sociology
heyman
chpt.6-DevianceandSocialControl2.pptxDeviance and Social Control- Chpt. 6
What Is Deviance?
*Any violation of norms.
-Not a judgment of someone or their behavior.
**Examples: Crime, substance abuse, domestic violence, homelessness, unemployment, poverty, etc.
Social Control-using positive and negative sanctions to cause conformity.
Why Do People Deviate?
1. Biology- genetic predispositions.
a. Low Intelligence
b. Body Type (squarish muscular builds)
c. XYY Chromosome Theory
*Biology likely plays a role in some cases of deviance.
2. Psychology- personality factors and disorders.
-Focus is on cases of individual abnormality.
*Most crimes are committed by people without serious psychological disorders.
(Why Do People Deviate?)
3. Sociology- examines factors external to the individual.
a. Deviance Varies According to Cultural Norms (time and place).
**Examples: Drug use, prostitution, killing a person, the foods we eat.
b. People Become Deviant as Others Define Them That Way.
-We all break norms and even laws.
-Labels and perceptions influence who is or isn’t considered deviant.
(Why do People Deviate?)
*Conformists, pure deviants, secret deviants and the falsely accused.
c. Both Rule Making and Rule Breaking Involve Social Power.
-Laws protect the interests of the wealthy and the powerful.
***Deviance is Relative– what is deviant to some may not be deviant to others.
How Do Sociologists Study Deviance?
1. Symbolic Interactionists
-Deviance is created through various social processes.
-Examine definitions of deviance and conformity.
a. Differential Association Theory
-We learn to deviate or to conform through the different people with whom we associate (family, friends, classmates, etc.).
(How do Sociologists Study Deviance?)
b. Control Theory- Two systems of control work against our tendencies to deviate.
*Inner system- how you feel (your internalized morality and fear of punishment).
*Outer system- others who influence us not to deviate.
c. Labeling Theory
-It’s not the behavior(deviance) that matters, rather how others react to the behavior.
-Names, labels and reputations become part of the SELF-CONCEPT!
(How do Sociologists Study Deviance?)
**Examples: Promiscuous behavior (males or females), killing a person (war vs. non-war), substance abuse issues (health problem or criminal).
Stigma- a negative social perception attached to a label.
(How do Sociologists Study Deviance?)
“The Saints and the Roughnecks” (Chambliss, 1973). (An example of Labeling Theory).
-Two groups of high school boys
-Both groups: truancy, drinking, petty theft, vandalism, fighting, etc.
-Teacher perceptions: Saints-headed for success; Roughnecks-headed for failure.
*Why did the community view them so differently?
(How do Sociologists Study Deviance?)
1. Family Background (Social Class)
a. Middle class vs. Working class families.
-Community expectations differed.
b. Saints were less visible.
-Access to cars (due to economic status).
2. Different Styles of Interacting With Authority
a. Saints- apologetic and deferential behavior.
b. Roughnecks- expressed open hostilities to authorities.
(How do Sociologists Study Deviance?)
3. Conclusions (ten years after graduation):
a. Saints- all but one went to college. One earned a P.H.D.. One became a lawyer. One a Dr. Others became business managers.
b. Roughnecks- two went to college (athletic scholarships) and became high school coaches. Two dropped out of high school. One received a prison sentence for murder. One a local bookie. One whose whereabouts were unknown.
(How do Sociologists Study Deviance?)
**Both groups lived up to or down to the labels (and expectations) that the community attached to them.
Self Fulfilling Prophecy (Robert Merton, 1910-2003): An outcome that occurs only because it was predicted to occur.
(How do Sociologists Study Deviance?)
2. Functionalism: Deviance can be both positive(functional) and negative for a society.
-Emile Durkheim (1858-1917)- There is nothing abnormal about deviance. It’s essential to the existing order.
a. Functions of Deviance:
1) Deviance Clarifies Moral Boundaries and Affirms Norms
-Deviance illustrates the difference between right and wrong (morality).
(How do Sociologists Study Deviance?)
-Deviance reinforces the rules of a society.
*Examples: A police officer making an arrest.
A teacher scolding a student.
2) Deviance Promotes Social Unity
-Serious deviance creates a collective outrage.
-Our reactions reaffirm the moral ties that bind us.
*Examples: 9-11-01 terrorist attacks
School shootings
(How do Sociologists Study Deviance?)
3) Deviance Promotes Social Change
-Pushing the moral boundaries can cause social change.
-Today’s deviance may become tomorrow’s morality.
*Examples: Rosa Parks (1955)
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)
(How do Sociologists Study Deviance?)
b. Functionalist Theories:
1) Strain Theory- the tension (strain) felt by some when socialized to want cultural goals (money, success, prestige, etc.) but without equal access to the approved means to achieve those goals (education, job/career, social networks, etc.).
2)Illegitimate Opportunity Structure Theory- opportunities for crime and deviance are greater in some communities (built into the structure or fabric).
(How do Sociologists Study Deviance?)
3. Conflict Theory
-Deviance reflects social inequality.
-Who/What is defined as deviant depends on factors like wealth, power, etc.
*The criminal justice system (laws, police, courts, prisons) is designed to maintain the status quo (capitalism, for instance) and protect the interests of the powerful.
**Examples: Federal judge in Chicago
Eminent domain
4 Justifications of Punishment (not related to Conflict Theory)
1. Retribution- revenge (restoring the moral balance).
2. Deterrence- creating fear to discourage others from breaking the law.
3. Rehabilitation- to resocialize or reform offenders to conform to society’s expectations.
-Recidivism Rates
4. Incapacitation- societal protection (lock em up).
Peter Berger (1929-2017)
“The fundamental sociological problem is not crime, but rather the law.”
