts that deny the controller or owner of some domain the exclusivity implied by ownership
Ex: theft, burglary, rape, homicide, voyeurism, forgery and record spying
Most are subject to sanction (index crimes)
Stigma/ sanction is not as severe as apostate behavior
Loyalty supersedes privacy
Prudence/Indiscretion
Exercise selectivity in the practice of activities that are pleasurable
Pleasure is a means to an end, not an end in itself
Prescribed end – contribution to economic or social maintenance of society
Avoid frivolous and self gratifying activities
Violation – indiscretion
EX: prostitution, homosexual behavior, bestiality, adultery, incest, swinging, gambling and abuse of drugs
Most do not receive official sanctions
Do provoke substantial stigma from others – long lasting group disapproval
Conventionality/ Bizarreness
All must practice personal habits and lead lives that are similar to conventions followed by most middle class ppl
Violations – bizarreness – unusual or atypical to such an extent that the sanity or normality of the individual is questioned
Bx is incomprehensible to the typical person
Unable to imagine yourself committing such an act
Bx must not have a good reason behind it
Sanctions are informal – ridicule, harassment and rejection
Many of these acts were once sanctioned by incarceration in mental institution – could recover
Difficult to erase stigma
Responsibility/ Irresponsibility
Be reliable
Violations – irresponsibility
EX: failure to meet financial obligations, negligence in maintain property, failure to fulfill professional standard, violation of trust, family desertion, pollution of the environment, selling defective products
Sanctions are lenient – reflects ambivalence about the norms
Many provoke civil suits
Stigma if any is not long lasting
Participation/ Alienation
Take an active part in the social and economic life of the community or society
violation – alienation
EX: hermits, tramps, bums, suicides,
perpetually unemployed, those on welfare, aged and handicapped – involuntary alienation
Still held in contempt unless they can justify their inactivity
Rarely dealt official punishment
Stigma may endure into future generations
Moderation/ Hedonism and Asceticism
Emerson’s golden mean – everything in moderation
Extremes of ANY kind are unacceptable
Hedonism – too much
Asceticism – not enough
Good to nurture a child, bad to smother or reject
Sometimes managed by formal sanctions but mostly informal
Precarious ground with peers and coworkers
Ridiculed and pitied
Scorn, ridicule or social isolation
Honesty/ Deceitfulness
Certain degree of honesty – at least in important things
Violation – deceitfulness
EX: selfish lying, price fixing, fraud, exploiting the weak, bigamy and welfare cheating
Selfish lying – promotes own personal interest – wrong
Unselfish lying – altruistic purpose – ok
Peacefulness/ Disruption
Quiet, tranquility and order
Dislike contentiousness and conflict
Violation – disruption
EX: noisy protests, boisterous revelry, quarrels, fights, brawls
Disturbs the air of tolerance
In conversation – every point of view is granted respect
Show restraint in presentation and defense
May be excluded, ridiculed or gossiped about
Consideration for others is paramount
Dying person – restrain groans, scream that the noise disturbs others and is in bad taste
Courtesy/ Uncouthness
Your behavior should not make the ordinary business of social interaction unpleasant
Take into account the presence of others so as not to offend them
Violations – uncouthness
EX: passing gas, scratching genitals, picking nose, spitting, vomiting, sleeping, burping, having sex
Rushing ahead of someone, breaking the lines, poor hygiene, lack of deodorant
Informally dealt with – show disgust, ostracize the guilty party
