Deviance and
Social Control
Chapter 8
Introduction to Sociology
What is “deviance” ?
o Broad range of behaviors that violate social and cultural
norms
o Deviance is non - conformity
o Non – conformity causes society to view certain
individuals as an “outsider”
Focus Questions :
o Is deviance a constructive element of society ?
o What theories explain deviant behaviors ?
o How do social controls affect deviance ?
The Nature of Deviance ~
o Social norms govern behavior
o Hierarchy to social norms
o Norms and deviance vary from culture to culture
o Norms and deviance vary from profession to profession
o Norms and deviance vary from generation to generation
High or low level of deviance ?
Why ?
Durkheim : Social Functions of Deviance
o High levels of deviance can disrupt the natural flow
of society ~ ~ ~ however, there are positive aspects of
deviant behaviors :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Affirms cultural values & norms
Promotes social unity
Relieves tension
Creates social change
Provides jobs
Affirms cultural values & norms ~
As moral creatures, people must prefer some
attitudes & behaviors to others. There can be no
good without evil ~ there can be no justice without
crime. Deviance is needed to define and sustain
morality
Promotes social unity ~
People typically react to serious deviance with
collective outrage. People reaffirm the moral ties
that unite them …. Examples ?
Relieves tension ~
Low levels of deviant behavior can release
tension and help avoid a build-up of more
serious levels of deviance later ….. Examples ?
Creates social change ~
Deviant people push society’s moral boundaries,
suggesting alternatives to the status quo and
encouraging change ….. Examples ?
Provides jobs ~
Deviant behavior has created careers ….
Examples ?
Theories to explain Deviance :
o Cultural – Transmission Theory
o Structural – Strain Theory
o Control Theory
o Conflict Theory
Cultural – Transmission Theory :
o This theory views deviance as a “learned” behavior –
people learn deviance through interaction with other
deviant individuals
o The learning of deviant behavior occurs in primary
groups ( significant others )
Structural – Strain Theory :
o Society places high value on certain things ( education, large
homes, wealth, prestige, power )
o Does society provide the means to achieve societies goals ?
o When people cannot conform to reach societies goals, they may
turn to deviance
o Relative Opportunity Structure ?
- - Crime results from limited legitimate or legal opportunities to achieve goals
- - _______________________
Certain individuals may not be able to attain these goals :
- CONFORMITY ( accept culturally approved goals & seek them
through culturally approved means )
- INNOVATION ( using unconventional means to achieve a
culturally approved goal )
- RITUALISM ( reject the goals but accept the traditional means )
- RETREATISM ( rejection of both cultural goals and means,
essentially “dropping out”
- REBELLION ( reject both the cultural definition of success and
the normative means of achieving it . . . Form a counterculture and advocate
alternatives to the existing social structure
Control Theory :
o View deviance as a natural occurrence in human behavior
o Social control depends on imagining the consequences of one’s
behavior …. reaction of your family, friends, risk of ruining
career, reputation, deters most people from committing deviant
acts
o People who feel they have nothing to lose are likely to commit
deviant acts
o A person’s social privilege, moral character, family
relationships, involvement in community give the individual a
stake in conforming to conventional norms
Conflict Theory :
o View competition and social inequality as the reason for
deviant behavior
What is “Crime” ?
o Crime is any act that is labeled as such by those in
authority, is prohibited by law, and is punishable by
the government
o Gambling
o South Padre Island = bans wearing ties
o Mt Prospect, IL illegal to have a pigeon as a pet
o LA bans the use of gas-powered leaf blowers
True or False ?
Not all of the complaints that citizens make to the police
find their way into the official statistics. The
responding officer to the scene of a crime decides
whether or not to file a formal report. Officers are
more likely to file a report in the case of serious
offenses
True or False ?
Individuals are less likely to report a crime if family or
friends are involved
True or False ?
The police are more likely to file formal reports on
serious crimes when the injured parties are from the
higher social classes
True or False ?
Whether an officer files a formal complaint is influenced
by the attitude of the individual making the complaint.
An officer is more likely to file a formal complaint when
the person making the complaint shows courtesy and
respect toward the officer
Types of Crime :
o Violent Crime
o Crime against Property
o Victimless Crime
o White – Collar Crime
o Organized Crime
Violent Crime
o Refers to murder, rape, robbery and assault
In the United States statistics show that :
- a murder is committed every 21 minutes
- a robbery is commited every 46 seconds
- an assault occurs every 29 seconds
- a rape is committed every 5 minutes
Crime Against Property :
o Crimes against property are called burglary, larceny,
motor vehicle theft, and arson
o Crimes against property are more common than violent
crimes
o It is estimated that a crime against property is
committed every 2 seconds in the US
Victimless Crime :
o Crimes such as prostitution, gambling, illegal drug use
o They are called victimless crimes because they do not
harm anyone except the person committing the crime
o True ?
White – Collar Crime
o A crime that is committed by individuals with high
social status in the course of their profession
o Examples are embezzlement, fraud, tax evasion, stock
manipulation, toxic pollution / dumping, voter fraud,
computer crime, insider – trading, etc.
Organized Crime :
o A large scale organization of professional criminals who
perform criminal acts as a big money making business
o Examples are loan-sharking, illegal gambling, drug
trafficking, cheating on income tax returns, professional
hits
Social Control = Criminal Justice System
o Police – enforce the laws
o Courts – determines the guilt and punishment
o Corrections – enforce the punishment
- retribution to society
- deterrence to discourage others
- rehabilitation to correct deviant behavior
- social protection – prevents further crime
o Juvenile Justice System – under 18